•
Today’s seniors make up about 13%
of British Columbia’s population.
In 25 years over 22% will be over 65.
• Today’s seniors are healthier
and more active than in the past.
• The fastest growing population
group in Canada in percentage terms is
the 85 + group. With growing longevity
comes increased incidence of dementia,
requiring intensive health care and personal
assistance.
• Men tend to have greater need
for assistance with household chores,
while women far outnumber men in long
term care facilities, and tend to stay
there longer.
What
are my odds of needing Long Term Care?
•
For those over age 65, 43% will at some
point in their remaining years require
long term care and spend time in a nursing
home or long term care facility for an
average length of stay of 3 to 4 years.
• 1 in 5 will stay more than 5 years.
• For a couple over age 65, there
is a 2 out of 3 chance that at least one
spouse will enter a facility at some point
point.
What
are the three basic types of Long Term Care?
Skilled
Care / Professional Care is generally
needed for medical conditions that require
care by skilled medical personnel that
can be provided in a nursing home or patient’s
home.
Personal Care helps a
person perform Activities of Daily Living
(ADLs): assistance with bathing, eating,
dressing, toileting, continence and transferring
(ie. moving from bed to chair).
Supervisory Care is for
those who are cognitively impaired, e.g.
Alzheimer’s etc. and who generally
need supervision, protection or verbal
reminders to accomplish everyday activities.
