Fraser Health Healthy Aging Profile, 2014

Contents

Click on colored title to go to section.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

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SECTION 1: WHAT IS HEALTHY AGING AND WHY DO WE CARE?

9

SECTION 2: SENIORS TODAY AND TOMORROW Changes in the aging population Senior and population demographics: age and gender Communities where seniors live Health care costs in the aging population

11 11 13 14 16

SECTION 3: MULTICULTURALISM-AGING IN THE MELTING POT Languages Immigration and new immigrants Aboriginal seniors

17

SECTION 4: HOUSING Housing and cost of living Household structure Homelessness

25 25 28 30

SECTION 5: preventing injuries and conditions that lead to loss of independence Hip health and falls Chronic conditions that can affect senior independence Optimizing mental functioning and social health

31 32 35 37

SECTION 6: HEALTHY LIVING BEHAVIORS Physical fitness and healthy diet: a multi-prong approach to health Active transportation

39 39 44

SECTION 7: CHRONIC DISEASE Cardiovascular (heart) disease Cerebrovascular disease and stroke Cancer and cancer screening programs Dementia Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Type 2 diabetes Multiple chronic diseases Smoking cessation

45

SECTION 8: PRIMARY CARE AND HOSPITAL UTILIZATION Hospitalization and hospital use Access and usage of doctor’s services Influenza immunization

59

17 19 22

45 47 48 50 53 55 56 57

59 61 62

A Word from the Executive Medical Health Officer I have pleasure in presenting the Fraser Health Authority (FH) healthy aging report, a resource for information and planning for health organizations and our community partners. The number of older people in FH is increasing rapidly with the population of seniors aged 65 and over expected to more than double from 250,000 to 520,000 in the next 20 years. Fraser Health already has the highest number of seniors of any British Columbia health authority and the rate of growth of seniors as a percentage increase is the highest of any health authority. The sharp and disproportionate increase in the senior growth rate expected in FH in the next 20 years will lead to greater healthcare costs. Hospitalization rates for seniors are 6.5 times those for residents under 65 and older adults also have higher overall healthcare costs. These higher healthcare costs are primarily due to seniors with complex medical conditions and needs. This report identifies key information to underpin potential strategies to improve the health status of FH seniors and keep them in the community. Healthy aging is a strategic priority in FH and a multisectoral endeavor which will lead to increased senior independence and quality of life and an enhancement of better health in our communities. I congratulate all the staff involved in the production of this report and look forward to seeing the implementation of community based responses. Dr. Paul Van Buynder

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Acknowledgements This profile was developed under the leadership of the Healthy Aging Committee with membership from the Older Adult and the Population Health programs.

Healthy Aging Committee Dr. Marcus Lem Kathleen Friesen Helen Chow Fabio Feldman Sarah Metcalfe Diana Grill

Co-lead, Medical Health Officer Co-lead, Director, Population and Public Health Interim Director, Older Adult Manager, Older Adult Clinical Program Developer, Older Adult Epidemiologist, Population Health Observatory

Several individuals provided additional support and input to the profile as well: Dr. David Gayton Stephanie Konrad Geoffrey Ramler Fung, Christina Keith McBain Irene Sheppard Dr. Grace Park Dr. Peter O’Connor Denyse Houde Leslie Bonshor Liz da Silva Jaffer Feezah

Geriatrician Epidemiologist, Population Health Observatory GIS/Research Analyst, Population Health Observatory Epidemiologist, Population Health Observatory Executive Director, Residential Care Director, Home Health Program Medical Director, Home Health Program Program Medical Director, Older Adult Director, Clinical Programs, Mental Health and Substance Use Director Aboriginal Health Clinical Dietitian Educator Surrey Food Bank

Review and Administration Dr. Paul Van Buynder Rahul Chhokar Dr. Beth Snow Stephanie Bale Nancy Brownlee Susan Blacklock Darlene Kumar

VP, Population Health and Chief Medical Health Officer Manager, Population Health Observatory Evaluation Specialist, Population Health Observatory Senior Consultant, Communications Executive Assistant to Medical Health Officers Administrative Assistant, Older Adult Administrative Assistant, Older Adult

Included in this document are photographs from the Fraser Health Healthy Aging photo contest. Thank you to all participants for agreeing to have their photo published. 2

Executive Summary Purpose

Seniors Today and Tomorrow

This report has been written as an information and planning resource for groups that support, facilitate, or otherwise impact on healthy aging. This includes Fraser Health (FH) programs, municipal governments, non-profit organizations, and other community partners. The report contains statistics, policies, and promising practices related to healthy aging for the Fraser Health region.

