This document defines different categories of older adulthood and discusses issues pertaining to aging populations. It notes that the percentage of Canadians over age 65 has been increasing and is projected to reach 18.9% by 2021 due to longer life expectancies and lower birth rates. The document also discusses health problems that are more common in older adults such as mobility issues, vision problems, and memory loss. Additionally, it examines the needs of older adults for care at home or in long-term care facilities, caregiver stress, and rights of older adults in institutional settings. Income sources for older Canadians such as Old Age Security, Canada Pension Plan and Guaranteed Income Supplement are also outlined. Vulnerable groups facing higher risks of poverty

1. Issues in Human Services
(HMNS 10085)
Module 6: Issues Pertaining to
Older Adults

2. Defining Older Adulthood:
• Very complex
• Statistics Canada defines a senior citizen as,
– “a person age 65 years or older, who is eligible
to collect full pension benefits.”
• Chronological age (years)
• Social age (social expectation for 65 year
old adults to retire

3. Different Categories of
Older Adulthood
• 3 different age groups:
– “Young old” - 65 to 70 years
» 53% are women
– “Middle old” - 75 to 84 years
» 60% are women
– “Old old” - 85+ years
» 70% are women

4. Aging Population
• Means that older adults, as a group, are growing
more than the growth of the population of all
Canadians
• Percentage of the Canadian population that was 65
years or older:
–
–
–
–
1981 - 9.6%
1991 - 11.4%
2001 - 12.5%
2005 - 13.1%
• Projected that 18.9% of the Canadian population
will be 65 years or older in 2021

5. Reasons for Aging Population:
• Longer life expectancy - more older adults
• The beginning of the baby boom generation
have started to reach the age of 65 years (in
2011).
• Lowered birth rate - fewer babies being
born

6. Ageism:
• “Any attitude, action or institutional structure that
subordinates or oppresses a person or group on the
basis of age.” (Hick, 2006, p. 252).
• Western society > aging is feared
> places premium importance on productivity
>when one stops working in the paid labour force, rely on
fixed income
>viewed as not productive but as burdensome
• Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982.
>prohibited to discriminate based on age

7. Health Problems of Aging:
• 65-74 age group:
– Most remain in good health
– 1/3 report some level of pain or discomfort
• 75+ years:
– More likely to suffer from pain - acute pain from injury
or illness
– Chronic pain lingering months to years
– Eg. arthritic conditions, diabetes, heart disease
– May lead to depression

8. Health Problems of Aging:
• Over the age of 75 years, adults experience
the following problems at higher rates:
– Mobility
– Vision
– Memory

9. Health Problems of Aging:
• Incidence of long term, debilitating terminals
illness have increased with increased life
expectancy:
– Cancer
– Alzheimers
• Loss of independence and the fear of it
• Myth > older adults all get dementia
> only 4% of people aged 75+ have dementia

10. Need for Care: At Home
• Need assistance with many of the activities they
do daily:
– Eg. Meal preparation
Everyday housework
Heavy household chores
Attending appointments
Financial managing
Moving around the house
Nursing care

11. Need for Care: At Home
• Large proportion do not tend to receive the help
they need.
• 41% of older adults 65+ either received help but
needed more or received no help at all.
– Mobility – 42% of those aged 65+ received no help or
received help but needed more.
– Vision – 46.3% of those aged 65+ received no help or
received help but needed more.
– Memory – 50.8% of those aged 65+ received no help
or received help but needed more.

12. Who Are Unpaid Caregivers?
• Mostly women (57%)
– May be an older woman themselves (16% are 65+
years, 8% are 75+ years).
• Women provide assistance with personal care
(bathing, toileting, dressing)
– 60% of women vs. 30% of men > tasks inside the house
– 33% of women vs. 53% of men > tasks outside the
house
• Personal care tasks and care management tasks
>more frequent, daily usually

13. Caregivers’ Other
Responsibilities:
• Many caregivers provide this care while trying to
maintain other responsibilities
–
–
–
–
43% of caregivers are between the ages of 45-54
Children at home
76% are married
57% are employed > only 1/3rd retired
• Tends to be long term
– Provide care for > 5 years
– 10% providing care for > 10 yrs

14. Caregiver Stress
• Higher level of symptoms of distress:
– Depression
– Anxiety
– Headaches
-Feeling Demoralized
-Insomnia
-Irritability
• Can be mitigated by:
– Positive interpretation of caregiving
– Getting some relief from caregiving, occasionally
• Considered one of the causes of Elder Abuse &
Neglect.

