Trends in Aging and Health

Aging in Canada

The senior population continues to increase in Canada, which now account for approximately 16.9% of the total population, compared to 10% 25 years ago (Statistics Canada, 2016).

The first of the Baby Boomers turned 65 in 2011, resulting in a 20% increase in the number of seniors in Canada never seen before (Statistics Canada, 2016). Shockingly, centenarians were the fastest-growing population (+41%) and seniors in total now out-number children under 14 years of age (Statistics Canada, 2016).

As more and more Baby Boomers enter the age of 65, the population is projected to represent 23% of the total population which leaves serious implications on those who will be seeking health care services and alternate living accommodations to support their needs; the two charts below demonstrate the observed increase and projected increase in seniors 65-79 years, and over 80 years; and the growth in the 65 years and older population projections (Statistics Canada, 2016).

The rising trend in our aging population will shape the delivery of healthcare to the largest population of adults with chronic conditions that impact function, health status, and quality of life.

Health-adjusted life expectancy

To better understand the population of seniors living healthy-lives versus those living with poor health states and managing chronic illness, measure Health-adjusted life expectancy can assist with this. Health-adjusted life expectancy “is an indicator of the average number of years that an individual is expected to live in a healthy state”, as it provides a summary measure of population health that combines both quantity of life and quality of life” shedding light to the burden of disease, risk factors, health disparities between sexes and socioeconomic status, and the performance of public health efforts in populations (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2012).

For example, in Canadian the calculation in 2001 for women and men in the top income group had a health-adjusted life expectancy at birth of 72.3 years and 70.5 years, meaning they will live approximately this long without morbidity and disability (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2012).

Living with Chronic Health Conditions is On the Rise

As the Baby Boomers age, they are projected to also live with multiple chronic conditions that impact their overall health status and use of health care services. The chart below demonstrates that as an individual ages the proportion of the population living with multiple comorbidities also increases; which informs health policy makers of the importance of health care delivery models that will need to be structured to provide adequate primary health care of chronic disease management to these seniors who are primarily in dwelling in the community, not in hospitals or institutions (Statistics Canada, 2016).

Women. Interestingly, health-adjusted life expectancy informs that while women live longer than men, their longevity is not associated with good health, as chronic conditions are the primary factor lowering one’s health-adjusted life expectancy (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2012). As women live longer, they also have a higher risk than men in developing chronic conditions, and are more likely than men to have 2 or more chronic conditions with associated disabilities that affect their daily functioning and independence (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2012).

Health Status and Health Promotion Behaviours in Older Adults

Trends in health care spending show us that the largest group of health care users are seniors, with multiple chronic conditions, reporting poorer self-perceived health, who are of lower socio-economic status, and are physically inactive (Rosella et al., 2014). Looking at ways better provide health care services to this population will create opportunities for more efficient and effective health care delivery that reduce costs to the system.

Government and policy makers should enhance health care services to the high users populations and design health care delivery models to promote health-promoting behaviours in all populations, especially targeting younger baby boomers, as health behaviours are associated with higher rates of good health in older adults (Statistics Canada, 2016).

Resources

Public Health Agency of Canada (2012). Health-adjusted life expectancy Health-Adjusted Life Expectancy in Canada: 2012 Report by the Public Health Agency of Canada. Retrieved from: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/science-research-data/health-adjusted-life-expectancy-canada-2012-report-public-health-agency-canada.html#c1

Rosella, L. C., Fitzpatrick, T., Wodchis, W. P., Calzavara, A., Manson, H., & Goel, V. (2014). High-cost health care users in Ontario, Canada: demographic, socio-economic, and health status characteristics. BMC health services research, 14(1), 532.Retrieved from: https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s12913-014-0532-2

Statistics Canada (July 28, 2016) Research highlights on health and aging.Retrieved from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-631-x/11-631-x2016001-eng.htm

All images from Statistics Canada (2016).