Senior Health in Canada

According to Statistics Canada, the percentage of people over the age of 65 in Canada is over 15%, which is compared to 7.6% in 1960 (CMA, 2016). This percentage is projected to rise to 20.1% in 2024, and 25% in 2036 (CMA, 2016). Canadians over the age of 85 are the fastest growing age group in Canada (CMA, 2016). According to the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), Medicare was established and built to deal with acute health problems experienced by people who were previously healthy (CMA, 2016). The aging population in Canada requires changes to the health system that will help meet the needs of seniors with ongoing and chronic health issues (CMA, 2016).

Seniors can be vulnerable for a myriad of reasons including socioeconomic status, frailty, and cognitive decline (Schröder-Butterfill & Marianti, 2006). “Vulnerability is the outcome of complex interactions of discrete risks, namely of being exposed to a threat, of a threat materialising, and of lacking the defences or resources to deal with a threat (Schröder-Butterfill & Marianti, p.1, 2006).” The effects of vulnerability can compound for people who are part of more than one group that experiences oppression (Schröder-Butterfill & Marianti, 2006). For example, if a senior person has a low socioeconomic status, has little social support, lives in a rural location, and also has declining cognitive abilities due to dementia, the level of vulnerability the person faces may be great. The lack of resources that contribute to vulnerability in older adults, are an opportunity for intervention.

Caregivers are an integral part of the health system, especially in dealing with the care needs of older people living with chronic health issues, disabilities, and other age-related issues (CMA, 2016). In a Statistics Canada report, it was found that in 2012, 2.2 million Canadians over the age of 15 (or 8% of the population) received care from a family member or friend for an age related health issue or disability (CMA, 2016). The same report showed that 51% of the caregivers provided a minimum of 10 hours per week of care (Statistics Canada, 2012). The care giving support of family members and friends allows seniors to remain in their homes rather than hospitals, and other institutions. This support also reduces the cost to the health system (CMA, 2016). Taking on the role of caregiving often means balancing competing life demands like paid work and children. Many caregivers are also faced with out-of-pocket costs (CMA, 2016). The CMA recommends that the federal government do more to support caregivers, in the form of financial assistance, and by amending the Caregiver and Family Caregiver tax credits to make them refundable (CMA, 2016).

Improving senior care in Canada means providing specialty care in a timely manner (CMA, 2016). Cataract surgery and hip replacements are common surgeries in seniors (CMA, 2016). According to data from provincial wait time websites, Canada ranked tenth out of eleven countries that were compared for wait times, for specialist appointments (CMA, 2016). There were substantial differences in wait times between provinces as well (CMA, 2016). For example, BC ranked seventh with the wait time for a hip replacement being 337 days, while Newfoundland and Labrador ranked first with the wait time for the same operation being 173 days (CMA, 2016). For cataract surgery, BC ranked ninth with a 243 day wait time, and NL ranked 2nd with a 97 day wait time (CMA, 2016).

The CMA has recommended that the federal government make many improvements to the strategy for addressing the needs of the growing population of seniors in Canada (CMA, 2016). This includes developing a vision, and improving how senior care is measured and delivered (CMA, 2016). It also includes improving wait times and providing support to caregivers (CMA, 2016).

References

Canadian Medical Association (CMA). (2016) Retrieved on November 17, 2018 from https://www.cma.ca/En/Lists/Medias/the-state-of-seniors-health-care-in-canada-september-2016.pdf

Schröder-Butterfill, E., & Marianti, R. (2006). A framework for understanding old-age vulnerabilities. Ageing and society, 26(1), 9-35.

Statistics Canada. (2012). Portrait of Caregivers. Retrieved on November 17, 2018 from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/89-652-x/89-652-x2013001-eng.htm