Senior citizens are an important part of the societal fabric of Canada; they also have a vital role in Canada’s disability community. Most people would agree that senior citizens often have disabilities that are specific to their age group. This week Disability Living will be discussing the disabilities that affect elderly individuals and senior citizens in Canada.
The number of senior citizens in Canada is growing.
Senior citizens make up a considerable percentage of the population of Canada. Over the past years, the number of seniors in Canada has risen. For example, in 2007, 13 percent of the Canadian population was comprised of people over age 65. Contrast that with just 8 percent of the population being that same age in 1972.
It’s clear with statistics like these that the percentage of senior citizens in Canada is growing. In fact, by year 2056 it is estimated that seniors will make up 27 percent of the population of Canada.
As the number of seniors in Canada rises, so should the understanding of the specific issues that affect them.
Why? To promote awareness of the issues. People with disabilities often are misunderstood by society — especially people who are senior citizens or are elderly. All too often, such individuals, particularly the very elderly, are forgotten or “brushed aside,” but it does not need to be like this. People who are older still have much to contribute to their community and their world. That’s why Disability Living is writing blog posts especially for this age group this week.
A few blog topics Disability Living will feature this week include:
– Staying independent as long as possible
– Disabilities that affect the elderly or senior citizens (arthritis, Alzheimer’s, mobility-related disabilities, and difficulties dressing)
– Seniors and war-related disabilities
– Financial programs designed to help seniors
– Quick tips for staying physically fit and mobile
– Preventing Alzheimer’s disease
Are you a senior citizen living in Canada?
If so, what topics would you like to read about? Leave a comment on this post and let us know — we love to write about the topics that interest you most!
Sources:
http://www41.statcan.gc.ca/2008/70000/ceb70000_000-eng.htm
Image made available by Kevin Timothy on Flickr through Creative Commons License.
*Please note: All research for this article is compiled from direct and third party sources. Mention of programs, organizations and companies does not imply support of The National Benefit Authority. Pictures are for creative purposes only; they are not intended to sell or promote products for the NBA and belong to the accredited individual, organization or company.
Let’s Talk About It
Are you a senior citizen with a disability? Tell us about it.
Do you feel seniors are respected for the most part in Canada? Why or why not?
A seniors beniefit of $ 540 a month is totally degrading ! A.I.S.H recepients just got a $400 raise in benefits and the old worn out people who have built this country have to lay back and live in poverty ! Most of who are disabled also !Does this in any way make sense ?
I am one of thousand of elderly people living in Canada….of course, I do struggle to live standard like you many Hearing
people…I myself is fully Deaf and just couldnt able return to work as part time teacher which helps me little a bit but now
none…I live in a nice house and I take good care of it, but trouble is everything stole my $$$ to reduce my savings …and I
do need a good car to go around…my car is 13 years old its too expensive to get it fix, food skyrocket, bills charge me too
much, so i cut off use AC, lights not on all the times, do not use dryer much so i hang clothes on the line, mow lawner is old
too, want to watering flowers and grass for they are dry…so i only feed flowers for now not grass which is now getting yellow
so I still use door bell, lights, closed captioned tv, even in rent DVD , and i need little new technology which still too expensive
such as blackberry ..what if i am on 401 trip somewhere so i can call my daughter in time of necessary such as gas, car trouble,
or something…i cannot afford it…its crazy higher price!!! I still have only one old fashion tv not like today new ones…some
other my friends have 3/4 tvs in thier homes!!! wowow not me…really not necessary just one is good enough for me…I used
read good books is better than buy another tv….my ex left me for his parent’s will and left me with this house ..he never help
such as paint aroune here, or fix something …he hate it even mow the lawn always ask one of my children to do it for him
its long , long story about him…but he moved to live in condo in downtown windsor…live comfortable…he abandoned me
about 15 years ago…been with him for 30 years!! so my disgust is my just new neigbour moved in and didnt do good job in
thier garden …wish you could come and check thier backyard…oh boy its messy in there…i knew that my house will be hard
to sell because of them…in poorly property….even i cannot afford something new in my house…so i am stuck with unable
get new ones….I tried my best to keep this my own property in good shape…oh well i will be 70 yrs soon…still want to work
but seem stuck too..I once go to apply job in Walmart for extra in winter but they reject me because of my deafness….i knew
many company doesnt want hire Deaf elder people…but I noticed that they do have elder hearing people work there!!! so
what is wrong with me!!!! my disablity is only being cannot hear thats all…i can walk and able work too…so thats right
someone is brushed aside me out of thier lives!!!! I recieved small CCP,OAS, and one small USA disablity pension, yes i am
still an American but I feel sucker for married to an Canadian but he rejected me so he can escaped from his parents living
which he is thier only child…no wonder i am stuck right here…no on help me much…my 3 children lives thier lives fine…
because thier grandpa and grandma helped them through paid universities so all of them have good jobs…so i want to work
but his parents wont let me work…says that i must stay home for kids sake…now kids are big and left so he left also with
his parents will …i fought with him for 5 years to get money from him but he just left me little chunk of $$$ and escaped
so i am here stuck myself…of course i paid my lawyer myself…even sometimes without interpreters every time meet her
for meetings….so i dont know what next for me here…of course i am disappointed no one willing help me…oh well…there
is alot more to say but due to limit this space…thank you….have a wonderful week….Judy
My wife and I are both 81 years old and we are finding it increasingly difficult to to maintain our independance. We are still living in our home and get financial assistance from DVA for housekeeping and ground maintenance.The problem is that we can’t seem to get satisfactory answers to our problems My wife has a spinal problem (twisted) and has to use a walker.I suffered a stroke in 2010 and have had balance problems since .We have both consulted with specialists, but no-one seems to be able to suggest any treatments that helps I get the impression (maybe i’m wrong) that not enough attention is paid to research into the problems of seniors like us. sincerely Peter Mclean.
I have had a brain tumor, heart attachs, and 14 strokes, am semi blind, and walk with a slight limp. I don’t look diabled or speak wrong till I get tired, people think there is nothing wrong with me. When I apply for or go anywhere a disabled, I’m looked at as ‘what’s wrong with you’ also money wise there is none to afford prices of activities available. I go to Stroke Recovery, but it’s not that entertaining as we don’t go anywhere as a group. I get lost if I walk on my own, so I stay home by my self most of the time. there is so much money given to the indians why can’t half of it go to the seniors so we can have free things also. We worked years never sat doing nothing now we should receive something back…..
Food. Cutting it, not being able to use knives safely.
Not being able to open jars or cans because of no strength in the hands.
Building a house with the wrong kind of bathtubs for the elderly, like having the cost in old age of replacing them with something usuable, then you wouldn’t need so much home care of alone.
I was on ODSP until I turned 65. When I turned 65 I received supplemented income instead off my disability from the government . I own my house. I can not effort to stay on $1300 in my house any longer and I put myself on the waiting list for a senior apartment. What happens when I sell my house. Do I still receive the $1300 monthly or do they cut me off and I have to live on what I get from my estate?
Reading these comments I find depressing,
why in such a wealthy country must anyone suffer?
I personally feel blessed in my retirement, for all the hard work and self denial has proven worth-while