Healthy Aging

Healthy aging is an integral part of healthy living and has a significant impact on population health. As one ages, factors that affect health include economic status, availability of health-care and community services, and infrastructure such as transportation and appropriate housing.

In 2005, there were 4.2 million seniors aged 65 and older in Canada, and Statistics Canada projects there will be 9.8 million seniors by 2036. This increase is expected to have significant impacts on the Canadian workforce and to influence the demand for health-care services. Chronic disease accounts for 89 per cent of deaths in Canada. For seniors, diseases such as cancer and dementia are particularly significant. Supporting healthy aging helps to reduce the need for nursing and other health-care services and promotes a healthy and active population.

Registered nurses are well positioned to promote healthy aging. For example, family practice nurses are involved in chronic disease management, community health nurses conduct falls prevention programs and gerontological nurses oversee and provide care in nursing homes. Nursing research in gerontology produces evidence on best practices. As well, many nurses advocate for national strategies on appropriate housing and on pharmaceutical access.

CNA consulting on healthy aging

As part of its centennial celebrations for 2008, the Canadian Nurses Association identified three themes, one of which is Investing in the Future. CNA is taking steps to invest in the future health needs of older Canadians, their families and their caregivers by consulting with individuals and organizations that have expertise and interests related to healthy aging. The consultation aims to explore key issues and to identify possible CNA policy actions and opportunities to collaborate with partners. To learn more about this consultation contact Della Faulkner, CNA health policy consultant.

CNA developing policy on long-term care

To support practice in long-term care and to assist with health human resources planning, CNA produced a policy brief on the long-term care environment (PDF) that describes the current research and synthesizes the findings of environmental scans and literature reviews. The brief presents a framework for assessing the use of resources and for evaluating the delivery of services.

CNA hosting stakeholder forum

CNA is also leading the National Stakeholder Roundtable on Long-Term Care. This forum brings together government representatives, health-care provider organizations, researchers and non-governmental organizations to explore opportunities to collaborate on research, knowledge transfer, policy, and advocacy related to long-term care. For more information about the roundtable, contact Della Faulkner.

Further reading on healthy aging and long-term care

Federal government and national organization resources

Canadian Institute for Health Information:

Health Canada: Home and continuing care

Health Council of Canada: Fixing the foundation: An update on primary health care and home care renewal in Canada (PDF)

Public Health Agency of Canada: Aging and seniors

Senate of Canada: Special Committee on Aging

Statistics Canada: Residential care facilities

Resources from national provider organizations

Canadian Healthcare Association: Facility-based long-term care

Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association: Advocacy strategy

Canadian Medical Association: Presentation to the Special Senate Committee on Aging (PDF)