Canadian provincial, territorial, and federal government aging policies: A systematic review
ABSTRACT
In most countries, population aging is becoming more evident now that the first members of the large babyboom cohort have reached 65 years of age. As an accelerating increase in the number of older persons and the proportion of the public aged 65 and older will now occur, planning for population aging has become ever more crucially important. A systematic review of Canadian provincial, territorial, and federal government documents was undertaken to search for the existence of population aging policies, and to determine the aims and other content of the most current policy documents. Documents were identified in all but two jurisdictions of Canada (two northern territories). Document developers, and the aims and content of the 14 reviewed documents varied considerably. Some similarities were identified, however, including some common stated purposes for these documents - to address current issues and challenges facing older people and to plan ahead for a preferred future with population aging.
In most countries, population aging is becoming more evident now that the first members of the large babyboom cohort have reached 65 years of age. As an accelerating increase in the number of older persons and the proportion of the public aged 65 and older will now occur, planning for population aging has become ever more crucially important. A systematic review of Canadian provincial, territorial, and federal government documents was undertaken to search for the existence of population aging policies, and to determine the aims and other content of the most current policy documents. Documents were identified in all but two jurisdictions of Canada (two northern territories). Document developers, and the aims and content of the 14 reviewed documents varied considerably. Some similarities were identified, however, including some common stated purposes for these documents - to address current issues and challenges facing older people and to plan ahead for a preferred future with population aging.
Cite this paper
Wilson, D. , Osei-Waree, J. , Hewitt, J. and Broad, A. (2012) Canadian provincial, territorial, and federal government aging policies: A systematic review. Advances in Aging Research, 1, 38-46. doi: 10.4236/aar.2012.12005.
Wilson, D. , Osei-Waree, J. , Hewitt, J. and Broad, A. (2012) Canadian provincial, territorial, and federal government aging policies: A systematic review. Advances in Aging Research, 1, 38-46. doi: 10.4236/aar.2012.12005.
References
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[1] Special Senate Committee on Aging (2009) Canada’s aging population: Seizing the opportunity. Final report. http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/SEN/Committee/402/agei/rep/AgingFinalReport-e.pdf [2] Statistics Canada (2011) Population projections: Canada, the provinces and territories, 2009 to 2036. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/100526/dq100526b-eng.htm [3] Public Health Agency of Canada (2009) 1. Introduction. http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/seniors-aines/publications/pro/healthy-sante/nfa-cnv/nfa -cnv1-eng.php [4] World Health Organization and Public Health Agency of Canada (2005) Preventing chronic diseases. A vital in- vestment. http://www.who.int/chp/chronic_disease_report/part1/en/index.htm [5] British Columbia Ministry of Health (2008) Seniors in British Columbia: A healthy living framework. http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/seniors/pdf/seniors_framework_web.pdf [6] Canadian Institute for Health Information (2011) Multiple chronic conditions, not age, main driver of health system by seniors. http://www.cihi.ca/CIHI-ext-portal/internet/en/Document/types+of+care/primary+health/RELEASE_27JAN11 [7] Gilmour, H. and Park, J. (2006) Dependency, chronic conditions and pain in seniors. Health Reports, 16, S21- S31. [8] Goetghebeur, M.M., Forrest, S. and Hay, J.W. (2003) Understanding the underlying drivers of inpatient cost growth: A literature review. American Journal of Man- aged Care, 9, S3-S12. [9] Ko, Y. and Coons, S.J. (2005) An examination of self- reported chronic conditions and health status in the 2001 Medicare Health Outcomes Survey. Current Medical Research & Opinion, 21, 1801-1808. [10] Nugent, R. (2008) Chronic diseases in developing coun- tries. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1136, 70-79. doi:10.1196/annals.1425.027 [11] Ohinmaa, A., Schopflocher, D., Jacobs, P., et al. (2006) A population-based analysis of health behaviors, chronic diseases and associated costs. Chronic Diseases in Canada, 27, 17-24. [12] Cranswick, K. (1998) Who needs short-term help? Canadian Social Trends, 50, 11-15. [13] Forbes, D.A., Stewart, N., Morgan, D., et al. (2003) Individual determinants of home-care nursing and housework assistance. