The Aging of Canada’s Population

The Aging of Canada’s Population

Some have called it the “grey tsunami”.

The boomer generation is growing older, quickly. With those born at the early end of that generation about to turn 65, the population of senior citizens is about to explode. In fact, according to Statistics Canada, the population of those considered to be senior citizens is growing, and is also proportionally increasing relative to other age groups:

  • In 2001, there were 3.9 million seniors
  • By 2021, it is estimated there will be 6.7 million seniors
  • By 2041, it is estimate there will be 9.2 million seniors – this represent one in every four Canadians
  • The average 65 year old can expect to live to 85 years of age and many will live beyond 100
  • Senior citizens are more active, productive, and participatory than ever before

    • The aging of Canada’s population will have a major impact on many areas of public policy, but perhaps none more so than the area of health care. With age often comes increasing risk of chronic disease – along with that, come important questions about how we are going to provide the care needed for exponentially more people.

    The situation is common across many areas of disease. The statistics listed below demonstrate the possible correlation between the increasing number of people living with a few major chronic diseases and the impact on the healthcare system:

    Alzheimer’s

  • In the next generation, the number of people living with dementia will grow to 1.1 million from 500,000
  • In that same timeframe, the economic cost of the illness will grow tenfold
  • By 2038, there will be a shortfall of more than 150,000 long-term care beds for dementia sufferers
  • Alzheimer Society of Canada, 2009

    • Diabetes

  • Over two and a half million Canadians are estimated to have diabetes, and seniors are one of the two populations most at risk of having the disease along with Aboriginal people.
  • Type-2 diabetes (or adult-onset diabetes) is one of the most common chronic diseases affecting older Canadians.
  • Approximately ten percent of Canadian seniors have been diagnosed with diabetes, and it is estimated than an equivalent number have undiagnosed diabetes.
  • The proportion of Canadians with diabetes increases significantly with age; for example, it is estimated that up to a quarter of Canadians aged 85 or older have diabetes, compared to three per cent of adults aged 35 to 64.
  • Type-2 diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases affecting older people today and the prevalence of diabetes increases with age.
  • The prevalence of diabetes in older Canadians is projected to increase 44 per cent in the next 20 years.
  • Public Health Agency of Canada, 2009

    • So how can health care policy help us prepare for the impact of Canada’s aging population and the burden of chronic disease? These statistics provide a critical backdrop for the discussion of this website, and its first topic of discussion:

    ‘An aging population is contributing to a steady rise in the number of people living with chronic disease, such as diabetes, dementia, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. Health experts have argued that, unless significant changes are made, our health system will not be able to survive the costs associated with chronic illness. Do you think this is true? If so, what changes do you believe are necessary to address this problem and ensure the sustainability of our health care system in the decades to come? If not, why do you think the current structure will be able to accommodate future needs?’


    One Response to “The Aging of Canada’s Population”

    1. Nadine Valk says:
      July 22, 2010 at 12:01 pm

      An estimated two million Canadians (one in 15) have kidney disease or are at risk (those at greatest risk include diabetics and people with hypertension). More than half of patients with end-stage renal failure are on dialysis, the most common being hemodialysis. Each hemodialysis treatment normally takes four to five hours, 3 times per week at a hospital based renal unit or satellite clinic. As the population ages, the need for dialysis will continue to rise in Canada, as will the cost to the health care system. The average annual cost of dialysis is more than $60,000/person. More than 20,000 Canadians are currently on dialysis, totaling an annual cost to the health care system of more than $1.2 billion, excluding physician consults, medication and transportation costs. Given that seniors over the age of 75 have the highest prevalence of hemodialysis requiring tri-weekly travel to treatment, many seniors regularly experience challenges associated with access to health services especially if public transportation is unavailable.

      All of this to say that I personally do think that significant changes need to be made if the system is to be sustainable. Kidney disease has a huge associated burden, both to the system and the individual – in terms of changes that are necessary specific to kidney disease we need much greater emphasis on prevention and screening, and greater support for organ donation, transplantation and home dialysis. Overall, a greater commitment to health promotion as opposed to illness care is needed.

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