1. Issues in Human Services
(HMNS 10085)
Module 6: Issues Pertaining to
Older Adults

2. Defining Older Adulthood:
• Very complex
• Statistics Canada defines a senior citizen as,
– “a person age 65 years or older, who is eligible
to collect full pension benefits.”
• Chronological age (years)
• Social age (social expectation for 65 year
old adults to retire

3. Different Categories of
Older Adulthood
• 3 different age groups:
– “Young old” - 65 to 70 years
» 53% are women
– “Middle old” - 75 to 84 years
» 60% are women
– “Old old” - 85+ years
» 70% are women

4. Aging Population
• Means that older adults, as a group, are growing
more than the growth of the population of all
Canadians
• Percentage of the Canadian population that was 65
years or older:
–
–
–
–
1981 - 9.6%
1991 - 11.4%
2001 - 12.5%
2005 - 13.1%
• Projected that 18.9% of the Canadian population
will be 65 years or older in 2021

5. Reasons for Aging Population:
• Longer life expectancy - more older adults
• The beginning of the baby boom generation
have started to reach the age of 65 years (in
2011).
• Lowered birth rate - fewer babies being
born

6. Ageism:
• “Any attitude, action or institutional structure that
subordinates or oppresses a person or group on the
basis of age.” (Hick, 2006, p. 252).
• Western society > aging is feared
> places premium importance on productivity
>when one stops working in the paid labour force, rely on
fixed income
>viewed as not productive but as burdensome
• Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982.
>prohibited to discriminate based on age

7. Health Problems of Aging:
• 65-74 age group:
– Most remain in good health
– 1/3 report some level of pain or discomfort
• 75+ years:
– More likely to suffer from pain - acute pain from injury
or illness
– Chronic pain lingering months to years
– Eg. arthritic conditions, diabetes, heart disease
– May lead to depression

8. Health Problems of Aging:
• Over the age of 75 years, adults experience
the following problems at higher rates:
– Mobility
– Vision
– Memory

9. Health Problems of Aging:
• Incidence of long term, debilitating terminals
illness have increased with increased life
expectancy:
– Cancer
– Alzheimers
• Loss of independence and the fear of it
• Myth > older adults all get dementia
> only 4% of people aged 75+ have dementia

10. Need for Care: At Home
• Need assistance with many of the activities they
do daily:
– Eg. Meal preparation
Everyday housework
Heavy household chores
Attending appointments
Financial managing
Moving around the house
Nursing care

11. Need for Care: At Home
• Large proportion do not tend to receive the help
they need.
• 41% of older adults 65+ either received help but
needed more or received no help at all.
– Mobility – 42% of those aged 65+ received no help or
received help but needed more.
– Vision – 46.3% of those aged 65+ received no help or
received help but needed more.
– Memory – 50.8% of those aged 65+ received no help
or received help but needed more.

12. Who Are Unpaid Caregivers?
• Mostly women (57%)
– May be an older woman themselves (16% are 65+
years, 8% are 75+ years).
• Women provide assistance with personal care
(bathing, toileting, dressing)
– 60% of women vs. 30% of men > tasks inside the house
– 33% of women vs. 53% of men > tasks outside the
house
• Personal care tasks and care management tasks
>more frequent, daily usually

13. Caregivers’ Other
Responsibilities:
• Many caregivers provide this care while trying to
maintain other responsibilities
–
–
–
–
43% of caregivers are between the ages of 45-54
Children at home
76% are married
57% are employed > only 1/3rd retired
• Tends to be long term
– Provide care for > 5 years
– 10% providing care for > 10 yrs

14. Caregiver Stress
• Higher level of symptoms of distress:
– Depression
– Anxiety
– Headaches
-Feeling Demoralized
-Insomnia
-Irritability
• Can be mitigated by:
– Positive interpretation of caregiving
– Getting some relief from caregiving, occasionally
• Considered one of the causes of Elder Abuse &
Neglect.

