Close X
Friday, November 29, 2024
ADVT 
National

More Cdns plan to live at home as they age: poll

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 14 Oct, 2020 09:26 PM
  • More Cdns plan to live at home as they age: poll

A new survey suggests the COVID-19 pandemic has the majority of Canadians re-thinking how — and where — they want to spend their golden years.

The National Institute on Ageing at Toronto's Ryerson University conducted an online survey of 1,517 Canadians aged 18 and over in late July.

Sixty per cent of respondents said the COVID-19 pandemic had changed their opinion on whether they’d arrange for themselves or an older loved one to live in a nursing or retirement home. The number climbed to 70 per cent for respondents aged 65 and older.

Ninety-one per cent of respondents said they would try "to live safely and independently in their own home as long as possible." For those over 65, the number was nearly 100 per cent.

Dr. Samir Sinha, the director of health policy research at the institute that conducted the survey, said the pandemic has given Canadians a glimpse at what their future long-term care could look like.

"I think it's really given people a bit of a reality check to say, 'Maybe those aren't the safest environments for me to be in,'" he said.

According to the institute's tabulation of provincial data, more than three quarters of all deaths from COVID-19 in Canada have been among residents of long-term care homes.

Sinha pointed to another recent survey that suggested the vast majority of Canadians were aware of the deaths in long-term care. That poll, released in May by the National Union of Public and General Employees, found that just nine per cent of respondents had heard "little" about the deaths.

With such widespread knowledge of the ongoing tragedy, Sinha said it's no wonder people are reconsidering their options.

"Right now, what Canadians are telling us is that 'I don't want to go into a retirement or nursing home,'" Sinha said.

However, the Ryerson survey also suggests the majority of Canadians are not prepared, financially or otherwise, to care for an aging loved one at home.

"It does show a big disconnect," Sinha said.

Sinha applauded the federal government for recognizing the importance of unpaid caregivers, citing a new benefit that came into effect this week.

The caregiver benefit applies to people who miss work because of school or daycare closures, and whose children miss school or daycare because they have contracted the virus or may have been exposed. It also applies to people forced to miss work to care for family members who need specialized care that is unavailable to them due to COVID-19.

The federal government anticipates 700,000 Canadians will apply for the caregiver benefit.

Sinha said that estimate hints at the number of people who need more support.

"It really reminds us that millions of Canadians are providing unpaid care," he said.

MORE National ARTICLES

New Storyboard Honours Victims of Komagata Maru

New Storyboard Honours Victims of Komagata Maru
In 2019, Council supported recommendations from the Surrey Heritage Advisory Commission to conduct research into the earliest South Asians in Surrey, deliver programming relevant to Surrey’s diverse communities, and to create a heritage storyboard reflecting on the Komagata Maru incident and systemic racism.

New Storyboard Honours Victims of Komagata Maru

Charges laid in Yaletown home invasions

Charges laid in Yaletown home invasions
The suspect allegedly broke into two different residences on two different dates (on September 3 and then on September 16). In both cases, he allegedly threatened the homeowners.

Charges laid in Yaletown home invasions

More than 220 troops caught COVID-19: military

More than 220 troops caught COVID-19: military
The Armed Forces reported in March that three members had tested positive for COVID-19, but said it would not provide updates.

More than 220 troops caught COVID-19: military

Ont. pair charged with failing to quarantine

Ont. pair charged with failing to quarantine
Investigators said Christopher (Chris Sky) Saccoccia, 37, and Jennifer Saccoccia, 34, of King City, Ont., landed at Toronto's Pearson International Airport on Sept. 20 after travelling abroad.

Ont. pair charged with failing to quarantine

Education crucial in combating racism: Ambrose

Education crucial in combating racism: Ambrose
Ambrose, the author of a new book celebrating the International Day of the Girl, says teaching kids early about equality equips them to speak up when they witness or experience discrimination later in life.

Education crucial in combating racism: Ambrose

Vancouver mayor seeks $30 million for homeless

Vancouver mayor seeks $30 million for homeless
Stewart has released a recommendation to council seeking as much as $30 million to buy or lease land in the city and pay for other services to provide emergency relief for people without homes.

Vancouver mayor seeks $30 million for homeless