Canadian Social Research Links

Seniors

Sites de recherche sociale au Canada

Personnes âgées

Updated April 25, 2008
Page révisée le 25 avril 2008
[ Go to Canadian Social Research Links Home Page ]
Links to international sites (jump directly to the bottom of this page)

Quicklinks to seniors' websites (on the WWW except as otherwise noted):

* Old Age Security Program
* Canada Pension Plan
* Seniors Canada Online
* Division of Aging and Seniors (Public Health Agency of Canada)
* Fifty-Plus.net
* Provincial Government Links for Seniors
* GIS Undersubscription(this link takes you further down on this page)

NEW

What's New from The Daily [Statistics Canada]:

April 25, 2008
Study: Retiring together, or not, 1986 to 2001
Rather than retiring together, men and women in dual-earner couples appeared to have approached retirement in a more independent fashion during the 1990s, a new study has found. The study, published today in Perspectives on Labour and Income, examined the extent to which spouses in dual-earner couples synchronized the timing of their retirements over the last two decades. It also looked at factors associated with taking different paths into retirement.

The article "Retiring together, or not" is now available in the
April 2008 online edition of Perspectives on Labour and Income.

NEW

Seniors Canada Online
Great site for seniors - includes links to info about : HEALTH (Alternative Medicine,  Nutrition, Women's Health) - MONEY (Pensions,  Taxes,  RRSP) - EMPLOYMENT (Education,  Programs,  Volunteer) - HOME AND HOUSING (Adaptation,  Long-Term Care, Residences) - FAMILY (Injury,  Medical History, Medication) - LEGAL (Advice for Seniors, Consumer Protection,  Travel) - EDUCATION (Courses) - SAFETY AND SECURITY - TRAVEL
- includes a link to the Guide to Government of Canada Services for Seniors

National Seniors Council
The National Seniors Council provides advice to Canada's New Government on all matters related to the health, well-being and quality of life of seniors.

Canada's New Government Announces Appointments to National Seniors Council
May 3, 2007
- incl. a backgrounder with info about federal initiatives for seniors and biographical notes concerning the Council members.

Canada's New Government Improves Access to Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security Benefits
May 3, 2007
Bill C-36, which makes amendments to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and the Old Age Security Act is now law. Once in force, the changes will make it easier for people to apply for benefits and will make it easier for more Canadians with disabilities to receive benefits.
- incl. a backgrounder with a detailed summary of Bill C-36: An Act to Amend the Canada Pension Plan and the Old Age Security Act.

Celebrating International Day of Older Persons - October 1
The General Assembly of the United Nations designated October 1st as International Day of Older Persons. This Day was observed for the first time throughout the world on October 1st, 1991. By designating a "Special Day" for seniors, the Assembly was giving recognition to the contributions of seniors to development and also drawing attention to a demographic phenomenon: the greying of the population, the "age of aging".
Source:
Public Health Agency of Canada

From the U.N.:

International Day of Older Persons
The General Assembly designated 1 October the International Day of Older Persons by resolution 45/106 of 14 December 1990, following up on initiatives such as the Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing, adopted by the 1982 World Assembly on Ageing and endorsed later that year by the General Assembly.

The theme of the International Day for 2006 is
"Improving the Quality of Life for Older Persons: Advancing UN Global Strategies." (PDF file - 9K, 1 page)

Source:
U.N. Conferences and Events
[ United Nations ]

 

Human Resources and Social Development Canada
(formerly Social Development Canada, formerly Human Resources Development Canada)

Income Security Programs

Canada's Retirement Income System
- guide for people approaching retirement - includes info about the Old Age Security (OAS) program, the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Private Pension Plans

Canadian Retirement Income Calculator
Enter your personal financial information and the calculator will give you a pretty pretty accurate estimate of your income when you retire. The site is secure- you should see a locked padlock on the status bar at the bottom of your screen - so you shouldn't have to worry about your information being misused

Related link:

