The aging population is a major demographic change that Canada will have to face. According to statistics on these changes, the number of people aged 65 or older could double in the next 20 years (“Canada's Aging Population: Impacts and Challenges,” 2012). This rapid growth in the aging population has many negative implications for various aspects of Canadian society. The resources, both human and financial, that are required to support the current basic needs of Canada’s growing aging population will put great stress on the population responsible for supporting them. Thus, the aging population will be affected themselves, in addition to their families and society as a whole. The aging population will be affected themselves by the nationwide …show more content…
Statistics Canada has reported, “In 2012, 8 million Canadians, or 28% of the population aged 15 and over, provided care to family members or friends with a long-term health condition, a disability or problems associated with aging.” The caregiver burden placed on people who must support their senior family members can result in economic hardship in their lives. A statistic relating to this states of regular caregivers, “[…] 28% who cared for a child and 20% who cared for a spouse experienced financial difficulties as a result of their caregiving responsibilities. This proportion was 7% among those who regularly helped their parents” (“Family caregiving,” 2013). While 7% does not seem that significant, it has the potential to grow in the future, especially as more of the population ages, lives longer, and more illness occur. There are also emotional and psychological aspects of the caregiver burden that can take a toll on people who care for their aging relatives. For example, “Among regular caregivers […] 21% who helped their parents reported feeling depressed” (“Family caregiving,” 2013). Caring for elderly family members will add strain to people financially and emotionally as they try to find the time and resources to meet the needs of their aging family as well as support themselves. It is especially difficult to care for the elderly …show more content…
An area of major concern is the effects on healthcare costs and taxes. The Globe and Mail reports, “Canadians are living longer, with more diseases. A growing number are developing multiple chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease” (“Canada's aging population will strain the health-care system,” 2012). The aging demographic will be a test for Canada’s health-care system. That trend will put huge demands on the resources for long-term care and home care by 2030, and will continue for the next 30 years. Older seniors are more likely to have health problems or need help to stay in their homes (“Canada's aging population will strain the health-care system,” 2012). Another societal aspect that the aging population will impact and cause potential issues for is the workforce. From a CTV news
Mollie is the patient in our case study. Mollie lives with her daughter and son in law, both in their 70’s. A home health aide assists Mollie five days a week for three hours each day. At age 94, Mollie is an older adult, considered to be part of a vulnerable population, at risk for hearing, visual and mobility deficits. This at risk population can experience changes in cognitive or physical status making the activities of daily living difficult to perform (Meiner, 2011). As people like Mollie age, gradually becoming less able to function independently, their grown children, potential caregivers, may be preoccupied with the demands of their own lives and not prepared to care for an older
(Davidson, F. G.) Due to the nature of dementia being a neuropsychological disorder, those affected by the disease tend to look like they will not require much care, which, in reality, they often require more care than the caregiver originally expected, leading to stress and burnout. Another effect caused by this can be the caregiver blaming themselves by feeling like they are failing to give proper care, which, in reality, can often be very far from the truth. If the caregiver does not receive help from anyone else, the task of watching over the victim becomes a daunting twenty for hour task. Sometimes, the caregiver won’t be allowed quality sleep. Over 66 percent of home caregivers suffer from some form of psychological or physical illness. The most common illness that is resulted from giving care to Alzheimer’s disease is depression. The caregiver needs to monitor their emotional well-being as well as the well-being as the person that they are giving care to. Usually, giving care to those with dementia is actually more stressful than giving care to those with cancer. When the caregiver is a family member and not a professional, the emotional toll is often even greater. It is important for caregivers to remember that they need to take care of themselves first and
In Canada, over 400,000 babies were born annually from 1945 to 1965, which increased Canada’s population rate by 20% (“Canadian”). This period in Canadian history occurred after the Second World War when millions of men returned home to their families or immigrated to other countries with their war brides. Some ended up settling in Canada which dramatically increased the birth rate; their experience and survival of the war caused them to realize how important life is, instigating them to have as many children as they can support bringing about the group of people now referred to as the Baby Boom Generation. The baby boom generation significantly impacted Canada as it helped the young country to recover from the devastating Great Depression. Indeed, the baby boom generation had a positive contribution to Canadian society during the 1950s because it changed the face of Canada in the international stage, increased the Canadian living standard, and established and developed the suburban areas.
