Introduction

The 2011 Federal Disability Report provides a portrait of seniors with disabilities in Canada. With vital information on who they are, how they live their lives and what their needs are, this report helps Canadians understand seniors with disabilities.

Canada's population is aging. Of all age groups—from children to seniors—seniors are the fastest growing group. Out of Canada's population of nearly 31 million people in 2006, over 4 million are over the age of 65.

Disability affects many people in Canada. While overall, 14 percent of Canadians have disabilities, the disability rate is much higher among seniors. About 43 percent of Canadian seniors have disabilities. Over 30 percent of people aged 65 to 74 have disabilities, as well as more than 50 percent of those over the age of 75.

Aging and disability are very closely connected. Canadians with disabilities often require disability-specific supports, such as access to rehabilitation, aids and devices. As Canada's population of seniors with disabilities grows, more people will need income supports and health care services.

The Report has five sections that look at important aspects of the lives of seniors with disabilities.

• Section 1 defines seniors with disabilities, exploring the types and number of disabilities they have and their severity.
• Section 2 considers the health of seniors with disabilities.
• Section 3 explores care for seniors with disabilities.
• Section 4 looks at participation among seniors with disabilities, exploring aids and devices that help them, and examining employment, retirement, transportation and volunteering.
• Section 5 presents facts on the income of seniors with disabilities and explores additional expenses that they have because of their disabilities.

Each section also concludes with a spotlight on a Government of Canada program that supports seniors with disabilities.

The report concludes with an appendix that highlights federal disability spending for the 2010–2011 fiscal year relating to the themes of inclusion and supports, income supports, learning, skills and employment, health and well-being and tax measures.

Data in this report are taken from several Statistics Canada surveys:

• the 2009 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS);
• the 2008 Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID);
• the 2008 General Social Survey, Social Networks (GSS); and
• the 2006 Participation and Activity Limitation Survey (PALS).

Statistics Canada surveyed people across Canada to ask questions about their daily lives. Only people living at home were surveyed; therefore, seniors with disabilities living in assisted-living residences, nursing homes and long-term care facilities did not answer the surveys.

In its surveys, Statistics Canada used two general types of questions to determine whether a person had a disability:

• questions that identify whether a person has any difficulty with certain activities; and
• questions that identify whether in some part of everyday life a person feels limited because of a condition or health problem.

Information sources for this report often compare the experiences of people in four key age groups. The age groups are:

Older Canadians:

• 55 to 64 years

Seniors:

• 65 to 74 years
• 75 to 84 years
• 85 years and over

Older Canadians are included to help compare the experiences of seniors with the experiences of people who will soon be seniors.