The COVID-19 pandemic revealed longstanding shortcomings in the way Canada supports and provides care for older adults.
After decades of chronic underfunding and understaffing, long-term care organizations across the country were too often unpreparedClose to 70% of Canada’s COVID-19 fatalities have occurred in long-term care.1 for a crisis of this magnitude, which left residents and staff vulnerable to COVID-19 and its impacts.
The pandemic also underscored the critical role caregivers play in providing care to older adults. Spouses, children, friends, and neighbours often act as essential partners in care where services are inadequate, inaccessible, or out of reach – geographically and financially.
Canadian seniors are increasingly fearful that they will not have the supports they need to live a dignified life independently, or in a care setting. All levels of government owe it to our older adult population to shore up resources to meet the challenges of Canada’s growing and aging population.
What actions can Canada take to support better aging and older adult care?
Why must Canada support better aging and older adult care?
HealthCareCAN actions to support better aging and older adult care
Life expectancy in Canada is risingBy 2030, an anticipated 1 in 5 Canadians will be 65 years and older, according to a CanAge publication from August 2020 titled VOICES of Canada’s seniors: a roadmap to an age-inclusive Canada., and people across Canada can expect to live longer, better lives, but with that longevity comes increased chance of developing chronic health issues, many of which require more complex health and social services. Many older adults want to age at home, in their communities, but Canada’s infrastructure is not set up to meet their needs and accommodate them as they age.
Furthermore, unpaid caregivers, who often act as essential partners in care where services are inadequate, inaccessible, or out of reach, are saving the health system an estimated $9 billion a year and personally incurring an estimated $33 billion in direct and indirect costs2 – such as out-of-pocket expenses, lost productivityThe estimated cost to the Canadian economy from lost productivity is 1.3 billion per year. 3, and forgone vacation time – annually.
There must be fundamental transformation to reimagine older adult care in this country and better support Canada’s caregivers.
Creating communities that allow adults to age in place will:
% of Canadians aged 65+ who say they will do everything possible to avoid a stay in LTC
Source: Ipsos. 2020. Safer at home: Eight in ten Canadians vow to do all they can to avoid going into long-term care.
Developing a national approach to better aging and older adult care will:
Number of patients with demand for long-term care and home care (click image to expand)
Source: Deloitte. 2021. Canada’s elder care crisis: Addressing the doubling demand.
Providing better financial and social supports for unpaid caregivers will:
The financial and career impacts to unpaid caregivers (click image to expand)
Source: Canadian Caregiver Coalition. 2015. Care & work: A balancing act.
"This budget does not effectively address what our health care system has undergone for the last two years." - HealthCareCAN president and CEO, Paul-Émile Cloutier
April 10, 2022
How HealthCareCAN is Helping to Address Critical System Challenges - A Q&A with HealthCareCAN's president & CEO, Paul-Émile Cloutier, by HIROC
April 7, 2022
Critics stress health system capacity constraints as Trudeau speaks with premiers - Interview with HealthCareCAN
January 10, 2022
The Urgent Obligation to Stabilize Canada’s Health Care System – Article in Policy Magazine by Paul-Émile Cloutier
January 7, 2022
Short-term fixes no answer for long-term care: Joint op-ed by Baycrest, Bruyère and HealthCareCAN
September 23, 2021
Submission to the Standing Committee on Health: Study on the Emergency Situation Facing Canadians in Light of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Health human resources / Indigenous health / Infrastructure / Long-term care / Mental health / Research & innovation / Year 2022
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