When You Retire
* Introduction * What types of income will you have? * Reducing and deferring tax * Are you leaving Canada?
Source:
Canada Revenue Agency

* Old Age Security Payment Rates
* Detailed rates: Tables of Rates for Old Age Security, Guaranteed Income Supplement and the Allowance
* Canada Pension Plan Payment Rates
* Payment dates for 2005

Human Resources and Social Development Canada Public Consultations Website
"Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) is committed to consulting with Canadians on the issues that affect their daily lives. Through consultations, the department gains a greater understanding of the perspectives of a wide range of citizens, stakeholders and experts and therefore develops better, more informed and more effective policies and programs for Canadians.
Your opinion matters (bolding added). We invite you to visit this site regularly to learn more about our consultation activities and how you can get involved."
Source:
Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC)

<begin rant>

HEY, HRSDC - QUIT DELETING CONTENT FROM YOUR SITE!
If my opinion matters, as per the intro to your consultations website, at least you could have the decency to leave links to completed consultations on your website.
In the summer of 2005, Social Development Canada (as HRSDC was known at that time) launched a public consultations website [ http://sdc-dsc.dialoguecircles.com/ ].
During the course of that summer and fall, SDC also launched three separate consultations (see below) - for persons with disabilities, seniors and caregivers.
All three consultations have vanished from the HRSDC website. You can't even find them using the HRSDC site search.
I understand that (a) the consultation period is long past, (b) that Steve Harper's Tories (Canada's Old New Government) took over the reigns of power early in 2006, and (c) that new governments like to build new websites.
Oh wait - never mind.
That explains it : New Government, new website, dump the old stuff, eh...

Internet Archive to the rescue!
Click the link in the previous line, then copy and paste this URL [ http://sdc-dsc.dialoguecircles.com ] into the box called "The Wayback Machine" in the centre of the page.
The results page is a collection of a dozen links to snapshots of the complete SDC consultations website; the latest link (Feb. 2007) appears below.

Here's a link to the (HR)SDC Public Consultation site
as it existed in February of 2007
Click the link above; on the next page that appears, click the links in left-hand margin of the page to go to the main consultation page for any one of the three missing consultations.

HINT: the "Resource Area" for each consultation contains links to some excellent related online resources, including: General Documents - Outcome Documents from Roundtables - Information on Government of Canada Programs - Government of Canada Publications - Government of Canada Seniors-Related Web Sites

------------------------------------------------------------------

Persons with Disabilities Consultation Internet Archive version (02/07)
"In a world of 'full participation', persons with disabilities would have equal access to the physical environments in which we work, live and play. Media and information would be equally available to those with sight, hearing, dexterity or mental disabilities..."

Resource Area - Internet Archive version (02/07)

------------------------------------------------------------------

Seniors Consultation - Internet Archive version (02/07)
While Canadian seniors today enjoy more supports and services than ever before, many still face important challenges in areas such as health, financial security, public safety, housing, and social participation. Not surprisingly, the thought of living as a senior holds promise for some, and uncertainty for others. (...)

Resource Area - Internet Archive version (02/07)

------------------------------------------------------------------

Caregivers Consultation - Internet Archive version (02/07)
Across the country, Canadians are caring for members of their families, their neighbours and their friends. Each caregiving situation is unique, and each caregiving relationship is different.

Resource Area - Internet Archive version (02/07)

</end rant>

Related Links:

For a list of consultations currently underway in other federal departments, please visit the
Government of Canada’s Consulting with Canadians website
* Consultations in progress

