Teenagers can bemoan being carded when they want access to adult-only events and products. A few years later, some young adults complain that they are still mistaken for teenagers. And then, at some point, we start to worry about looking older.
The older we get, the more obsessed we seem to be about our age. But at some point, as George Burns said, we “don’t buy green bananas.”
The lucky few continue to look (and sometimes feel and act) younger than the age on their drivers’ licenses. But they are in the minority.
In a previous column, I wrote about the difference between lifespan and healthspan. The former is the number of years we can expect to live, based on our year of birth and place of birth, according to actuarial tables. The latter is the number of years we can expect to live without illnesses or other health conditions that lead to premature death.
Genetics play a role in determining both these spans. So too do socioeconomic status, education, and housing. Lifestyle choices contribute significantly to these numbers. We all have heard that we should not smoke, use recreational drugs, or drink alcohol excessively, if we drink at all.
Similarly, we have been advised to eat a diet high in fibre and protein and as close to the Mediterranean diet as possible. Snacks, salty and processed foods, and fast (usually fried) foods are high on the list of foods to avoid.
And of course, we also know that exercise, hydration, and good sleep habits are essential for longevity. So, too, is socialization.
How are we to follow all these guidelines and still enjoy life? The old saying of “everything in moderation” may sound reasonable, except that there is really no clear definition of moderation. One week red wine and dark chocolate are good for our hearts; the next we should avoid these treats altogether.
What are we to think?
Perhaps a mind change is in order. Instead of thinking about growing older, consider thinking about living longer. Remember the alternative to growing older and you may improve your appreciation of each added birthday.
In Canada, the most current life expectancy data, for people born here between 2015 and 2017, is 80.1 years. The range is from a low of 72.1 in Nunavut to a high of 82.6 in both Quebec and Ontario. Higher and lower predictions are shown when the geographic areas are identified below the provincial and territorial levels.
Compare this to the most current health span data. Stats Canada asserts that “In 2020, life expectancy at birth was 81.7 years overall, with males’ and females’ life expectancy at 79.5 and 84.0 years, respectively. Canadians are expected to spend about 71.3 years of their life in good health.”
These data suggest that males born four years ago can expect to enjoy all but eight years of their lives in good health. Females can expect almost 15 years. These numbers are among the best in the world. Canadians can expect to live healthily about 10 years longer than the world-wide average.
And there is more good news. Stats Canada also reports that “data show the country’s population of people aged at least 100 more than tripled between 2000 and 2023, up from 3,393 to 11,705. That makes centenarians the fastest growing age group in Canada, and the agency says their numbers are poised to rise almost 10 times higher over the next half-century.”
Do you want to be a centenarian? There are both positive and negative aspects to this aging of our population. The positive aspects are fairly self-evident. They postpone imminent death by some 20 years.
The negative aspects include running out of money before running out of life, increasing the burden on younger Canadians to support the elderly, requiring many more caregivers to keep senior Canadians healthy, and improving virtually all aspects of communal life to accommodate older adults.
As just one example, municipalities will have to increase the timing of green lights to permit older adults to cross streets before lights change. Imagine what this will do to already bottle-necked traffic in heavily-travelled jurisdictions.
As another example, consider the infrastructure requirements to accommodate the increase in centenarians. Will all curb corners require ramps? Will transit systems be able to accommodate the thousands who can no longer drive? Will regulations regarding alcohol consumption, recreational drugs and cannabis require age-related changes? Will driving become an age-limited privilege? Who will have the responsibility to consider the changes needed with Canada’s changing demographics?
Baby boomers represent the largest cohort of infants in Canadian history. Born from 1946 to 1964 during the mid-20th century baby boom, boomers grew to adulthood expecting the world to improve as they aged. In Canada and elsewhere, subsequent cohorts, including Generation X, Millennials, Generation Z, and Generation Alpha, cannot expect the same.
With declining birth rates and the rising cost of living, Boomers’ lives can appear completely out of reach for subsequent generations. Even though the generations after the Baby Boomers will receive the largest transfer of wealth in Canadian history from their parents and grandparents, these heirs will likely be seniors themselves before they inherit.
What does all this have to do with healthcare? Currently, governments spend very little on preventive health measures. The price paid is the poor health of cohorts and communities that require hospitalization and intensive medical and other healthcare interventions.
Not a single province or territory has a ministry of preventive or community health. Healthcare dollars are channelled to healthcare professionals who provide acute, mental, and chronic care. These services are provided almost exclusively in offices and institutions.
Governments generally do not allocate funds to what are considered “soft services” like prevention and health maintenance. Ironically, they do not recognize the truth about ounces of prevention and pounds of cures. Or milligrams and kilograms.
Staying healthy is left to individuals. It’s up to each of us to eat well, to sleep well, to exercise, and to socialize. It’s also a personal decision to refrain from smoking and drinking and engaging in other unhealthy habits. If we want to be part of the centenarian wave coming to Canada, we will have to do so on our own.
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