It’s almost hard to fathom that less than 100 years ago the average life expectancy in Canada was just 65 years old. Today a Canadian 65 years-of-age can expect to live an average of 21 more years. Many seniors are living far longer too. The number of Canadians aged 100+ has more than doubled in the last decade, and now number more than the population of Sooke.
This is, of course, all good news. More time for travel. More time to dote on grandchildren. More time, period.
There are, however, some key devils in the details.
Of the 21 extra years we now get after 65, most of us will be in ill health for at least six or seven of them. It won’t just be one disease that we’re living with either. Most of us will have two or more chronic illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, COPD, dementia or Parkinson’s.
The bottom line is this: we’re living longer than ever before, but we’re living longer in sickness than ever before too.
None of us want to dream about a future where we lose our mental and physical abilities. Fortunately, a few simple steps can make a big difference for your quality of life, and your dignity, if you end up sick.
- Create an advanced care plan: If your health declines, and you’re no longer able to make decisions for yourself, what kind of care would you want? For example, is it more important for you to live as long as possible, despite some suffering, or to live without suffering for a shorter length of time? The process of creating an advanced care plan guides you through important conversations with your friends and loved ones, and gives you the chance to ensure you get to live your whole life as you wish. To find out more, search for ‘Advance Care Planning’ on the BC Government website.
- Prepare your home: As our population ages, and more of us live with chronic illness, our healthcare system is going to be stretched to capacity. It’s quite likely that wait times for both hospital care and long-term care will increase, and that more care will be pushed into the home. You can make it easier to remain in your own home longer by removing trip hazards, converting bathtubs to walk-in tubs or easy access showers, or (if possible) making your home wheelchair accessible by widening doorways and removing entry stairs.
- Think about a post-retirement career: While it may seem odd to think about working after retirement, there are a lot of good reasons to add a second act to your career. Even casual, or part-time jobs can provide a sense of fulfillment that boosts mental health, and helps maintain abilities as we age. A little extra income in retirement can help create a financial buffer for hard times too. Dentures, hearing aids, and out-of-pocket medication costs can now total thousands of dollars. If your health declines, and you need private care while you wait for a long-term care bed to open, the fees can range from $3,500 to $15,000 per month. Sadly, a growing number of seniors are arriving in long-term care unable to afford basic care needs, or even clothes, due to unexpected medical expenses incurred just before transferring into care.
- Find a sport you like: Swimming, hiking, skiing, pickleball, it doesn’t really matter what you do, as long as you stay active. While exercise isn’t a panacea, it can greatly decrease the risk of, and symptoms associated with, many chronic illnesses. It will also help maintain your strength and mobility so you can keep living at home longer. One of the benefits of our aging population is that there are a growing number of sport programs for seniors too. Dragon boating recently added a 70+ competition class, for example, and BC Seniors Games regularly has competitors that are 80 and 90+!
For more information on all of these topics, and other free senior focused education and resources, check out Eldercare Foundation’s Yakimovich Wellness Centre: https://gvef.org/yakimovich-wellness-centre/
Tom Arnold is the Director of Development for Eldercare Foundation, a Victoria-based charity dedicated to enhancing care and quality of life for local seniors living with chronic illness, both at home and in long-term care. www.gvef.org
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