Canada Pension Plan
General information - Did You Know? * Canada's Retirement Income System - "What's in it for you?" * Your CPP Statement of Contributions o Request a CPP Statement of Contributions * General Information About the Canada Pension Plan * 1998 Changes to the Canada Pension Plan * Important Information for Common-law Partners * CPP Annual Reports * Quebec Pension Plan
Benefit information - Retirement Pension * Disability Benefits * Survivor Benefits (death, survivor & children's benefits) * Children's Benefits for Students aged 18 to 25 * Forms Payment information - Canada Pension Plan Payment Rates * Payment Dates * Direct Deposit * OAS and CPP T4/NR4 Income Statements o Obtain your Tax Information Slips online
o File your taxes by phone or online using Telefile service for seniors or Netfile * Canceling benefits following the death of a pensioner / beneficiary
Fact sheets - Sharing your pension for possible tax savings * Credit Splitting Upon Divorce or Separation * Facts about the Child Rearing Drop-out Provision * Reassessing Eligibility for Disability Benefits * Disability Vocational Rehabilitation Program * Non-Resident Tax on Canadian Pensions * Facts about Changes to CPP Disability * Avoid owing tax on filing - CPP/EI voluntary deductions at source

Related Links:

Canada Pension Plan - Statute
Canada Pension Plan Regulations
Source:
Department of Justice

A Tale of Two Pension Plans: The Differing Fortunes of the Canada and Quebec Pension Plans (PDF file - 192K, 46 pages)
Ed Tamagno
January 2008
The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) are headed towards an historical crossroads. The most recent actuarial valuation of the CPP shows that the federal scheme is sound in its financing and should remain financially sound for the foreseeable future, without the need for any increase in its contribution rate over the next 75 years. Not entirely so, however, for the QPP. Although the Quebec plan is in no imminent financial difficulty, its most recent actuarial valuation indicates that changes to the QPP’s financing or benefits must be made well before 2050 or the scheme will be unable to meet its commitments fully after that year. This paper examines the reasons for the divergence in the financial projections of the Canada and the Quebec Pension Plans and proposes ways in which the parallelism of the two schemes, which has been a mainstay of federal and provincial policy for over four decades, can be maintained.
Source:
Caledon Institute of Social Policy

Related link:

Sustaining Public Pensions in Canada: A Tale of Two Reforms
Ken Battle, July 2003
- analysis of two recent public pension reform projects in Canada - the Seniors Benefit and the reform of Canada Pension Plan financing.
Complete report (PDF file - 468K 53 pages)
Source:
Caledon Institute of Social Policy

Federal-Provincial Review of The Canada Pension Plan
News Release
January 9, 2003
"The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) is financially sound and is on track to provide retirement pensions in the future, federal and provincial ministers of finance announced today following the conclusion of their financial review of the CPP."
Backgrounder
Source : Finance Canada

Hidden agenda behind the attack on the CPP: study
Press Release
February 14, 2001
Critics of Canada's public pension system are engaging in scare tactics, a prominent pension expert charges. In a new study Pensions Under Attack: What's behind the push to privatize public pensions, released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, independent economist Monica Townson says talk of a "demographic time bomb" and inter-generational warfare over pensions are deliberate attempts to undermine public confidence in the Canada Pension Plan.
Study Summary (PDF file, 76K, 8 pages)
Order the complete study
Source : Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

Old Age Security
General information * Overview of the Old Age Security Program * Important Information for Common-law Partners * Canada's Retirement Income System - "What's in it for you?"
Benefit information * Old Age Security Pension * Guaranteed Income Supplement * Allowance * Allowance for the survivor * Forms
Payment information * Old Age Security Payment Rates * Payment Dates * Direct Deposit * OAS and CPP T4/NR4 Income Statements o Obtain your Tax Information Slips online
o File your taxes by phone or online using Telefile service for seniors or Netfile* Canceling benefits following the death of a pensioner / beneficiary
Fact sheets * The Repayment of Old Age Security Pension Benefits (Deductions for higher-income seniors) * The Old Age Security Recovery Tax * Non-Resident Tax on Canadian Pensions * The Old Age Security Appeals Process

Related Links:

Old Age Security Act
Old Age Security Regulations
Source:
Department of Justice

Current Old Age Security Payment Rates
- incl. maximum and average monthly rates for Old Age Security (OAS), Guaranteed Income Supplement and the Allowance, as well as the maximum annual income to be eligible for these benefits.
Source:
Public Pensions and Retirement