Healthy aging is a strategic priority in Fraser Health. The number of older people in Fraser Health is increasing quickly. In the next 20 years, the senior (65+) population is expected to more than double from nearly 250,000 in 2014 to more than 520,000 in 2034, making it the fastest growing senior population of all the health authorities in British Columbia. In addition, Fraser Health currently has the largest number of seniors of any health authority, with about 40% more seniors than the two next largest health authorities. In the face of this rapid population aging, it is of great importance to consider what factors facilitate or impede healthy aging.

What is Healthy Aging and Why Do We Care? Supporting healthy aging is a multi-sectoral endeavor. It includes: • optimizing opportunities for physical, social, and mental health as we age; • enabling seniors to take an active part in society without discrimination or other barriers; • promoting senior independence and quality of life. Healthy lifestyles are more influential than genetics in senior health issues. Because health choices are often impacted by community, social, and environmental factors, Fraser Health needs to work with partners across a variety of sectoral and jurisdictional boundaries. By engaging our aging population to become active and vital participants in the community and by integrating healthy aging practices into our programs and services we can make our communities richer and more desirable places to live.

Seniors are a large presence in both urban and rural areas. South Surrey/White Rock has the highest proportion (25%) and the oldest seniors of the local health areas (LHAs). In Hope and Agassiz-Harrison, over 22% of their population are seniors. The sharp increase in the senior growth rate forecast in the next 20 years will lead to greater health care costs in FH because older adults use more health care services, especially near the end of life (see Primary Care and Hospital Utilization). In BC, the average annual cost of health care per person is $2,100 for people aged 50-64, $4,072 for ages 65-74, and $11,834 for those aged 75 and over.

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These costs vary by health status as well as age. On average, a senior 75 and over with severe chronic conditions cost $10,259 per year more than a healthy senior of the same age. Also keeping frail seniors in their homes and out of residential care can yield an annual savings of $43,018 per person. By facilitating continued independence for seniors, and adding life to years, rather than years to life, we can improve quality of life as well as making health care costs more sustainable.

Multiculturalism – Aging in the Melting Pot The Fraser region is home to tremendous cultural and ethnic diversity ranging from the strong heritage of Dutch and German settlers in the valley to vibrant Asian diasporas in Surrey and Burnaby. The three most common languages spoken at home by FH seniors are English (77%), Punjabi (8%), and Cantonese (3%). In Burnaby, Surrey, and Coquitlam, over 20% of seniors speak non-English languages at home. About 60% of the senior immigrants to BC in 2012 called Fraser Health their home. Of the new senior immigrants to Fraser Health, over 60% were non-English speakers. Aboriginal peoples in Fraser Health have lower proportions of seniors (3-6%) than non-Aboriginal peoples (12%). Compared to the broader Canadian population, a larger proportion of Aboriginal seniors live on low incomes and in poor health. Some ethnic groups may be at increased risk for certain illnesses because of both genetic and cultural factors, such as diet. For example, South Asians are at increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and renal failure,

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and Caucasian and Asian women may be at higher risk than other ethnic groups for osteoporosis. Analysis of the trends in the ethnic and cultural makeup of our communities can help us plan prevention and treatment services, as well as determine the need for culture-specific programs and facilities, such as home health and residential care.

Housing Affordable housing and aging in place are major concerns for many seniors. In the Greater Vancouver area (including White Rock, Surrey, Langley, Burnaby, Maple Ridge, New Westminster and the Tri-cities) 26% of seniors spend 30% or more of their income on housing. Senior renters generally have lower incomes than owners. In BC, over half of senior renters had incomes of $30,000 or less. Also, in FH the prevalence of low income seniors is 14%. The family structure has changed dramatically in recent decades and many seniors lack the social supports that were present in the multi-generational homes of the past. In BC, about 25% of seniors overall and 33% of senior women live alone. In the Fraser Health region, the municipalities of White Rock (41%) and New Westminster (39%) have the highest percentages of all seniors living alone. Municipal governments can do a lot to help seniors to age in place. For example, policies such as mandatory adaptable housing construction bylaws are under municipal control. Adaptable housing is designed and built so that accessibility features may be added cheaply and easily after construction and helps anyone with limited mobility due to age, disability, or illness function independently in their own home. Langley, New Westminster, and Pitt Meadows have all implemented adaptable housing bylaws.