The Canadian population is graying at a steady pace, adding thousands of seniors above the age of 65 in the population charts year after year. This segment of the population needs special attention due to its social, emotional, health, and dwelling needs. Continued growth in the size of aging population is putting pressure on the economy, health care system, and living space for seniors. Planners and policy makers need to pay immediate attention to the issue as it is going to affect all Canadians in the years to come.
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.
Roberto, K. A., & Jarrott, S. E. (2008, January). Family Caregivers of Older Adults: A Life Span Perspective. Family Relations , 100-111.
Traditionally, in numerous societies as mothers and fathers grow older, their offspring physically repay their debts, emotionally and financially to their parents. They take care of them. In spite of the fact that this continues today in modern and postmodern societies families have themselves changed thus have the baselines of support and care. Increasingly, in numerous societies individuals come to live all alone or are placed in nursing care homes as they grow older there is placing an increased demand on the aged care system, as well as several health inequalities.
Canada is at a crossroads today. The number of older Canadians is increasing dramatically as the baby boomers age. All across the country, waiting lists keep growing and many patients cannot find a family doctor. Governments have huge deficits and hard pressed for additional funds. Critics argue that urgent action is needed and that by encouraging people to pay will lessen wait times. However, in reality Canadians would be worse off if they had to pay for some of their medical care themselves.
The book, ‘How to Care for Aging Parents’ is authored by Virginia Morris and with a forward by Robert M. Butler. In up-to-date new edition, the author completely revised and expanded over 200 pages of the text, covering the emotional, the legal issues and procedures, the financial aspect of every kind, medical related issues, and logistical related issues in caring for the elderly.
Uhlenberg, Peter. 1992. “Population Aging and Social Policy.” Annual Review, Sociology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Family caregivers are sometimes referred to as “secondary patients,” who deserve and require sanctuary and direction (Reinhard, Given, Petlick, & Bemis, 2008). Margaret’s husband Edward and daughter Sally, Despite giving primary care to the age care facility are very much part caregivers themselves and perform an indispensable role in Margaret’s health. Despite this, research on interventions to increase support for family caregivers have lagged far behind those provided for patients (Reinhard et al., 2008). The fami...
One of the most important concerns that not only the certain region or country but the whole globe is facing with is the societal aging. Societal aging refers to the “social and demographic process that result in the aging of a population” Aging of the population would impact different aspect of social life. For instance, as the baby boomers aging, the evolvement of those generation in different community would increase. Also, the expectation of better healthcare and ethical issues around the aged people has grown (Morgan & Kunkle 2016: 6).
With advanced technologies in health care, the average lifespan of humans is around eighty-eight years, and these numbers are growing rapidly. Most elderly outnumber the younger within our population now, and with more of the baby boomer generation reaching the gold years, this number will rise exponentially. The cost of healthcare rising and the amount of Medicare funds decreasing makes caring for that loved one challenging. Statistics by Dr. Feng presented, “Individuals are living much longer; family structures are changing; women have entered the workforce. With no national health insurance program like Medicare and with the one-child policy that places elder care responsibilities on fewer shoulders” (Dr Feng). To some, the question of placing an elderly family member in long-term care facilities is a difficult one to consider. All too many times the elderly abandoned are not seeing families until visitation funeral ceremonies.
Considering that it would cost the country $24 to $31 billion every year if informal caregivers were paid for their labour (Bernier, 2014), introducing a caregiver benefit or increasing the amounts paid for the Child Disability Benefit is a justified solution. Caring for children with disabilities can be physically demanding and time-consuming, while negatively impacting employment as well as family and social relationships. Consequently, family caregivers are at heightened risk of depression and health issues, which is compounded by the fact that they are less likely to engage in preventive health practices (Resch et al., 2010). Given that caregivers’ quality of life is significantly dependent on their ability to access support, increased financial aid can be used towards services like respite care, which may not only better meet the needs of the children with disabilities, but also those of other family members. Similarly, the parents of these children are more likely to experience marital discord.
"For me, no ideological or political conviction would justify the sacrifice of a human life. For me, the value of life is absolute, with no concessions. It's not negotiable." (Edgar Ramirez) all people should be allowed to do the same things. There are multiple issues in the world that refer to discrimination such as racism towards women, elderly, and disabled people and abortion.