Aging: The Impact on Caregivers, Housing, and

Health Care

Role of the Caregiver• Adult children provide much of the

support to elderly parents, with daughters providing more support than sons.

– Informal support – the unpaid help that is given by friends, neighbours and family.

– Formal support – the doctors, nurses and social workers involved in the caring for the elderly.

Children As Caregiver• Both men & women report strongly that children should support their parents emotionally, physically and financially.

• A stress of caregiving is that parents see the amount of support given as less than what the children say they give.

• Psychologists refer to this difference as the “developmental stake” - Older people may de-emphasize the amount of support they receive so that they do not see themselves as a burden.

Partner As Caregiver• Most older

Canadians report that their spouse is their main support, even if they are old and frail.

• 75% of of elderly persons rely exclusively on their spouses for care.

Caregiver Burden• Caregiver burden refers to the

problems and stress that results from caregiving.

• both rewarding and depressing for caregiver

• Spouses suffer as see spouses suffering

• caregivers may have health burdens themselves, and fewer financial or social resources to draw on.

Caregiver Burden• Stresses are likely to increase in the future as:

• More women enter the workforce

• Houses become smaller

• Greater geographic mobility

• More children are staying at home.

• The caregiver burden does not end after the person is placed in an institution.

Quasi-Widowhood• healthy spouse felt relief that

their spouses were in an institution, but they also felt failure, anger, guilt, sadness, depression, loneliness, and grief.

• They eventually accepted the loss of their spouse as a friend and companion and restructured their lives outside of the institution.

Independent Living Arrangements for the

Elderly• There are less than 5% of the aging population

in long term facilities, and 100000 people waiting for beds.

• Living in the family home is most desirable.

• Moving into an apartment.

• Living with older children.

• Living in sheltered housing where help with food and cleaning is provided.

Elderly Women• There has been a great increase in the past

several decades in the number of elderly women who live alone.

• Maybe because people have fewer children.

• More likely the values of independence and autonomy have had a great impact on this trend.

Granny Flats

• spaces created seperately for elderly parent

• Used in US and Australia – Canadians prefer in-law suites.

Embracing the Health Promotion Model

• Three models of health care are currently in use in Canada, although the one we rely on most heavily is the medical model:

• Focuses on the treatment of diseases / injuries.

• Favours surgery, drug therapy and rehabilitation provided in a physicians office, hospital or other health care institution controlled by doctors.

• Very expensive way to deliver health care costs.

Embracing the Health Promotion Model

• The social model is a small but growing part of health care as more older people need continuing or long-term care.

• Incorporates personal and family counseling, home care, and adult daycare programs as part of the healthcare system.

• The doctor is part of a team with other professionals.

• Care takes place within the community not in an institution.

• Keeps the elderly in their homes, which costs less than the medical model.

Embracing the Health Promotion Model

• The health promotion model focuses on prevention of disease through:

• Lifestyle change.

• Increased knowledge about healthy behaviour.

• Environment improvement.

• This model may actually save the health care system by keeping people healthier longer.

Embracing the Health Promotion Model

• Clinics that focus on disease prevention and health promotion are known as wellness clinics.

• They encourage people to take responsibility for improving / maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

• Can perhaps decrease reliance on our overburdened and expensive health care system.

Putting a New Face on Aging

• More than any other group, those over 55 say that they exercise daily, eat less fat and fried food.

• They smoke less, drink less, and wear their seatbelt more often.

• They snowboarding, rock climbing, mountain biking – not what you would normally associate with seniors.

• Most purchasers of Harley Davidson motorcycles and Fender Stratocaster guitars are middle aged professionals.