Preventing Injuries and Conditions that Lead to Loss of Independence Falls are a leading cause of injury for all age groups in Fraser Health but the rate of fall-related hospitalizations increases exponentially during the senior years. Senior women have higher fall-related hospitalization rates, but senior men have higher rates of fall-related deaths. Osteoarthritis is a condition which significantly limits mobility and osteoporosis increases the chance of fractures and hospitalizations. Rates in FH seniors have increased for both conditions in the past 10 years. In 2011/12, the senior osteoarthritis rate was 32% and the senior osteoporosis rate was 21%. South Surrey/White Rock has the highest senior osteoarthritis rate and Burnaby and South Surrey/White Rock have the highest osteoporosis rates in seniors. Appropriate physical activity throughout one’s life is crucial to the maintenance of flexibility, muscle tone, and bone mass which will prevent falls and fractures. Recreational programs and senior-friendly development and built environment features can play key roles in keeping seniors physically active and fit. Ultimately, it is the mind and spirit that move the body. As we age, our peer groups may shrink and the effects of loss and social isolation may take their toll. Rates of depressive symptoms reported by FH seniors to their family doctors have increased in the last decade. In 2011/12, 32% of FH seniors were identified as having depressive symptoms. South Surrey/White Rock had the highest rate of seniors with depressive symptoms. This is likely not coincidental since the same area also has a high percentage of seniors living alone.

Local governments and community organizations can help foster and maintain social connectivity by engaging seniors through thoughtful programming, whether it is social, recreational, educational, or spiritual.

Healthy Living Behaviors Healthy behaviors, including regular physical exercise and eating a balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, can help prevent diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and stroke. The Fraser Valley is part of the agricultural heartland of BC and communities in Fraser Health do quite well at promoting exercise and healthy eating to seniors. About half of FH seniors had active or moderately active levels of leisure time physical activity or consumed at least 5 fruits and vegetable each day. While rates of physical activity were lower in seniors than adults aged 45-64 years, rates of fruit and vegetable consumption were actually higher in seniors, perhaps because of their access to an abundance of fresh seasonal produce. However, for seniors living on fixed incomes, food security is a growing concern. Organizations like the Surrey Food Bank promote and distribute healthy foods to seniors in a friendly and accessible manner by allowing seniors to choose their own foods the same way one would shop in a store. This program has seen a 23% increase in use by seniors in the last 2-3 years. Maintaining an optimum weight is also important for staying healthy since being overweight is a risk factor for chronic conditions and being underweight increases the risks of acute illness, falls, lengthy hospital stays, and death. In 2012, 18% of FH seniors were obese and 39% were overweight. Conversely, about 17% of Canadian seniors are underweight. Executive Summary

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One of the best and greenest ways for seniors to maintain physical activity in daily life is through the use of active transportation, such as walking or biking, for short distances, and using public transportation for longer distances. In most of the developed world outside of North America this is how most people get from place to place. But over 80% of trips taken by seniors in FH are by car. Only 7% involved biking, 1% involved public transit, and 0.3% involved walking. Much of Fraser Health is rural, but even in urban areas, seniors housing is not always easily accessible by public transport. Commitment at all levels of government is required for seniors to access convenient and accessible public transportation. Research has also shown that the built environment can have a profound effect on the ability of older adults to maintain physical activity and active lifestyles. Any features which enable seniors to walk places will have significant health benefits. High density housing, mixed land use and placement of shopping and community services within easy walking distance all help older adults live independently and actively. Smaller design details can be equally important. The presence of sidewalks, curb cut-outs, crosswalk lights, benches to rest on, and adequate lighting have all been shown to increase the walkability of urban areas for older adults.

Chronic Disease The risk of being affected by and dying from chronic disease increases with age. Death rates increase three fold for cancer between the 65-74 year age group and the 85+ year age group. For chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) the increase is eight fold, and for stroke and cerebrovascular disease, nineteen fold.