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, 35, 15-36. [14] Health Canada (1999). Provincial and territorial home care program: A synthesis for Canada. Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Ottawa. [15] McBride, T., Morton, A., Nichols, A., et al. (2011) Comparing the costs of alternative models of end-of-life care. Journal of Palliative Care, 27, 126-133. [16] Sheps, S.B., Reid, R.J., Barer, M.L., et al. (2000) Hospital downsizing and trends in health care use among elderly people in British Columbia. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 163, 397-401. [17] Stuart, M. and Weinrich, M. (2001) Home- and community-based long-term care: Lessons from Denmark. Ger- ontologist, 41, 474-480. doi:10.1093/geront/41.4.474 [18] Van Houtven, C.H., Oddone, E.Z., and Weinberger, M. (2010) Informal and formal care infrastructure and perceived need for caregiver training for frail US veterans referred to home and community-based services. Chronic Illness, 6, 57-66. doi:10.1177/1742395309352694 [19] Wilson, D.M. and Truman, C.D. (2005) Comparing the health services utilization of long-term-care residents, home-care recipients, and the well elderly. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, 37, 138-154. [20] Wilson, D., Truman, C., Huang, J., et al. (2005) The possibilities and realities of home care. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 96, 385-389. [21] Wilson, D.M., Birch, S., Cohen, J., et al. (2011) Home care developments in the Canadian province of Alberta with regionalization. Global Journal of Health Science, 3, 3-8. doi:10.5539/gjhs.v3n1p3 [22] Stevens, K.R. (2001) Systematic reviews: The heart of evidence-based practice. AACN Clinical Issues, 12, 529- 538. doi:10.1097/00044067-200111000-00009 [23] Whiting, L.S. (2009) Systematic review protocols: An introduction. Nurse Researcher, 17, 34-43. [24] Seniors and Healthy Aging Secretariat (2011) Age-fri- endly Manitoba charter. http://www.gov.mb.ca/shas/agefriendly/charter.pdf [25] Comité Consultatif de Lutte Contre la Pauvreté et l’Ex- clusion Sociale (2010) Ageing alone: The impact of poverty and social exclusion. Building a future in which every individual can grow old with dignity. http://www.cclp.gouv.qc.ca/index_en.asp [26] Prince Edward Island Department of Health (2009) Pri- nce Edward Island’s healthy aging strategy. http://www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/doh_agingstrat.pdf [27] Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (2007) Ontario’s aging at home strategy. http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/ltc/33_ontario_strategy.aspx [28] Province of Nova Scotia (2005) Strategy for positive aging in Nova Scotia. http://www.gov.ns.ca/seniors/pub/2005_StrategyPositiveAging.pdf [29] Government of Northwest Territories (2002) Seniors’ action plan 2002-2003: Response to the review of programs and services for seniors. http://www.hlthss.gov.nt.ca/pdf/reports/seniors/2002/english/seniors_action_plan.pdf [30] Health Canada (1998). Principles of the national framework on aging: A policy guide. Division of Aging and Seniors, Health Canada, Ottawa. [31] Pal, L.A. (2010) Beyond policy analysis: Public issue management in turbulent times. Nelson Education, Toronto. [32] Province of New Brunswick (2009) Being there for seniors: Our progress in long-term care. http://www.gnb.ca/0182/pdf/LongTermCare-e.pdf [33] Department of Social Development (2008) Be independent longer: New Brunswick’s long-term care strategy, 2008. http://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/Departments/sd-ds/pdf/LTC/LongTermCareStrategy-e.pdf [34] Government of Alberta (2010) Aging population policy framework. http://www.seniors.alberta.ca/seniors/agingpopulation/framework/ [35] Provincial Advisory Committee of Older Persons (2003) Saskatchewan’s provincial policy framework and action plan for older seniors. http://www.health.gov.sk.ca/action-plan-for-older-persons [36] Government du Quebec (2007) Action strategy for the elderly, budget 2007-2008. http://www.budget.finances.gouv.qc.ca/budget/2007-2008/en/pdf/Aines.pdf [37] Government of Newfoundland and Labrador (2007) Provincial healthy aging policy framework. http://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2007/health/0711n04HA%20Policy%20Framework.pdf [38] United Nations Secretariat (2000) Expert group meeting on population ageing and population decline. http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/popdecline/popdecline.htm [39] Centre for Policy on Ageing (2012) Policies on ageing. http://www.cpa.org.uk/cpa/policies_on_ageing.html