15. Relocation to Long Term Care
• Due to a combination of risk factors:
– Experiencing difficulty doing activities of daily
living
– Having a form of dementia
– Recent hospitalization/health deterioration
– Being 85+
– Living alone

16. Impacts of Move to
Long Term Care
• Stress
• Loss of culture
• Loss of community
– LGBTQ
• May feel relief

17. Impacts of Move to
Long Term Care
•
•
•
•
Change in habits and routines
Less contact with family and friends
Loss of clubs or organizations
Greater difficulty doing hobbies previously
enjoyed.

18. Rights of Older
Adults:Violations
• Abuse in institutional settings
• Direct - individual resident is target of
abuse or neglect
• Systemic - policies or procedures that limit
the rights or result in the direct abuse or
neglect of residents (eg. restraints)

19. Rights of Older Adults:
Violations:
• Some signs or symptoms of abuse:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Dehydration/malnourishment
Untreated medical issues
Missing aids (eg. hearing aids) or property
Unexplained injuries
Use of restraints, if frequent & to replace care
Decisions made for the resident - not able to participate
in decision-making
– Lack of sufficient medical reasons for medication given
– Family having difficulty contacting resident

20. Rights of Older Adults: Long
Term Care Homes Act, 2007
• To improve the quality of care in Long-Term
Care:
• Steps to improve care:
– The Home is “primarily the home of its residents & is to be operated so
that it is a place where they may live with dignity & in security, safety &
comfort, and have their physical, psychological, social, spiritual &
cultural needs adequately met.” (Mead, 2010).
– Bill of rights which includes the right not to be neglected, to have access
to their personal health records
– Goal of care -> independence to the greatest extent possible

21. Rights of Older Adults: Long
Term Care Homes Act, 2007
• Steps to improve care:
– Limits to restraints- resident safety
– Respect of choices and lifestyle
– Provide opportunity to have private meetings
with partners or another person
– Provide social & recreational activities >
includes those who not able to leave room
– Enforcement of these rights by the Ministry of
Health and Long-Term Care

22. Loss of Significant Relationships
• Acute grief - up to ~ 6 months
– Physical symptoms - headaches
- dizziness…
– Psychological symptoms - intense sadness
- longing & yearning for deceased
- Feelings of hopelessness….
--> Becomes less acute & intense - may last years

23. Loss of Significant Relationships
• Major disruption to the life of the surviving
spouse
– Finding new & positive meaning in life
– Developing new social roles
– Relationships with friends may change
– Financial loss
– Housing
– Transportation
– Need for increased social support

24. Income of Older Adults:
• Sources of income (beginning at age 65):
– Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement
– Canada Pension Plan
– Guaranteed Annual Income Supplement (GAINS)
(Ontario)
– Over two thirds of older adults rely on OAS & CPP as
main source of income
– the remainder > private pension or one sponsored by an
employer.
– small number of older adults also have RRSPs

25. Income of Older Adults
• Has improved > success of combined public &
private retirement income system.
– Seniors with low income: 1985 > 14.7%
2004 > 7.3%
• Due to:
– More people becoming eligible for Canada Pension
Plan
– Maturation of CPP - 1990s > more retirees earning full
benefits
– More women in the labour force

26. Groups of Older Adults Vulnerable
to Experiencing Poverty:
• Women:
– 22% of all older adult women experience poverty vs. 10% of older
adult men (City of Hamilton)
• Recent newcomers (1991+):
– 27% vs. 17% of older adults on the whole, experience poverty
• Visible minorities:
– 20% & 23% (Ontario) vs. 17% of older adults experience poverty
• Aboriginal:
– 25% vs. 17% of older adults experience poverty

27. Readings:
1. Mayo, S., Wetselaar, R., Bakht, L. & Camplin,
B. (2011). Profile of Vulnerable Seniors in
Hamilton: Summary Report. Hamilton: Social
Planning and Research Council of Hamilton
•
http://www.sprc.hamilton.on.ca/Reports/pdf/SPRC_Seni
ors_Report_2011_Summary.pdf
2. Walters, Joan (2012). “The Silver Tsunami”. In
The Hamilton Spectator, January 14, 2012.
Hamilton:
•
http://www.thespec.com/news/local/article/654486--the-silver-t