Susanne Kelfve

Did we forget the frail people? The impact of study design on estimated differences in health within and across European countries

When conducting population surveys, the assumption is that the study population represent the population that we aim to say something about, i.e. that the results are generalizable to the population. Conducting representative surveys among old people are extra challenging due to the high prevalence of frailty and poor health in old age. Without extra effort, the study population will most likely have better health than the general population. 

The overall aim with this project, financed by FORTE (dnr 2017-01456), is to contribute to the development of better methods for comparable estimates of health among old people, within and between European countries. 

Better health in old age – but how long is the period with severe disability and poor health?

In this project, also financed by FORTE (dnr 2016-00197), I investigate the last part of life with Bettina Meinow and Jonas Wastesson from ARC (Karolinska institutet och Stockholm University). We aim to investigate the length of the so called “fourth age”, that is, the last part of life that is characterized by disability, poor health and dependency. Our research questions concerns how long this period is, how it differs between different groups in the society and if the length of this period is related to when it starts. In this project we use register data from Statistic Sweden and from National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen).

Predictive and individualized care for older people with severe health problems (Focused primary care)

The project “Focused primary care” is an intervention study conducted in collaboration between Professor Jan Marcusson (LiU) and Region Östergötland. The aim is to “focus” the resources in primary care to the old people with greatest need. Together with Professor Andreas Motel-Klingebiel (LiU) I run one of the sub projects in “Focused primary care”. Our sub project aims to strengthen the social science perspective in the project. We will investigate the potential effect of the intervention on quality of life, informal care and trust in society and the health care system for different societal groups. In this project we use register data from the region as well as a survey that is conducted within the project, targeting the old people within the intervention project.

Who drinks more and why? Explanations to the increased alcohol consumption in old age.

I also have an interest in alcohol consumption in old age and have among other things made some studies about alcohol consumption among the oldest old in Sweden. In this project I work with Neda Agahi (project leader) from ARC (Karolinska institutet och Stockholm University) who got money from Systembolaget to investigate possible explanations to the increased alcohol consumption among old people. In this project we use e.g. SWEOLD and HEARTS.