Aging Population In Canada

Social integration and participation of seniors in society are important indicators of healthy aging. However, seniors are always at risk of being socially isolated. Many factors can cause social isolation and among them population aging that resulted more seniors to live longer is one of the most important factors.

In this paper, we first review the trend of aging population in Canada. The existing literature is reviewed to highlight the importance of social integration. Then, we present the definition of loneliness and social isolation and explore the risk factors that cause social isolations. Among the many recognized risk factors, population aging is a significant risk factor that is highly correlated with social isolation. A review of

existing literature highlights how population aging causes social isolation and how the social isolation of seniors might affect the health and social service usage.
Finally, some of the proposed policies for interventions to address social isolation and loneliness forms concluding rematks.

Aging Population in Canada

Today, the population aging in Canada has drawn lots of attention. The 2015 census reveals that the population aged at 65-and-over consists 16.1% of Canada’s entire population, whereas the population aged at under-14 consists slightly less than that (16%) which is the lowest level ever. According to all selected scenarios, it is expected that the proportion of seniors to rise to between 23% and 25% of the population by 2036 and between 24% and 28% by 2061 [1].
Similarly, according to the medium-growth scenario, the population aged 80 years or over would be 2.6 times higher in 2036 compared to 2009, and 3.9 times higher by 2061. It could reach 3.3 million persons by 2036 and 5.1 million by 2061.[1] The impact of these demographic changes on Canadian’s health care would be very significant.

The importance of social integration
By definition loneliness refers to not only the numbers of relationships but also the quality of relationships. If the number of relationships on individuals is smaller than expected or the quality of the existing relationships is less than desired the loneliness occurs (de Jong-Gierveld and van Tilburg ,1999). In fact, the absence of a partner or children may cause loneliness leading to ‘social isolation’ (Weiss, as cited in van Baarsen 2002). However, there is a slight difference between the definitions of the two. This difference is highlighted by their remedies. Absence or loss of a partner or close relatives only be substituted by another close relatives. While social isolation occurring for instance due to relocation can best be resolved by acquiring new contacts (Weiss, as cited in van Baarsen 2002). Study shows that for seniors, relationships with family and friends stands as second most important area of life after their general health status (Victor et al, 2000 p. 409). This clearly shows that how important social relationships are to seniors and how potentially damaging loneliness or social isolation may be.

Risk factors for social isolation and loneliness
Risk factors are the factors that may put someone at risk for being socially isolated.

The risk factors of isolation include health and disabilities, gender, loss of a spouse, living alone, reduced social networks, transportation issues, place of residence, and aging. Among these factors, aging has higher correlation with other factors. Given that some studies (Hall, Havens, 1999) show that the risk factors are in fact additive, meaning that the presence of more than one risk factor compounds the risk of loneliness and social isolation, the importance of emerging population aging in Canada becomes more significant.

Several studies also asserted that loneliness is correlated with aging itself (Tijhuis et al, 1999; Victor et al, 2000) and that there was a gradual increase in loneliness up to the age of 90 (Holmen, 1992). This increasing trend can be attributed to interactions with other factors due to additive nature of risk factors for loneliness and social isolation (Victor et al, 2000).

The Effects of Seniors’ Social Isolation on Health and Social Service

Usage
The impacts of social isolation on health and social service usage are complex and varied. However, the World Health Organization (2003) verifies that social isolation is associated with “increased rates of premature death, lower general well-being, more depression, and a higher level of disability from chronic diseases” (p.16 leading to increased use of social and health services. Penning (1995) also showed that older adults without family support networks utilize hospital emergency room services more than the ones with family supports. likewise, Evashwick, Rowe, Diehr and Branch (1984) show that those who lived alone used higher hospital care (Evashwick et al, 1984). Another study shows that participants with moderate or higher levels of support appeared to use a lower volume of medical services at higher levels of need as compared to other groups (Penning, 1995). Furthermore, Penning showed that the seniors experiencing high levels of instrumental support tend to request less service use (Penning, 1995).

With regard to impacts on social service utilization Coulton and Frost (1982) explored the relationship between level of social support and its influence on health and social service utilization.

Their findings indicate that socially isolated seniors seem to have higher ties to community agencies as indicating their higher utilization of services in general. This association of social isolation with higher service usage confirms the theory that isolated individuals use more services as a substitute for social ties” (Coulton and Frost, 1982 p. 336). In another work, Choi (1994) examined the effect of family support on social service use. In his study seniors were divided into three groups; those who lived with children, those whose children lived apart and those who were childless. The study confirmed the importance of children as informal care providers to those seniors with the most functional and physical problems. It also noted the role of family members as enablers to service

use.

Interventions for social isolation among seniors
The most common type of program aimed at reducing social isolation and loneliness found in the literature was a type of peer (volunteer) helping/ visiting outreach model. Several examples of these types of programs are presented as well as others that involve peer support groups and programs that recruit seniors to volunteer with other populations such as children. The literature does caution that when planning interventions for socially isolated and lonely seniors a good understanding of the target group, or of an individual’s need for acceptance and social support is necessary before employing commonly recommended interventions.

Policy implications: Future work around social isolation and loneliness in seniors
Given the potential harmful effects of social isolation and loneliness in seniors it is important to pursue this issue in order to reduce emotional damage to seniors and inappropriate health and social service usage. The policy implications of social isolation and loneliness among seniors can be separated into two categories, areas for further research and the development of future interventions.