KArukera Study of Ageing in Foster Families

Foster care for dependent older people could be a viable alternative to nursing homes. While this type of accommodation appears to be less expensive than living in a geriatric institution, few scientific studies have been able to assess its effectiveness and efficiency. In Guadeloupe, in the French West Indies, nearly 300 dependent older people are cared for by foster families. The aim of the Karukera Study of Ageing in Foster Families (KASAF) is to study the care pathways of dependent elderly people in foster care over a year. The main objective will be to obtain the annual rate of hospitalisation in this setting. The secondary objectives will be to assess hospitalisations costs, the incidence of mortality, the prevalence of geriatric syndromes, as well as the quality of life of residents and foster caregiver burnout. Ultimately, these results will be compared to a similar study in nursing homes, the KASEHPAD study (for Karukera Study of Aging in Nursing Homes).