2011 FDR - Section 2: Health

General health profile

Regardless of disability status, all seniors are less likely to report good health as they age. However, seniors with disabilities are consistently much less likely to report good health than seniors without disabilities. Almost 40 percent of seniors with disabilities aged 65 to 74 and 50 percent of seniors with disabilities aged 75 and over report their general health as being either fair or poor.

Seniors with disabilities report that their health is getting worse over time. Three in ten seniors (33 percent) who have disabilities report that their health was worse in 2009 than in 2008. In comparison, only one in ten seniors without disabilities (11 percent) report their health as worse.

Older seniors with disabilities are more likely to feel that their health is declining. Nearly four in ten seniors (38 percent) aged 75 and over with disabilities have deteriorating health year after year, compared to fewer than three in ten seniors (29 percent) aged 65 to 74 with disabilities.

Chronic health conditions

A chronic health condition is a health problem that is ongoing, or that does not go away. Chronic health conditions are very common among seniors with disabilities. These conditions often emerge with age.

Figure 2.1 shows some of the most common chronic health conditions experienced by seniors and the percentage of seniors with and without disabilities who experience them.

Source: 2009 Canadian Community Health Survey

These chronic health conditions are often associated with specific types of disabilities. For example, arthritis is a very common underlying cause of mobility, agility and pain disabilities.

Having multiple chronic health conditions increases the likelihood that a senior will have a disability, as the combination of the multiple conditions means the senior is more likely to have difficulties with everyday activities. Figure 2.2 shows that many seniors with disabilities have multiple chronic health conditions—59 percent of seniors with disabilities have at least three, and 20 percent have five or more.

Figure 2.2 Number of chronic conditions for seniors, by disability status (%), 2009

Source: 2009 Canadian Community Health Survey

Mental health

This section presents information that focuses on seniors with disabilities who live on their own, in the community. It is important to remember that the data do not include seniors who live in assisted-living residences, nursing homes and long-term care facilities. Past research has shown that seniors living in such facilities have much higher rates of mental illness than seniors who live independently.

Mental health among seniors is an important issue. Good mental health is critical for good quality of life. Seniors with disabilities are most likely to perceive their mental health as very good (34 percent), good (30 percent), or excellent (27 percent), as shown in Figure 2.3. However, compared to seniors without disabilities, seniors with disabilities are more likely to feel that their mental health is only fair or poor.

Figure 2.3 Self-reported mental health status among seniors, by disability status (%), 2009

Source: 2009 Canadian Community Health Survey

Seniors with disabilities are more likely to consult a mental health professional compared to seniors without disabilities (9 percent versus 3 percent respectively). On average, seniors with disabilities consult a mental health professional four times per year. For those who consult a professional for mental health issues, the majority seek assistance from a family doctor (64 percent), psychiatrist (18 percent) or psychologist (11 percent).

Physical activity

Exercise is an important contributor to good overall health. For the 2009 Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada created the Leisure Time Physical Activity Index ^{Footnote 1} , which measured the level of physical activity among respondents by asking about the frequency, nature and duration of participation in certain activities such as swimming, bicycling or skating. Respondents were classified as active, moderately active or inactive based on their participation over the three months prior to being surveyed.

Figure 2.4 Physical activity level among seniors, by disability status (%), 2009

Source: 2009 Canadian Community Health Survey

The physical activity levels of seniors are displayed by disability status in Figure 2.4. Seniors with disabilities are significantly more likely to be classified as inactive when compared to seniors without disabilities. In contrast, seniors aged 75 and older with disabilities (not shown in the figure) are also significantly more likely to be classified as inactive compared to younger seniors aged 65 to 74 with disabilities (76 percent versus 63 percent). Older Canadians aged 55 to 64 with disabilities have similar activity levels to those aged 65 to 74 (18 percent active, 22 percent moderately active and 60 percent inactive). Senior men with disabilities are more likely to be active than senior women with disabilities (18 percent versus 9 percent).

Injuries

Seniors with disabilities are more likely to experience an injury than seniors without disabilities (12 percent versus 7 percent). Three in ten seniors with disabilities who have had injuries in the past year have experienced sprains and/or broken bones. Senior men with disabilities are more likely to experience sprains than broken bones, and senior women with disabilities are more likely to experience broken bones.

Seven in ten seniors with disabilities have experienced injuries in the past year as a result of a fall, compared to six in ten seniors without disabilities.

For seniors with disabilities who have experienced injuries, over six in ten (or 65 percent) have experienced injuries in or near their home. Just over three in ten have experienced injuries while walking, and just over two in ten have experienced injuries while doing household chores, outdoor yard maintenance or similar activities. Senior women with disabilities are more likely to experience an injury than senior men (14 percent versus 10 percent).

Medical care