Context
Canada's aging population: facts and figures
Canada's population is aging rapidly. Seniors constitute the fastest growing population group in Canada.
Between 1981 and 2005 the number of seniors in Canada increased from 2.4 million to 4.2 million and their share of the total population increased from 9.6% to 13%.
Between 2005 and 2036, as baby boomers (born 1940-1965) begin to turn 65, the number of seniors in Canada is projected to increase from 4.2 million to 9.8 million. The seniors share of the population is expected to almost double increasing from 13.2 % to 24.5%.
In January 2011, the first baby boomer turned 65. In January 2021 the last baby boomer will turn 65.
Long term care: facts and figures
What is Long Term Care?
Long term care is assistance and support for people who cannot look after their personal needs by themselves; for example people with a prolonged physical or chronic illness, disability or cognitive disorder. It includes help for people with cognitive impairment, such as Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Long term care is designed to assist a person to maintain his or her level of functioning, rather than correct medical problems.
In Canada we have many terms for settings providing facility based care for the elderly. In the TREC project, we are focusing on facility-based settings where residents live permanently with round-the-clock housekeeping, personal and health care services. Whether public not-for-profit, private not-for-profit, or private for-profit institutions, we describe these facilities as long term care (LTC) settings or nursing homes.
Who resides in long term care in Canada?
Almost half of Canadian in long term care are frail elderly over 80 years of age. Residents are mostly women from the lower income society sector.
A diagnosis of dementia accounts for up to 80% of admissions to nursing homes.
70% of all individuals diagnosed with dementia will die in a nursing home.
One in every thirteen Canadians over 65 have Alzheimer's Disease or other dementias.
One in three Canadians aged 85 or older have Alzheimer's Disease or dementia.
43% of Canadian seniors will live 3 - 4 years in a long term care facility.
What do we hope to achieve in the Translating Research in Elder Care project?
Translating Research in Elder Care (TREC) will help us to understand long term care settings, the care provider population in these settings, and outcomes related to the health of residents, staff, and systems.
Note: facts and figures courtesy of Statistics Canada and The Alzheimers Society of Canada