CH 7 AGING

Life expectancy: ~82 (2021)

• Men:  ~80

• Women: ~84

Baby Boomers (born 1947-1965) are now entering ‘old age’

• referred to as ‘grey tsunami’

• 2010: ~15% of Canadians >65; 2030: ~25% 

Canadians refer to ‘old-age’ as beginning at 65

• 65 is associated with age of eligibility for Old Age Security   payments and pension

• as we are living longer, and mandatory retirement has ended,    this age is expected to increase to 70

Apocalyptic demography

• Idea that the aging population will have catastrophic consequences for society 

more women than men have _____ in old age

dementia

Canada’s aging population: perceived crisis

• Baby-boomer cohort

• Declining fertility

• Many homes dual income; reduced time to care for elderly family members

• Increased sedentary lifestyles and poor diets

• Feminization of aging

• Health-care system unprepared for increased demand for services

vertical extension

• living with more generations alive

horizontal shrinkage

• living with fewer siblings

Serial caregiving

• refers to situation where adult cares for their own children and after they’ve left home, they care for parent or spouse

Caregiver stress and burden may result in

• depression, guilt, worry, anxiety, loneliness, isolation

• Government prefers families to do the caregiving + families prefer to do the caregiving

Federal Government Programs

For your spouse or common-law partner, you may be entitled to claim a certain amount

Provincial Government Programs

• Respite Care 

  • sitter attendant services, adult daycare, short term respite

Voluntary/Non-profit services

• often not coordinated

Caring for the elderly: contemporary challenges

• Aging in place:

  • Aging at home or in the same community while still receiving the necessary social and health related support 

• Finances 

• Health issues

• Time 

Caring for the Elderly: Historical Perspective

• Long term care facilities [LTCF] for the elderly slow to develop in 1900s

• 1957 Hospital Insurance and Diagnostic Services Act

1957 Hospital Insurance and Diagnostic Services Act

provinces now required to provide inpatient services including chronic and convalescent care

Caring for the Elderly: Beginning in 1950s

• increased government financial support for LTCF

• clients/families choose facility and facilities are classified based   on need/services provided

• standards of care and inspection for all facilities

• clients not expected to work;

• art, music and other programs encouraged 

Critical perspectives on for-profit care homes

• >80% of elderly Canadians who died from COVID, were living in long-term care homes

• Neoliberalization of Care:

• funding cuts

• Deregulation

• Privatization

• +ageism

• Council of Canadians calling for:

• increased federal funding conditional on meeting national long-term care standards; 

• Phasing out the for-profit long-term care system in Canada; 

• Improved working conditions, including enhanced training, livable wages and paid sick leave; 

• Improved living conditions, such as end the use of multi-bedrooms; 

• Adequate staffing levels; 

• Improved health and safety measures; 

• Measures to address staff shortages, retention, and attracting new workers to the industry.