Penning, Margaret J.Cloutier, DeniseNuernberger, KimMacDonald, Stuart W.S.Taylor, Deanne2017-09-132017-09-1320162016-08-24Penning, M.J., Cloutier, D.S., Nuernberger,K. MacDonald S.W.S. & Taylor, D. (2016). Long-term Care Trajectories in Canadian Context: Patterns and Predictors of Publicly Funded Care. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 00(00), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbw104https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbw104http://hdl.handle.net/1828/8564Objectives. Drawing on a structural life course perspective (LCP), we examined the most common trajectories experienced by older long-term care (LTC - home and community-based care, assisted living, and nursing home care) recipients. The overall sequencing of care transitions was considered along with the role of social structural location, social and economic resources, and health factors in influencing them. Methods. Latent class and latent transition analyses were conducted using administrative data obtained over a 4-year period for clients aged 65 and over (n=2,951) admitted into publicly-funded LTC in one Canadian health region. Results. Four main LTC trajectories were identified within which a wider range of more specific or secondary sub-trajectories were embedded. These were shaped by social structural factors (age, gender, rural-urban residence), social and economic resources (marital status, income, payment for services), and health factors (chronic conditions, functional and cognitive impairment and decline, problematic behaviors). Discussion. Our findings support the utility of a structural LCP for understanding LTC trajectories in later life. In doing so, they also reveal avenues for enhancing equitable access to care and the need for options that would increase continuity and minimize unnecessary, untimely or undesirable transitions.enLatent class analysisLatent transition analysisLong-term care trajectoriesStructural life course perspectiveInstitute on Aging and Lifelong HealthPostprintDepartment of GeographyDepartment of SociologyDepartment of Psychology