title: The Perceived Needs and Availability of Eye Care Services for Older Adults in Long-term Care Facilities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective was to evaluate the eye care services offered to older residents living in long-term care facilities (LTCFs).
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire targeting residents aged ≥65 years was sent to all LTCFs in Quebec. Questions related to the institution's characteristics, demographic data related to residents, oculovisual health of residents and barriers to eye care, eye care services offered within and outside the institution, and degree of satisfaction regarding the eye care services offered to residents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  196/428 (45.8%) LTCFs completed the questionnaire. Participating LTCFs had an average of 97.0 ± 5.1 residents with a mean age of 82.8 ± 3.0 yrs and 69% women. Eye care services were mostly offered outside the institution, on a "per request" basis. The main barriers to eye care were the perception that residents could not cooperate and the lack of eye care professionals. Most LTCFs were satisfied with the eye care services offered to residents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The fact that the LTCFs were satisfied with the eye care services offered to their residents, although it was neither provided on a regular basis nor to all residents, suggests that eye care professionals should take a proactive educational role for improving services to older institutionalized adults.
authors.affiliation: School of Optometry, Université de Montréal, Montréal; ; Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Montréal;
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kergoat
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal; ; Ophthalmology, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal;
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Boisjoly
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal; ; Ophthalmology, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal;
authors.forename: Ellen E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.affiliation: Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, McGill University, Montréal, QC ; McGill University, Montréal, QC.
authors.forename: Johanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Monette
authors.affiliation: Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Montréal;
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.affiliation: Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Montréal; ; Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal;
authors.forename: Marie-Jeanne
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kergoat
keywords: eye care services; long-term care facilities; older adults