opinion: we need a national shift to ensure canadians age with 'zest and dignity'

the impact of covid-19 has been tragic for seniors and their families. deaths in long-term care facilities have been staggering. the pandemic has also exposed many broader issues beyond ltc facilities that affect our ability to lead fulfilling and dignified lives in our senior years. these have been well articulated by drummond and sinclair , estabrooks (the royal society report), mackenzie (seniors advocate, b.c.) and in andre picard’s recent book, neglected no more .

the majority of seniors do not want to be in ltc facilities but sadly often find themselves with no other choice. financial inability to access services at home often pushes seniors into ltc facilities. yet this makes little sense as a recent canadian medical association report estimates the cost of caring is about 40 per cent lower in home care than in ltc facilities ($95 versus $150 per day). much of the support for seniors in their homes is provided by family members and other unpaid caregivers and this is not sustainable. demands on ltc facilities will increase unless we take action now.

• enable measures to increase financial security for seniors;
• foster socialization and active living for seniors — meaningful activities that add purpose to their lives;
• incentivize individuals and community organizations to provide social supports to seniors in their homes;
• make neighbourhood and housing options available to suit the individual needs of seniors;
• ensure quality person-centred care that maintains zest and dignity in both home settings and ltc facilities.

we support using the canada pension plan to create financial security by adding a new elder-care benefit, building on work done by prof. carolyn tuohy at the university of toronto. we also support increased investments by governments to make the big shift.

the importance of building a culture of mutual respect and support at the community level to foster services that enable seniors to live in their own homes cannot be overemphasized. this is where the most effective interventions can occur that directly impact the daily lives of seniors as shown in recent studies of norcs , naturally occurring retirement communities. these models have seniors identify their needs and build mutual support arrangements.

1. assert the federal government’s commitment to reshaping the future of aging in canada and in establishing national standards;
2. embed key principles such as supporting seniors in their homes as long as possible to enable greater autonomy, respect and dignity;
3. recognize the five pillars to support a new future for aging as outlined above;
4. create a new avenue for targeted funding to the provinces and territories with accountability mechanisms;
5. identify processes for collaboration with the provinces and territories to plan and implement new initiatives on standards, performance targets, outcome measures, accountability (possibly under the oversight of the federal/provincial/territorial committee on seniors).