The latest 2021 census data show that Canadian seniors over the age of 85 are one of the fastest growing age groups in the country, with experts caring for seniors in the country. Shows another milestone in a slow march to warn of the crisis.
Between 2016 and 2021, the population aged 85 and over increased by 12%. This is more than double the overall growth of Canada’s population of 5.2%.
The population aged 85 and over has more than doubled since the 2001 census and is expected to triple by 2046.
With each new candle added to the baby boomer birthday cake each year, the pace of aging is expected to accelerate.
Last year, the oldest baby boomer generation turned 76 and probably lives independently, said Bonnie-Jeanne McDonald, head of financial security research at the National Institute on Aging at Ryerson University.
“They aren’t usually starting to reach these important ages associated with the need for care and support,” McDonald’s said. “But that’s really what’s on the horizon very clearly right now.”
By 2050, when the last cohort of baby boomers turns 85, the population aged 85 and over could reach more than 2.7 million, census shows.
The question is who cares for that generation and where they live.
“One of the major impacts of the aging population is the need for health systems and long-term care,” said Dagnaris, chief demographer at Environments.
According to the census, more than one in four elderly people in that age group currently live in “apartments” such as elderly housing, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and hospitals.
The proportion of older people living in these environments only increases with age, as more than half of people over the age of 100 receive care in one of these homes.
The long-term care bed waiting list can already last for years, causing people to get stuck in the hospital because they have nowhere else to go, or the family struggling to take care of their loved ones at home. ..
“It will affect the country in terms of how medical resources are distributed. It will certainly require more of our tax budget to be allocated to the care of older people. But above all, it will. I think it will affect everyone personally, “she said.
That’s especially true, as older Canadian adults didn’t have as many children as previous generations.
In other words, the number of caregivers tends to decrease, and the number of people who cannot access the care space tends to increase.
“The baby boomer generation is not only the largest generation, but also the first generation with relatively few children. Therefore, they basically receive the support of the same family that existed from the beginning of time. No, “McDonald said.
Currently, there is one in five people over the age of 65 in Canada, so she says it can be costly to avoid this problem.
It is a problem that researchers have personally tackled. When her aunt, who had no children, quit eating at her retired home, McDonald’s and her other family members had to take turns to stop by to feed her.
People are also living longer, which is great news, but it also means that healthcare must be changed to accommodate the elderly.
“The Canadian medical system was devised when the average age was 28,” said Parminder Raina, science director at the McMaster Aging Institute.
“Acute hospitals are not designed for aging people.”
Much of the impact of Canada’s gray waves is not felt for about five to ten years when Canada can expect a significant increase in the number of people over 85.
However, the country has already missed a large new investment boat, as people in need of care do not pay income tax to settle.
This means that Canada needs to be creative in caring for its elders over the next few decades.
“We need to create smarter systems, not just better ones,” McDonald’s said.
Laura Ottoman
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