---

Canada Pension Plan (CPP) rates for January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007 and Old Age Security (OAS) program rates for January 1, 2007 to March 31, 2007
CPP payment rates
--- More info on CPP

OAS payment rates
--- More info on OAS

Income Security Programs (ISP) Information Card
- includes both OAS and CPP rates and other info

Source:
Income Security Programs (HRSDC)

--------------------------------------------------------------

Strengthening the Foundations of Canada’s Pension System:
A Review of the Old Age Security Program
By Ed Tamagno
November 2007
Abstract
Complete report (PDF file - 424K, 38 pages)
The Old Age Security (OAS) program, which is the cornerstone of Canada’s pension system, is fundamentally sound. However, some changes need to be made to the program to improve its fairness and to strengthen the income security of Canadian seniors. This study examines five aspects of the OAS program and makes recommendations on each:
· The OAS clawback and persons living outside Canada.
· The clawback and couples.
· The Guaranteed Income Supplement and immigrants to Canada.
· The Allowance and single persons aged 60-64.
· Work incentives.
(Excerpt from the Absract)

Source:
Caledon Institute of Social Policy

Guaranteed Income Supplement - "The Guaranteed Income Supplement provides additional money, on top of the Old Age Security pension, to low-income seniors living in Canada. To be eligible for the GIS benefit, you must be receiving the Old Age Security pension and meet the income requirements"
- incl. links to : About the Guaranteed Income Supplement * Applying for the Guaranteed Income Supplement * Renewing your benefits * Eligibility Requirements
* Receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement * Filing your income tax return * Appealing a decision * Protecting information about you * Other public retirement benefits * More Information * Important Information for Common-law Partners * Questions and answers about the application forms sent to potential clients - 2003

International Benefits
* Infosheets (info on international social security agreements Canada has signed with other countries) * Status of Canada's Social Security Agreements* Social Security Web Sites Around the World * Statistics on Canadian Benefits Paid

Income Security Statistics
Includes links to the following Old Age Security and Canada Pension Plan stats:
- ISP Information Card (Rate Card) - updated quarterly,gives the maximum monthly rates for Canada Pension Plan, Quebec Pension Plan and Old Age Security benefits, as well as other selected figures.
- Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security Statistical Bulletin - a monthly publication that provides detailed information such as the number of benefits in pay, the amounts paid, and the distribution of various benefits by age and sex.
- Canada Pension Plan Contributors Report - an annual publication with detailed statistics on the number of contributors and the amount of contributions to the Canada Pension Plan. Although the publication is annual, the data are 2 years in arrears. This is due to ongoing updating of the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency T4 files prior to issuing.
- Canada Pension Plan Benefit Rates - maximum monthly rates for new CPP benefits from 1967 to date, as well as historical data related to the calculation of CPP contributions and benefits. This publication also contains historical tables on pension index and escalation factors.
- ISP Stats Book - annual publication, serves as a reference for Income Security Programs. It contains historical data on CPP and OAS monthly averages of benefits, new benefits and net payments in calendar years or fiscal years. Other data included in this publication are QPP, Average Weekly Wages and Consumer Prince Index data Average Weekly Wages and Statistics Canada's Low Income Cut-off levels.
- Social Security Agreements: Canadian Benefits Paid - data on Canadian Benefits paid (under Social Security Agreements) to people who have lived or worked in another country
- Tables of Rates for Old Age Security, Guaranteed Income Supplement and the Allowance

Old Age Security Tribunal Summaries Online
The Office of the Commissioner of Review Tribunals (CPP/OAS) has added a database Old Age Security case summaries, conditions of personal information disclosure, general public information on legal assistance and links to recent publications.
OAS Decision Summaries Database

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI)
"The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) is the primary regulator of federally chartered financial institutions and federally administered pension plans."
Actuarial Reports - read actuarial reports on the following subjects: Canada Pension Plan - Old Age Security - Canada Student Loans Program - Canadian Forces - Federally Appointed Judges - Members of Parliament - Public Service of Canada.

