By Balwant Sanghera
With nearly 8 million seniors in Canada and over 20% of them are over age 65, it is time to address the challenges faced by our aging demographic. Many seniors, who have significantly contributed to the country’s growth, now find themselves grappling with hardships such as inflation, emotional, physical, and financial abuse, and social isolation.
Urgent attention from provincial and federal governments is needed to address these challenges and make life more comfortable for seniors.
As seniors age, their physical and cognitive abilities decline, often accompanied by mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and dementia. Those most affected include older adults with health challenges, individuals with low income, older caregivers, Indigenous people, and newcomers.
A multipronged approach is essential to improve the lives of seniors, particularly older adults. Family members play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and well-being of senior members, but for those without close family support, caregivers must step in with patience and compassion.
Unfortunately, some of the seniors may not have a close family member or members to look after them. In this case their close relatives and/or well wishers need to step in. These caregivers need to be patient and compassionate in working with seniors as some of the seniors may not be easy to work with. Once these caregivers gain the senior’s trust things usually move smoothly.
The financial strain on seniors has intensified with the rising cost of living, forcing some to choose between groceries and medications. A lot of seniors depend heavily on provincial and federal assistance programs such as OAS, GIC, CPP etc. The recent unprecedented increase in the cost of living has made it very difficult for most Canadians to cope with the financial pressures especially seniors, most of whom are on fixed income.
One often hears stories of some of the seniors who are forced to choose between buying groceries or paying for their medications. This should not be happening in a wealthy country like Canada. Our provincial and federal governments need to pay more attention to such situations. Also, especially our federal government, should be focused more on making lives of Canadians in general and seniors in particular more comfortable rather than issues outside our jurisdiction. We need to pay more attention on promoting and facilitating healthy lifestyles for all Canadians in general and seniors in particular.
Every level of government—municipal, provincial, and federal—must provide adequate facilities and resources for seniors to socialize, exercise, and share their experiences. A concerted awareness campaign addressing ageism, social isolation, and elder abuse is crucial to ensuring that seniors can adopt healthy lifestyles and enjoy a productive and fulfilling life. It is a responsibility we owe to those who have contributed so much to our country.