15. Relocation to Long Term Care
• Due to a combination of risk factors:
– Experiencing difficulty doing activities of daily
living
– Having a form of dementia
– Recent hospitalization/health deterioration
– Being 85+
– Living alone

16. Impacts of Move to
Long Term Care
• Stress
• Loss of culture
• Loss of community
– LGBTQ
• May feel relief

17. Impacts of Move to
Long Term Care
•
•
•
•
Change in habits and routines
Less contact with family and friends
Loss of clubs or organizations
Greater difficulty doing hobbies previously
enjoyed.

18. Rights of Older
Adults:Violations
• Abuse in institutional settings
• Direct - individual resident is target of
abuse or neglect
• Systemic - policies or procedures that limit
the rights or result in the direct abuse or
neglect of residents (eg. restraints)

19. Rights of Older Adults:
Violations:
• Some signs or symptoms of abuse:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Dehydration/malnourishment
Untreated medical issues
Missing aids (eg. hearing aids) or property
Unexplained injuries
Use of restraints, if frequent & to replace care
Decisions made for the resident - not able to participate
in decision-making
– Lack of sufficient medical reasons for medication given
– Family having difficulty contacting resident

20. Rights of Older Adults: Long
Term Care Homes Act, 2007
• To improve the quality of care in Long-Term
Care:
• Steps to improve care:
– The Home is “primarily the home of its residents & is to be operated so
that it is a place where they may live with dignity & in security, safety &
comfort, and have their physical, psychological, social, spiritual &
cultural needs adequately met.” (Mead, 2010).
– Bill of rights which includes the right not to be neglected, to have access
to their personal health records
– Goal of care -> independence to the greatest extent possible

21. Rights of Older Adults: Long
Term Care Homes Act, 2007
• Steps to improve care:
– Limits to restraints- resident safety
– Respect of choices and lifestyle
– Provide opportunity to have private meetings
with partners or another person
– Provide social & recreational activities >
includes those who not able to leave room
– Enforcement of these rights by the Ministry of
Health and Long-Term Care

22. Loss of Significant Relationships
• Acute grief - up to ~ 6 months
– Physical symptoms - headaches
- dizziness…
– Psychological symptoms - intense sadness
- longing & yearning for deceased
- Feelings of hopelessness….
--> Becomes less acute & intense - may last years

23. Loss of Significant Relationships
• Major disruption to the life of the surviving
spouse
– Finding new & positive meaning in life
– Developing new social roles
– Relationships with friends may change
– Financial loss
– Housing
– Transportation
– Need for increased social support

24. Income of Older Adults:
• Sources of income (beginning at age 65):
– Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement
– Canada Pension Plan
– Guaranteed Annual Income Supplement (GAINS)
(Ontario)
– Over two thirds of older adults rely on OAS & CPP as
main source of income
– the remainder > private pension or one sponsored by an
employer.
– small number of older adults also have RRSPs

25. Income of Older Adults
• Has improved > success of combined public &
private retirement income system.
– Seniors with low income: 1985 > 14.7%
2004 > 7.3%
• Due to:
– More people becoming eligible for Canada Pension
Plan
– Maturation of CPP - 1990s > more retirees earning full
benefits
– More women in the labour force

26. Groups of Older Adults Vulnerable
to Experiencing Poverty:
• Women:
– 22% of all older adult women experience poverty vs. 10% of older
adult men (City of Hamilton)
• Recent newcomers (1991+):
– 27% vs. 17% of older adults on the whole, experience poverty
• Visible minorities:
– 20% & 23% (Ontario) vs. 17% of older adults experience poverty
• Aboriginal:
– 25% vs. 17% of older adults experience poverty

27. Readings:
1. Mayo, S., Wetselaar, R., Bakht, L. & Camplin,
B. (2011). Profile of Vulnerable Seniors in
Hamilton: Summary Report. Hamilton: Social
Planning and Research Council of Hamilton
•
http://www.sprc.hamilton.on.ca/Reports/pdf/SPRC_Seni
ors_Report_2011_Summary.pdf
2. Walters, Joan (2012). “The Silver Tsunami”. In
The Hamilton Spectator, January 14, 2012.
Hamilton:
•
http://www.thespec.com/news/local/article/654486--the-silver-t