2006 November Report of the Auditor General of Canada
Matters of Special Importance—2006
An Overview of the Federal Government's Expenditure Management System
Chapter 1—Expenditure Management System at the Government Centre
Chapter 2—Expenditure Management System in Departments
Chapter 3—Large Information Technology Projects
Chapter 4—Proper Conduct of Public Business—Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Agencies
Chapter 5—Relocating Members of the Canadian Forces, RCMP, and Federal Public Service
Chapter 6 : Old Age Security - Human Resources and Social Development Canada and Service Canada
"(...)Human Resources and Social Development Canada and Service Canada have improved seniors' access to program benefits by simplifying the application process and by implementing initiatives to increase the take-up of GIS. However, the organizations lack adequate information on these and other aspects of their service to clients, and do not give Parliament a complete picture of program performance.

Source:
Office of the Auditor-General of Canada

New Horizons for Seniors Program
Across Canada, the New Horizons for Seniors Program helps to ensure that seniors are able to benefit from and contribute to the quality of life in their community through their social participation and active living.

The Program offers three types of funding to non-profit organizations:
* Capital Assistance Funding * Elder Abuse Awareness Funding * Community Participation and Leadership Funding

Addressing the challenges and opportunities of aging in Canada - July 2007
This report, prepared for the UN Commission for Social Development, focuses on new federal action taken and the further development of existing programs around seniors and population ageing.

Source:
Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC)

October 4, 2006
More Flexibility to Seniors in the Management of Their Life Income Funds
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today announced that the regulations to immediately remove the requirement to convert federally regulated life income funds (LIFs) to life annuities at age 80 have now come into force. The regulations were published in the Canada Gazette. Seniors have asked for a greater degree of control over their retirement savings and this initiative will help give it to them," stated Minister Flaherty. A LIF is a special registered retirement income fund into which funds from pension plans or other locked-in retirement funds can be transferred.
Source:
Department of Finance Canada

Also from Finannce Canada:

Tax Fairness Plan:
Information for Seniors
- incl. links to : Senior's Tax Savings Calculator * Pension-Splitting Assumptions * Caveats * Questions and Answers on the Tax Fairness Plan * Tax Relief for Canadian Seniors

National Conference on Caregiving promotes pan-Canadian dialogue
News Release
GATINEAU, QUEBEC - October 18, 2005
"Initiatives to better support unpaid caregivers were discussed at this week's National Conference on Caregiving. The conference was hosted by Minister of State Tony Ianno, with the support of the Canadian Caregiver Coalition. 'The Government of Canada recognizes the vital contributions unpaid caregivers are making to Canadian society,' said Minister of State (Families and Caregivers) the Honourable Tony Ianno. 'We also know about the challenges they face. That is why we decided to hold this conference. I am committed to sharing ideas with members of the caregiving community to identify the best ways to better support our caregivers.'"
- includes a backgrounder with more info on unpaid caregiving in Canada
Source:
Social Development Canada

Policy Research Initiative - PRI
The PRI conducts independent policy research projects. It is attached to the Privy Council Office through the Plans and Consultation Branch.

Population Aging and Life-Course Flexibility
Aging populations pose a central policy challenge in all developed countries. While perhaps not pointing to the crisis forecast at one time, the figures associated with the wide scale retirement of the baby-boom generation are still very large.

Publications

Encouraging Choice in Work and Retirement
Project Report (1.1MB, 57 pages)
October 2005
"This report evaluates the extent of the economic risk to society posed by population aging and specifically the baby boom retirement. It emphasizes the need to maintain a healthy economy and fiscal prudence, while still respecting the opportunity and need for people to exercise choice in the best interests of their families, society, and themselves."

