Week 9 Reading n2- Healthy Aging Vision

Page 1: Healthy Aging in Canada

• Title: Healthy Aging in Canada: A New Vision, A Vital Investment

• Prepared for: Federal, Provincial and Territorial Committee of Officials (Seniors)

Page 2: Participating Governments

• Participating Governments include a range of provinces and territories:

  • Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Government of Canada.

• Acknowledgements:

  • Document prepared for the Healthy Aging and Wellness Working Group.

  • Special thanks to Peggy Edwards and Aysha Mawani from The Alder Group.

  • Contributors include the Government of Quebec for sharing information and best practices.

Page 3: About This Brief

• Purpose: To facilitate discussion on promoting healthy aging in Canada.

• Key Focus Areas:

  1. A New Vision for Healthy Aging

  2. A Vital Investment

  3. Achieving the Vision

  4. Five Key Focus Areas

  5. Moving Forward

  6. References

• Target Audience: Government officials, policy-makers, service providers, and older Canadians.

Page 4: A New Vision for Healthy Aging

• Canada is experiencing accelerated aging of its population.

• Importance of recognizing contributions of older adults to society.

• Diversity in aging experiences among seniors.

• Health challenges include chronic diseases despite increased longevity.

• Call to Action: Shift focus towards health promotion and preventive measures.

• A new vision should:

  • Value older individuals' contributions.

  • Celebrate diversity and combat ageism.

  • Foster age-friendly environments for healthy choices.

Page 5: Building on a Solid Foundation

• Previous Frameworks:

  • National Framework on Aging promotes well-being of older people.

  • Five guiding principles: dignity, independence, participation, fairness, security.

  • The vision aims to provide age-friendly environments for older Canadians.

Page 6: A Vital Investment

• By 2031, seniors will represent 25% of the Canadian population (approx. 9 million).

• Importance of investing in healthy aging for social, economic, and political stability.

• Contributions of Seniors:

  • Provide support to families and communities, engage in volunteering, and contribute economically.

  • Seniors are significant caregivers, with many raising grandchildren.

• Economic Impact:

  • Estimated annual value of community contributions: $60.2 billion.

  • Need for policy focus on healthy aging to prevent chronic disease and related costs.

Page 7: Economic Contribution of Seniors

• Seniors represent a large segment of volunteer workforce, helping reduce costs in care services.

• Health care spending for seniors is substantial, necessitating preventative approaches.

• Health System Challenges:

  • Over 44% of provincial health spending is on seniors, with predictions for rising costs.

  • “Compression of morbidity” highlights need for healthier aging paths.

Page 8: Continued Economic Investment

• Healthy aging is a lifecourse approach, benefiting all age groups.

• Investment in older adults promotes public health for future generations.

• Successful Interventions:

  • Tailored health programs can lead to improved outcomes for seniors.

Page 9: Achieving the Vision

• Five Focus Areas for Healthy Aging:

  • Social Connectedness

  • Physical Activity

  • Healthy Eating

  • Falls Prevention

  • Tobacco Control

• Guiding Principles:

  • Dignity, Independence, Participation, Fairness, Security

• Vision aims for supportive environments that promote healthy choices.

Page 10: Mechanisms for Healthy Aging

• Supportive Environments:

  • Creating policies and services that enable healthy aging in communities.

• Mutual Aid:

  • Encouraging support among seniors through community engagements.

• Self-Care:

  • Promoting personal health decisions, supported by tailored information.

Page 11: Support for Mechanisms

• Support efforts through training, community capacity-building, and research.

Page 12: Evidence Base for Key Focus Areas

• Understanding determinants of health affects implementation of solutions:

  • Social Connectedness:

    • Involvement influences mental health and coping.

  • Physical Activity:

    • Consistent activity correlates with better health outcomes.

  • Healthy Eating:

    • Nutritional needs change with age, requiring targeted interventions.

Page 13-15: Detailed Focus Areas

• Physical Activity:

  • Critical for maintaining mobility and well-being; accessibility is key.

• Healthy Eating:

  • Essential for independence; barriers include loneliness and finances.

• Falls Prevention:

  • Critical to reduce injury impacts, particularly for older women.

Page 16: Moving Forward

• Action Steps:

  1. Embrace an inclusive vision for healthy aging.

  2. Fund initiatives that create supportive environments for seniors.

  3. Collaborate using existing programs to foster healthy aging.

  4. Engage in international efforts to create age-friendly cities.

  5. Re-orient health services to prioritize prevention.

Page 17: Additional Recommendations

• Document successful practices in healthy aging programs.

• Create national guidelines for promoting healthy aging across Canada.

• Strengthen intergenerational relations and support community activities.

Page 18: References

• Comprehensive list of resources citing studies and government frameworks relevant to aging and health.