Laura Osman, Canadian Press Published Wednesday, April 27, 2022, 5:33 AM EDT Last Updated on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, 9:07 AM EDT
OTTAWA – The latest census data from 2021 shows that Canadian seniors over the age of 85 are among the fastest growing age groups in the country, marking another milestone in the slow march to what experts warn , there will be a crisis in the care of the elders in the country.
Between 2016 and 2021, the number of people aged 85 and over increased by 12 percent – more than twice the total growth of the Canadian population of 5.2 percent.
The number of people over the age of 85 has more than doubled since the 2001 census and is expected to triple by 2046.
The rate of aging is expected to accelerate with each new candle added to the birthday cake of the boom generation each year.
The oldest baby boomers turned 76 last year and are likely to be living alone, said Bonnie-Gene MacDonald, director of financial security research at the National Institute on Aging at Ryerson University.
“They have not begun to reach these critical ages, which are usually associated with the need for care and support,” said MacDonald. “But it’s really something that’s very clear on the horizon now.”
By 2050, the population aged 85 and over could reach more than 2.7 million people, the census shows, as the last cohort of the baby boom turns 85.
The question is: who will take care of this generation and where will they live?
“One of the major impacts of an aging population is on the health care system and the need for long-term care,” said Doug Norris, Environics’ chief demographer.
More than one in four older people in this age group currently live in a “collective home” such as a nursing home, nursing home, long-term care residence or hospital, the census shows.
The proportion of older people living in these conditions only increases with age, as more than half of centenarians receive care in one of these homes.
Waiting lists for long-term care beds can now be extended by years, leaving people in hospitals because they have nowhere else to go or families struggling to care for their loved ones at home.
“This will affect the country in terms of the way medical resources are distributed. This will certainly require more of our tax budget to be allocated to care for the elderly. But I think it will mostly affect everyone personally, “she said.
This is especially true because older people in Canada have not had as many children as previous generations.
This means fewer carers to care for the growing number of people who will not have access to long-term care places.
“Baby boomers are not only the biggest generation, they are also the first generation to have relatively few children. So they will not have the same family support that has existed since the beginning of time, “said MacDonald.
Now, with one in five people in Canada aged 65 and over, the problem will be costly to avoid, she said.
This is a problem that the researcher has struggled with personally. When her childless aunt stopped eating at her retirement home, MacDonald and other members of her family had to take turns coming to feed her.
People are also living longer, and while this is great news, it also means that health care will need to change to accommodate an older population.
“Canada’s health care system was created when the average age was 28,” said Parminder Raina, research director at the McMaster Institute for Aging Research.
“Emergency hospitals are not designed for an aging population.”
Many of the effects of Canada’s gray wave will not be felt for about five to 10 years, when Canada can expect to see a huge increase in the number of people over 85.
But the country has already missed the boat for major new investments, as people in need of care will not pay income tax for a decision.
This means that Canada will need to be creative in caring for elders in the coming decades.
“We need to create not just better systems, but smarter systems,” MacDonald said.
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