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This is partly because advances in the field of medicine have dramatically improved our ability to treat and lower the mortality from chronic diseases, but we have not fared as well in our efforts to prevent or delay people from developing disease in the first place. This means that fewer people are dying in their early senior years, but are living longer with existing chronic conditions. In the past ten years, death rates from some of the major chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cerebrovascular disease/stroke have decreased but the prevalence rates of disease (people in the population living with disease) among seniors has remained stable. Other chronic diseases like dementia, COPD, and type 2 diabetes have showed increases in the prevalence rates among seniors. The prevalence rate of cardiovascular disease in FH seniors has remained stable although the death rate has decreased by 42%; in 2011/12, 22% of FH seniors had CVD. The prevalence rate of stroke hospitalization in FH seniors has remained stable although the cerebrovascular disease death rate has decreased by 29%; in 2011/12, 4% of FH seniors had a history of stroke hospitalization. Cancer remains the leading cause of death for FH seniors with the leading types of cancer being prostate, breast, lung, and colorectal. The accessibility and uptake of provincial cancer screening programs should be reviewed, especially in rural areas, to ensure early detection and treatment. Dementia is the most significant cause of disability among Canadians over age 65. In the past 10 years, the FH and BC senior

dementia rates have been increasing and they are expected to double worldwide in the next 20 years; in 2011/12, 7% of FH seniors had dementia. The prevalence rate of COPD in FH and BC seniors has showed a slight increase; in 2011/12, 11% of FH seniors had COPD. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition which dramatically increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, blindness, and dementia. In the past 10 years, the FH and BC senior diabetes rates have been steadily increasing with the FH rate increasing by almost 70%. In 2011/12, 29% of FH seniors had type 2 diabetes. This is especially alarming since up to 90% of the cases of type 2 diabetes are preventable through lifestyle interventions including weight control, a healthy diet, regular exercise, and not smoking. Smoking remains a common major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, strokes, COPD, cancer, dementia, and diabetes. Smoking rates are especially high in Fraser East where 50% of the adult population are current or former smokers. Older smokers are at greater risk from smoking because they have usually smoked longer. However, there are tangible health benefits to quitting smoking even later in life. One study found that the risk of developing coronary heart disease drops 50% within one year of quitting. In BC, the 2012 rate of smoking in seniors was 6%. Continued and coordinated efforts need to be made by Fraser Health and communities to decrease smoking in all ages.

Primary Care and Hospital Utilization The sustainability of our acute health care system is one of the greatest challenges governments face locally, provincially, and nationally. Seniors use much more health care than younger adults. The rate of emergency department utilization for FH seniors is 1.8 times higher than those under 65 (547 per 1,000 for seniors vs. 301 per 1,000 for individuals under 65). For FH seniors that entered the emergency department in 2011/ 12, 30% were admitted to the hospital; this is over double the rate for persons of all ages (13%). In 2011/12, FH seniors accounted for 52% of all hospitalizations and 59% of all hospitalization days. The overall rate of hospitalization for FH seniors is 6.5 times higher than those under 65 (209 per 1,000 seniors vs. 32 per 1,000 under 65). In 2011/ 12, over 50,000 FH seniors were hospitalized. Also older seniors tend to have longer hospital stays. In 2011/12, the average length of stay was 14 days for seniors 75 and over, 13 days for seniors 65 and over, and 8 days for all ages. The pressures on the acute care system reflect a growing need for public health and preventive medicine strategies. The top three reasons for hospitalization of seniors in FH by number of cases were COPD, heart failure, and rehabilitation. The major risk factors for these three causes are all modifiable: smoking, high blood pressure, and poor physical conditioning. These conditions are all preventable. The question is how do we change the lifestyle behaviors that lead to them?

Executive Summary

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There is no magic recipe for living a long and productive life. The pillars of healthy aging – maintaining mental and physical activity, social connectiveness, and healthy eating – are all common sense. Our challenge will be designing and building policies, programs, and infrastructures which make healthy lifestyle choices easy, accessible, and affordable for our citizens.

Fraser Health Strategies As Fred Astaire once said “Old age is like anything else. To make a success out of it, you’ve got to start young”. A commitment to healthy aging requires investments across the age spectrum. Some of these will be within the health sector but many will require partnership, negotiation, and planning across civil society in the Fraser region. Multiple strategies are underway in FH to improve the health status of seniors and keep them in their communities: • The Strategic Map to Better Health for Fraser Region (2013-2017) has identified healthy aging as one of the four strategic priority areas in FH with the goal of keeping seniors healthy.

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• The Home is Best strategy, implemented across FH programs and services, includes in-home and community-based care. • The highly successful Falls and Injury Prevention Initiative includes a mobile clinic, an osteo(bone)fit program, and safety programs targeting the community. • The BreatheWELL at Home program assists persons with COPD in managing their condition and preventing lung attacks that can land them in the hospital. This document is just the beginning of a discussion. We look forward to engaging our internal and external partners in planning a healthier future where we can all enjoy our golden years.

