Seniors as a Vulnerable Population

The population in Canada is undergoing a drastic shift towards an aging population and as a result will present challenges for the healthcare system in both Nova Scotia and Canada. As illustrated below the rate at which the percentage of the population that is over the age of 65 has increased over the last 10 years with an even larger predicted increase in the 20 years to come.

(Government of Canada, 2014)

The aging population is predicted to have a major impact on the Canadian Economy as well as the healthcare system. The senior population is often at an increased risk for illness and disability and some of the risk factors that contribute to this vulnerable population include: injury such as falls, risk factors for chronic disease, poverty, social isolation and exclusion, mental health and elder maltreatment. (WHO, 2019) Some statistics noted in a publication by the Canadian Medical Association (2013) identified that:

in 2006, 33% of Canadians aged 65 or older had a disability; the proportion climbed to 44% among people aged 75 or older. Nearly three-quarters of Canadians over 65 have at least one chronic health condition. Because of increasing rates of disability and chronic disease, the demand for health services is expected to increase as Canada’s population ages. Currently Canadians over 65 consume roughly 44% of provincial and territorial health care budgets (p. 2).

In my review of the literature there were a number of themes that were evident when looking for ways to better serve the vulnerable senior population. Some of these included: promoting healthy aging, developing an age friendly society, and providing health services to care and support the elder population. (CMA, 2013; Public Health Agency of Canada, 2002; Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2011)

One particular area that I think we could better serve our seniors would be in terms of decreasing the risk of injury through falls prevention. The number of falls that I see in my practice is astounding, either falls at home that come into the hospital, or seniors who have falls during their inpatient stay.

There are a number of interventions that can be implemented to decrease falls among the senior population, some of which include: regular medication reviews with a pharmacy team member, performing a safety assessment of the home, cognitive therapy as well as regular eye examinations. (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2014)

(Nova Scotia Health Authority, 2016)

As noted in this publication, falls cost the Nova Scotia Health Authority $107 million dollars per year in addition to the negative affects falls have on our patients. By providing seniors with adequate assessments, reduction in polypharmacy as well as means to ensure adequate nutrition and physical activity we would be better serving our senior population.

References

Canadian Institute for Health Information. (2011). Health care in Canada, 2011-a focus on seniors and aging [PDF]. Retrieved from https://secure.cihi.ca/free_products/HCIC_2011_seniors_report_en.pdf

Canadian Medical Association. (2013). Health and Health Care for an Aging Population

[PDF File]. Retrieved from https://www.cma.ca/sites/default/files/2018-11/CMA_Policy_Health_and_Health_Care_for_an_Aging-Population_PD14-03-e_0.pdf

Nova Scotia Health Authority. (2016). Finding balance [PDF file]. Retrieved from https://www.fallpreventionmonth.ca/uploads/2017%20Toolkit%20Files/Stats%20and%20infographic%20files/FB_NS_Data_Infographic_2016%20(1).pdf

Public Health Agency of Canada. (2002). Canada’s aging population [PDF file]. Retrieved from http://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/H39-608-2002E.pdf

Public Health Agency of Canada. (2014). Seniors’ falls in Canada [PDF file]. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/phac-aspc/migration/phac-aspc/seniors-aines/publications/public/injury-blessure/seniors_falls-chutes_aines/assets/pdf/seniors_falls-chutes_aines-eng.pdf

World Health Organization. (2019). Risk factors of ill health among older people. Retrieved from http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/Life-stages/healthy-ageing/data-and-statistics/risk-factors-of-ill-health-among-older-people