Source:
Population Aging and Life-course Flexibility
[ Policy Research Initiative - PRI ]

Research Projects
The PRI is currently running five horizontal research projects:
* Population Aging and Life-Course Flexibility (bolding added)
* New Approaches for Addressing Poverty and Exclusion
* Social Capital as a Public Policy Tool
* North American Linkages, and
* Sustainable Development
NOTE: on the Research Projects page, you can click on each of the project names to read a brief description of the project and, in the small box right next to the title, a link to PRI publications for that particular project.

Views on Life-Course Flexibility and Canada’s Aging Population
Results of 10 focus groups held across Canada "to understand the preferences of Canadians regarding the timing of retirement, and the allocation of the time devoted to education, care giving, and leisure over the course of life."

Complete report:

Views on Life-Course Flexibility and
Canada’s Aging Population (PDF file - 532K, 51 pages)
July 2004
PRI Project
Population Aging and Life-Course Flexibility

Related Publications

Source:
Population Aging and Life-Course Flexibility
[ Policy Research Initiative ]

Liberal Caucus Task Force on Seniors
- incl. links to : About the Task Force - Task Force Report - Members - Press Releases - Schedule - Photos - Submissions - Workbook for Members of Parliament and Senators - Feedback - Contact Info

Federal task force on seniors releases its report
February 12, 2004
"The Prime Minister's Caucus Task Force on Seniors, created in September 2003 at the request of former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, has released a report that includes recommendations aimed at improving the quality of life of senior citizens."

Liberal Task Force Report (PDF file - 1.6MB, 42 pages)
February 2004

NOTE:
The work of the Task Force focused on four themes:
Poverty alleviation, including issues related to income support and housing;
Eldercare, including issues related to home care, independent living, and elder abuse;
Disabilities, including issues related to access and disability supports;
Work force issues, including questions of retraining, structural changes to the workplace, and volunteer work.

Prime Minister Announces the Creation of a Caucus Task force on Seniors
Press Release
September 17, 2003
"Prime Minister Jean Chrétien announced today the creation of a Caucus Task Force on Seniors. The Task Force will examine a number of social and economic issues relating to Canada's aging population, and identify the challenges policy-makers must face to help achieve quality of life for Canadian seniors."


Statistics Canada

What's New from The Daily - Statistics Canada :

[Selected content concerning seniors]

March 10, 2008
Study: Income security in retirement among the working population, 1983 to 2004
On average, Canadian workers had family disposable incomes at age 75, when most are retired, that were 80% of their incomes at age 55, when they were working, according to a new study. However, the extent to which they maintained their income in retirement varied with their level of income.

Income Security and Stability During Retirement in Canada
by Sébastien LaRochelle-Côté, John Myles and Garnett Picot
Main page - includes a summary and related links
Complete report (PDF file - 480K, 59 pages)

February 22, 2008
Study: RRSP investments, 2005
Overall, 6 out of every 10 families in Canada held savings in registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs) in 2005, and these plans had a median value of $25,000, according to a new study. The study, published today in the February 2008 issue of Perspectives on Labour and Income, showed that, as expected, the prevalence of families with RRSPs and the value of the plans both increased with age.
 * Highlights
* Full article:
HTML
PDF (149K, 7 pages)
NOTE : for related links, g to the Asset-Based Social Policies Links page:
http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/assets.htm

February 21, 2008
Study: Chronic pain in Canadian seniors, 1996/1997 and 2005
Chronic pain affects more than one-quarter of seniors living in households and close to 4 out of every 10 seniors in institutions, and it can have a profound impact on their quality of life, according to a new study.
Chronic pain in Canadian seniors
by Pamela L. Ramage-Morin
Abstract
Findings

From Perspectives on Labour and Income (Statistics Canada)
- November 2007:
Pensions and retirement savings of families
By René Morissette and Yuri Ostrovsky
Prime-aged couples experienced a moderate decline in RPP coverage over the last two decades, as the substantial growth in wives’ labour market participation and the slight increase in their RPP coverage only partially offset a substantial decline in husbands’ coverage. On average, retirement savings of families rose over the last two decades, but the distribution became more unequal. To a large extent, the uneven growth in retirement savings mirrors the sharp increase in family earnings inequality since the early 1980s.