Section 1:

What is healthy aging and why do we care?

T

he number of older people in Fraser Health (FH) is increasing quickly. In the next 20 years, the senior population is expected to more than double from almost 250,000 in 2014 to over 520,000 in 2034, making it the fastest growing of all the health authorities in British Columbia. In addition, Fraser Health currently has the largest number of seniors of any health authority and it has about 40% more seniors than the next two largest health authorities.1 In the face of this rapid population aging, it is of great importance to consider what factors facilitate or impede healthy aging.

Supporting healthy aging is a multi-sectoral endeavor. It includes optimizing opportunities for physical, social, and mental health for seniors; enabling seniors to take an active part in society without discrimination; promoting senior independence and quality of life.2 Research has shown that healthy lifestyles are more influential than genetic factors in helping seniors avoid the deterioration traditionally associated with aging. In fact, having people engage in healthy lifestyles can prevent, minimize, or even reverse frailty and poor health in old age and consequently reduce the demand for health care services and health care costs.

In many societies, the experience and wisdom acquired over a lifetime make elders a valued and integral part the community, and the process of aging is celebrated, respected and enjoyed. As stated by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon “Longevity is a public health achievement, not a social or economic liability. Let us pledge to ensure the wellbeing of older persons, and to enlist their meaningful participation in society so we can all benefit from their knowledge and ability.” However, in modern western society aging is often regarded with denial, fear, and as something to be resisted at all costs. This is hardly surprising since entertainment and advertising media are overwhelmingly youth-oriented and even influential economic and political news outlets demonstrate a predominately ageist view of older adults being a burden to society.3 This needs to change. Crosscultural research has demonstrated that attitudes of older people towards aging have a consistent effect on their quality of life and that people who were dissatisfied with their health had more negative attitudes towards their own aging.4

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The Strategic Map to Better Health for Fraser Region has identified healthy aging as one of the four strategic priority areas in FH with the goal of keeping seniors healthy. As part of this goal, this report has been written to be a resource for the many groups that support and facilitate healthy aging, including Fraser Health programs and planners, municipalities, community and non-profit organizations, and other partners. This report contains healthy aging statistics, policies, and promising practices for the Fraser Health region. Because health choices are often impacted by community, social, and environmental factors, Fraser Health needs to work with partners across a variety of sectoral and jurisdictional boundaries. We are optimistic that by engaging our aging population to become active and vital participants in the community and by integrating healthy aging practices into our programs and services we can make our communities richer and more desirable places to live.

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Section 2:

Seniors today and tomorrow

T

he Fraser Health region is home to about 30% of BC’s senior (ages 65 and over) and middle aged (ages 45-64) populations. For the purpose of this report, unless otherwise specified, seniors will signify persons ages 65 and over. Also, Fraser Health may be abbreviated to FH. In 2014, Fraser Health seniors number 249,852 and comprise 15% of the population. Equally important are individuals 45-64 years of age, the two decades preceding the senior years, as their actions today can influence quality of life in their older years. They number 476,605 and comprise 28% of Fraser Health’s population.1

Changes in the aging population Why is this important? Shifts in the population of older adults can have significant implications for the resourcing, planning, and delivery of services. The number of seniors in the population is

growing as the ‘baby boom generation’ ages and people are experiencing increased longevity. Young seniors ages 65-74 have been showing a sharper population growth than middle seniors 75-84 and older seniors 85+ (Figure 2). This gives us a unique opportunity to provide services that can help these young seniors remain healthier into their older years.

What are the findings? The Fraser Health region has the highest expected senior growth rate (1990 to 2035) of all the BC health authorities. In fact, between 2014 and 2034, the number of Fraser Health seniors is projected to more than double. Also, in comparison to other regions, in 2035, the senior population in the Fraser Health region is projected to have 262,546 more seniors than the Vancouver Island Health region and 191,013 more seniors than the Vancouver Coastal Health region (Figure 1).

