Everyone knows what ageism is, but many consider that “it’s not that bad”. In fact, ageism runs deep in our society. In its Global Report on Ageism1, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that one in two people have ageist attitudes. Age discrimination influences our societal values, priorities, strategic decisions and allocation programs.
Posted at 1:00 p.m.
Ageism also influences the systems that direct the aging process, which has a major impact on people’s ability to age healthily. If we underestimate the elderly, are we going to favor initiatives that are directly for their benefit? Will governments commit to establishing a coordinated approach to healthy aging and investing significant amounts in it?
In the next decade, one in four people in the country will be 65 or older. Currently, the number of seniors exceeds the number of children 14 and under, and this trend is expected to continue in the decades to come. In addition, an increasing proportion of the elderly population will be made up of people aged 80 and over. In the area of social services and health care, Canada will face daunting challenges that it will have to tackle seriously.
The current approach is unsustainable. Already put to the test, our health and social services systems will not be able to meet the needs of a rapidly growing aging population, which uses health services more frequently and requires more advanced care.
It is imperative to rethink the aging process.
Rather than seeing seniors as people to be cared for, Canada needs to see them as active and valued members of society, because that is what they are.
As proof, older Canadians contribute greatly to our economy by giving billions of dollars in charitable donations and even more by volunteering. Older people also contribute to the economy through their paid work. They represent 4.5% of the Canadian labor force and their many years of experience make them seasoned members of the Canadian workforce.
However, to be able to make such contributions, older people must be in good health. It is therefore essential to adopt a proactive approach to aging, centered on the long-term maintenance of optimal health and autonomy.
Promote healthy aging
It is time for Canada to focus and invest more in healthy aging initiatives, including innovations in social services, health care and technologies. This is the key to improving the quality of life of older Canadians and reducing the number of people requiring long-term care.
Over 80% of COVID-19 deaths in Canada have occurred in long-term care facilities, compared to an average of 38% in other Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries ; it is a deplorable national tragedy.
Coordinating efforts among various organizations is another important means of promoting change. By aiming for common and complementary goals, we will be able to accomplish much more than by working in isolation.
*John Muscedere is Professor of Intensivist Medicine at Queen’s University; Alex Mihailidis holds the Barbara G. Stymiest Research Chair in Rehabilitation Technologies at the University of Toronto and the Toronto Rehab-University Health Network’s KITE Research Institute.