The rising number of Canadian seniors who will need continuing care supports over the next few decades has pressing implications for public spending, the labour market, and housing and institutional infrastructure.
Future Care for Canadian Seniors: A Status Quo Forecast
Future Care for Canadian Seniors: A Status Quo Forecast
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By 2026, over 2.4 million Canadians age 65+ will require paid and unpaid continuing care supports—up 71 per cent from 2011. By 2046, this number will reach nearly 3.3 million.
Spending on continuing care for seniors will increase from $29.3 billion in 2011 to $184.2 billion in 2046. With nearly two-thirds of this spending provided by governments, spending growth will significantly outpace revenue growth for most provinces.
Labour demand growth for the continuing care sector will also far exceed general labour force growth.
The reliance on unpaid caregivers and volunteers to provide continuing care supports will grow dramatically and could compound the perceived level of unmet or under-met needs of seniors.
Responding to these needs in an efficient and sustainable manner will require collaboration among the diverse mix of public and private stakeholders that make up the continuing care sector.
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