Canadian seniors not ready for old age

10 March, 2008

Senior citizens in Canada, are not well prepared for living gracefully in their final years. A recent survey has revealed that Canadians aged 65 to 85 have prepared well for their deaths with about 90% having drafted a will, half lining up a cemetery plot, and 44% paying for a pre-arranged funeral. But they have not paid the same attention to living well in their last years.

The poll, commissioned by Bayshore Home Health – one of the biggest home and community health care service providers in Canada – for Ipsos-Reid, covered 1,150 Canadians between the ages 65 and 85. The survey was conducted between November 12 and 20, 2007, and has margin of error of 2.9%, 19 times out of 20.

While almost all respondents said they want to live independently for as long as possible, and not go into nursing homes, less than 5% were active and only 1% took care of their health and diet. Nearly half of the respondents had made any plans to ensure that they did not go into nursing homes, by modifying homes or downsizing them.

The survey also revealed that only 2 in 10 respondents get help with bathing. Half of the respondents believe that their family will take care of them.

Sean Simpson, a research manager at Ipsos-Reid, said: “Seniors seem to be almost fooling themselves into thinking that things are going to be OK. There’s a disconnect between want they want and what they’re doing in order to get what they want. Most of them are in a ‘denial stage’ with half of those surveyed saying that their families will care for them. But according to the survey, only 1% has family who come by to check in and care for them.”

"These people,” he added, “are 65 to 85 years old and their health can change in a matter of weeks but it takes some time to secure some of these things and plan for your life. You’ve got 75- year-olds and 85-year-olds still saying they’re too young to get some help around the house.”

But 96% had not spoken to their families about the possibility of getting assistance. About 50% of the seniors – and 45% of those aged 75 to 85 – admitted that they had no intention of broaching the subject because they “won’t require assistance for a long time.

“The only explanation is that they are fooling themselves,” remarked Sean Simpson. “When you’re 75, two or three years can mean a world of difference in your health.”

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