In the 1950s and ’60s when medicare was developed, life expectancy was a bit over 70 years, and seniors were only 7.5 per cent of the population. Today, life expectancy is 82 years, and seniors constitute 17 per cent of Canadians. Numbers will peak at 25 per cent in 2041 with 10.8 million seniors, by which time the majority will be 80 and older, entering a period in their lives when they will need better and more varied support services to age well, and not just in health care.
In November 2020, we published our report Aging Well with Queen’s University School of Policy Studies calling to revolutionize Canada’s approach to seniors’ care. In our report, we propose a proactive, co-ordinated, and holistic model that considers the health-care needs of Canada’s rapidly aging population in tandem with seniors’ housing, lifestyle, and social needs.
We have seen the tsunami of a rapidly aging population for some time. But we have so far failed to address the challenges that come with it, or even ask if there is a better way.