The Chief Public Health Officer's Report on The State of Public Health in Canada 2010 – A message from Canada's Chief Public Health Officer

A Message from Canada's Chief Public Health Officer

Canada's population is getting older. Our country is not alone in this respect or in the fact that our population is living longer and doing so in relatively good health. This is a testament, in part, to our collective achievements in public health and medicine. As our population grows older, we are reminded that the older members of our society are critical contributors to the successes that we enjoy today as well as having importance to our past. In this report, I have chosen to focus on the health and well–being of Canada's aging population and where action is needed to make the greatest difference in their lives, now and in the future.

Within a decade, almost one out of every five of us in Canada is going to be a senior citizen. Twenty years after that, it will grow to one in four. How this impacts our society in terms of economics, health care and services is top of mind for many, especially with regard to the need for investments now to ensure we are better able to adapt to these changes in the years to come.

Health promotion, injury prevention, and efforts to encourage and increase social participation and inclusion should be seen as essential investments that can save money, maintain and improve quality of life, and drive healthy economies. As is often cited in health circles, prevention is preferable to treatment. Our ability to support the needs of an older population – and ensuring this population is engaged in our efforts – will go a long way to determining our future success in achieving healthy aging. It is something from which all Canadians can benefit.

Within this report, I illustrate the state of health and well–being of Canada's seniors and identify some areas of concern where we – as a country – can make a concerted effort to do better, such as falls and related injuries, mental health, abuse and neglect, social connectedness, healthy living, and care and services. While Canada has laid the foundation for good health and well–being across the lifecourse, further action in these areas is needed to maintain quality of life for seniors as this population grows and resources are challenged. Effective programs and initiatives undertaken now can contribute to the overall goal of healthy aging in Canada, both in the short term and well into the future.

I have looked at the evidence around the causes and circumstances of falls and related injuries among seniors that suggests they can be prevented to some degree. Given that the outcomes associated with falls can quickly and negatively impact the health status of seniors and their families, this is an area where efforts hold promise of substantial returns. The importance of mental health cannot be understated and I am concerned about the shortcomings in addressing this issue in relation to seniors. The impact of abuse and neglect – and, on the other side of the spectrum, of social connectedness and healthy living – reaches across all areas of seniors' health and well–being, so efforts in these areas are likely to result in broad positive returns.

Further, while most seniors report that they are well–functioning overall, I know that certain subpopulations of seniors are at greater risk of poor health because of factors such as reduced access to care and support services, unsafe living environments and isolation. Included in this group are those who live in low–income, live in rural and remote communities, or are Aboriginal or recent immigrants. Throughout this report I have endeavoured to raise this issue when discussing key areas of concern. It is imperative that additional efforts be made to target assistance to these groups.

Issues of concern highlighted in this report are not always inevitable or irreversible. We must determine how best to manage our efforts in an effective and meaningful way to positively influence outcomes associated with these issues. Solutions to our shared challenges will not be easy to find, but even small changes can make a difference. In order to improve the conditions for Canadians, we will need to promote healthy aging, sustain healthy and supportive environments, and improve our data collection and knowledge for this population. Further, we will need to continue to strengthen our networks and partnerships, which will help us address the basic needs of our population as it ages and better tackle the increasing requirement for informal and formal care.

How well we age as a population and as individuals is not just a result of genetics and behaviours, but also of social conditions and the environments around us. While we look to establish safe and healthy surroundings for seniors, we can't overlook the importance of creating and nurturing a culture of respect. Recognizing the unique, critical and fundamental role that seniors can play, and will increasingly play in our society, is of great value to all Canadians including seniors themselves.

The role of public health is to make connections – to highlight the links between exposures and outcomes, identify trends, recognize where efforts are lacking or are making a difference – and to help find collective solutions. For this reason, public health will always have a vital and enduring role to play in the health and well– being of all individuals – from birth to end of life.

In 20 to 30 years, when one–quarter of Canadians are considered seniors, we don't want to find ourselves with unsupportive and unsafe environments, or without access to care. As this report demonstrates, our work ahead is a long–term endeavor. We have the tools and desire to do better, and our actions will have an impact on all Canadians as they live, grow and age.

Dr. David Butler–Jones