As the new year, 2024, starts, the challenge for us as a community is how to become a more supportive environment for older people. Why is this important?
According to the United Nations, the number of people aged 65 years or older will rise to more than double from 761 million in 2021 to 1.6 billion in 2050. Moreover, babies born in 2022 will live 71.7 years on average, 25 years longer than those born in 1950 (those in their early 70s today).
This aging population brings with it opportunities and challenges. Families and communities, not just the individuals concerned, must understand what we will face so it will not catch us unprepared.
Recently, a group of us aged 70 to 80 shared our concerns, and I posed questions to each of us. Who in their family do they see will take care of them once they can no longer take care of themselves? The answers ranged from a niece, a sister-in-law, and a grandniece. Still, I could sense a chink in each of their responses. No one is ever sure, especially when the care demands not only effort but money as well. It depends on the health of the Senior and the caregiver. Also, the Senior’s and caregiver’s wealth will affect the care available. While first-world economies are experiencing the challenge now, in 2050, U.N. data says that 80% of older people will live in low- and middle-income countries. This reality will compound the problem.
If older people are in good health, they have a better chance of living a good life and not being a drain on society. However, data shows that most older adults experience declining health and wealth. Some older people try to work longer or find other work to supplement their income. Those with better financial means often support their children or grandchildren.
This highlights the need for society to ensure that older people live in a supportive environment for their well-being.
What’s being done now? The U.N. has declared 2021-2030 as the Decade of Healthy Ageing. This program “seeks to reduce health inequities and improve the lives of older people, their families, and communities through collective action in four areas: changing how we think, feel and act towards age and ageism; developing communities in ways that foster the abilities of older people; delivering person-centred integrated care and primary health services responsive to older people; and providing older people who need it with access to quality long-term care.”
Norway tops the best care for Seniors, which includes 100% pension coverage and financial security for older adults. It also has the best income and employment rates for older adults. Sweden subsidizes costs for older adults, making them the happiest and most comfortable in their care homes. Switzerland has excellent support for older adults living in their own homes. Switzerland, like Germany, ranks above average in older people’s feeling of connectedness.
Canada has the longest life expectancy of these economies and is trying its best to care for its older population, giving support so they can stay longer in their homes.
Most Seniors want to leave Senior residences. In family-centred countries, older adults stay with their families, giving them a more physically and socially supportive environment. More and more, many families are no longer able to do this. In Finland, foster care homes for Seniors are now municipally licensed and offer an alternative for older people. In Singapore, the government incentivizes families to live close to their aging parents. More models are coming up, and research into how care homes can be improved, as well as technologies to help older people stay in their homes, is taking place in several countries.
We look forward to more improvements in elderly care and well-being in 2024. We hope that Seniors will have the support they need for their well-being. Happy New Year.
Such a well written article hopefully Canada will make more improvements for our present and future seniors.
Thanks for sharing and supporting.