Figure 1: BC projected senior population growth by health authority 600,000 FH

VCH

VIHA

IHA

NHA

Senior population

500,000 400,000 300,000 200,000 100,000 0 1990

1995

2000

2005

2010

2015

2020

2025

2030

2035

Source: BC Stats, BC Ministry of Labour and Citizens’ Services, P.E.O.P.L.E 2013 projections. Note: FH= Fraser Health, IHA=Interior Health , VCH=Vancouver Coastal Health, VIHA=Vancouver Island Health, NHA=Northern Health Authority

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SECTION 2: SENIORS TODAY AND TOMORROW  

 

Table 1: Projected increase in FH senior population, 2014-24 Table 1: Projected increase in FH senior population, 2014‐24 Increase 

Fraser South 

Region/LHA  Surrey 

34,404 

69% 

Langley 

12,415 

57% 

Delta 

7,471 

41% 

S. Surrey/White Rock 

8,087 

36% 

Fraser North 

 

Substantial growth in numbers of older residents is projected in each of the Fraser Health’s local health areas (LHA). Coquitlam, Surrey, and Burnaby account for over half of the expected increase in Fraser Health seniors in the next 10 years. Coquitlam, Surrey, Maple Ridge, Langley and Mission’s senior populations are each projected to increase by more than 50% (Table 1).

Coquitlam 

21,924 

76% 

Maple Ridge 

8,494 

62% 

New Westminster 

4,551 

45% 

Burnaby 

15,691 

44% 

Mission 

3,216 

52% 

Abbotsford 

8,833 

40% 

Chilliwack 

5,291 

32% 

Agassiz ‐ Harrison 

553 

26% 

 

Hope 

510 

25% 

 

Fraser Health 

131,440 

53% 

         

  Large increases in population growth are

projected across all older adult age groups

the population in each of the age groups (55+) is projected to more than double   between 2010 and 2030 (Figure 2).

Fraser East 

  as the “baby boomers” age and move   through each of these groups. In addition,  

 

Source: BC Stats, BC Ministry of Labour and Citizens’  Source: BC Stats, BC Ministry of Labour and Services, P.E.O.P.L.E 2013 projections.  Citizens’ Services, P.E.O.P.L.E 2013 projections.

 

 

Table 2: Percentage of FH senior populations: proportion in LHAs and regional distribution, 2014  

Figure 2: Projected FH senior population growth by age group Senior  Seniors as % of  LHA seniors as %  population  all ages in LHA  of FH seniors   600,000

  

Fraser East 

Adults 55‐64 yrs

South Surrey/White Rock  22,769 Young Seniors (65‐74 yrs)

25%

9%

Delta 

Middle Seniors (75‐84 yrs) 18,227 Older Seniors (85+)

18%

7%

21,892

16%

9%

Surrey 

49,971

12%

20%

Burnaby 

35,640

15%

14%

200,000 New Westminster 

10,116

14%

4%

Maple Ridge 

13,663

14%

5%

Coquitlam  0 Hope 

28,897 2,050

12% 25%

12% 1%

500,000

Langley  400,000 Population

Fraser North  Fraser South 

LHA 

300,000

100,000

1990 Agassiz ‐ Harrison 

12

2000 2005 2,109

2010

23% 2015

2020

2025 1%

Chilliwack 

16,499

18%

7%

Abbotsford 

21,858

15%

9%

Mission 

6,161

14%

2%

249,852 

15% 

100% 

2030

2035

Source: BC Stats, BC Ministry of Labour and Citizens’ Services, P.E.O.P.L.E 2013 projections.

    Fraser Health 

 

1995

Source: BC Stats, BC Ministry of Labour and Citizens’ Services, P.E.O.P.L.E 2013 projections. 

Senior and population demographics: age and gender Why is this important?

What are the findings?

Older Canadians are living longer than the generations before them. This growing senior group shows certain age and gender trends. On average, women tend to live longer than men and may require different types of service. Women surviving to older ages face numerous challenges such as having a higher burden of illness, multiple chronic conditions, and more functional limitations, particularly in the population living in long-term care facilities. In addition, today’s older women tend to have fewer financial resources and are more likely to live alone than men.5

In 2013, the life expectancy at age 65 across the Fraser Health LHAs is 20-22 years.6 In addition, in 2014, there are over 21,000 seniors ages 85 to 89 years and over 14,000 seniors ages 90 and over in the Fraser Health area (Figure 3). As seen in other regions, the older Fraser Health population has a higher proportion of women. At age 65-69, women represent about 50% of seniors whereas at age 90 and over they represent almost 70% of seniors (Figure 3).

Figure 3: FH population pyramid by age and gender, 2014 85‐89 75‐79

Women = 854,146

Men= 844,339

65‐69

Age in years

55‐59 45‐49 35‐39 25‐29 15‐19 5‐9