By 2040, more than 1.1 million Albertans will be seniors. This number represents 18 per cent of Alberta’s population.
These numbers should not come as a surprise to policy makers and government – population trends have been heading this way for decades. What is surprising, however, is how ill-equipped we are as a province to deal with the dramatic increase in our aging population.
Government needs to take a good look at the oncoming demographic shift Alberta will experience and begin preparing for the increasing demands this will place on our already overburdened health system. We need to look ahead and consider what Alberta’s continuing care system needs to look like to accommodate more than one million seniors. We need a system that is open to innovative models of care.
Fortunately, there has been extensive research done into the field of continuing care. In 1999, an MLA Task Force chaired by MLA David Broda submitted a report titled Healthy Aging: New Directions in Care, that outlined key investments that would help Alberta prepare for our growing seniors’ population and ensure seniors are able to age with dignity. Combined, these key investments would help change the paradigm around continuing care and allow seniors to live independently longer and enjoy a high quality of life.
The first step is supporting healthy aging for all Albertans. This can be done through the promotion of health and prevention of illness, injury and disease.
The second step is an investment in empowering seniors to make responsible choices regarding their health and well-being. This initiative helps seniors to achieve a high quality of life that is supported by relatives, friends and community networks. Third is encouraging independence by supporting Albertans where they are. This investment recognizes that continuing care facilities, communities and government all have a role to play in helping seniors age with dignity. It supports investing in homecare and supportive living to allow seniors to achieve a high quality of life in their home communities.
All of these steps would help support seniors before they enter a long-term care home. Governments have focused on long-term care and long-term care beds while ignoring the other parts of continuing care. In truth, seniors should spend the shortest amount of time in long-term care, if at all, as opposed to supportive living or remaining in their homes and communities with care and supports.
No one, including seniors and individuals who require care and supports, wants to spend years living in a hospital-like setting or be forced to separate from their families and loved ones. Strategic investments that seek to support individuals where they are will help them age with dignity and will unburden the health-care system.
Tammy Leach is the CEO of the Alberta Continuing Care Association.