August 24, 2007
Study: Participation of older workers, 2006
Older workers are staying in the workforce longer and, as a result, may be dampening the threat of a sudden and severe labour shortage as baby boomers retire, a new study suggests.
An estimated 2.1 million individuals aged 55 to 64 were either employed or looking for work in 2006, more than double the total in 1976, according to the study "Participation of older workers," published today in Perspectives on Labour and Income.

Related links:

Participation of older workers
By Katherine Marshall and Vincent Ferrao
Highlights
Complete article:
HTML
PDF (340K, 7 pages)

August 24, 2007
Study: Public pensions and work, 1995 to 2003
 The vast majority of workers take up Canada and Quebec Pension Plan (C/QPP) benefits before the age of 65, and an increasing proportion start them at age 60...

Public Pensions and Work
By Ted Wannell
Highlights
Complete article:
HTML
PDF (284K, 8 pages)

Source:
Perspectives on Labour and Income - August 2007
[ earlier editions of this report ]

June 21, 2007
Pension plans in Canada, as of January 1, 2006
After several years of growth, membership in Canada's 15,130 active registered pension plans remained virtually unchanged in 2005, according to new data from an annual census of these employer-sponsored plans.

May 30, 2007
Residential care facilities, 2004/2005
Only 1 out of every 30 seniors aged 65 and over lived in one of Canada's 1,952 homes for the aged in the fiscal year 2004/2005, according to new data from the Residential Care Facilities Survey. Data for all provinces and territories, except Quebec, show that nearly 151,000 seniors, 3.4% of the total, resided in a home for the aged in 2004/2005.

Complete report:
Residential Care Facilities, 2004/2005
- incl. links to : Highlights * Introduction * Analysis * Tables * Data quality, concepts and methodology * User information * Related products * PDF version

Other StatCan reports on residential care facilities

March 6, 2007
Seniors as victims of crime, 2004 and 2005
Canada's seniors (those aged 65 years and older) are less likely to be the victims of violent and property crimes than younger people, according to a new report. The report is based on results from the 2004 General Social Survey (GSS) on victimization and police-reported data from the 2005 Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Survey. It examines the nature and prevalence of violent and property crimes against seniors, as well as fear of crime among seniors.

Complete report:

Seniors as victims of crime, 2004 and 2005
By Lucie Ogrodnik, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Statistics Canada
HTML version [ Highlights only ]
PDF version (287K, 21 pages)

February 27, 2007
A portrait of seniors, 2006
With millions of baby boomers knocking on the door, Canada's seniors are poised to become an even more heterogeneous crowd than they are today, according to a new statistical profile of people 65 years and over.

Related link:

A Portrait of Seniors in Canada
February 2007
By Martin Turcotte and Grant Schellenberg
HTML version - Introduction and links (in the left margin) to: Findings - Tables - Charts - More information
PDF version (1.2MB, 301 pages)
"...the goal of this report is to draw an up-to-date portrait of the general well-being of seniors, in absolute terms, in comparison with previous cohorts of seniors and in comparison with persons of younger ages."

Young pensioners
February 2007
By Ted Wannell
Since they entered the scene, baby boomers have been shaping social and economic structures. Now on the cusp of retirement, they may once again force change on the labour market. Many aspire and can afford to retire relatively young, raising concerns about labour supply and public pension programs. But increasing longevity in good health may persuade some to extend their working life. Trends in pension uptake between ages 50 and 60 and post-pension employment during the 1990s and the first part of this decade offer some clues as to the direction baby boomers may take.

Defining retirement
February 2007
By Geoff Bowlby
Even though the retirement wave will have significant labour market consequences over the next 20 years, no regular statistics are produced on retirement or the retired. Part of the problem stems from lack of clear definitions. For some, retirement means complete withdrawal from the labour force while for others it entails part- or even full-time work. The article examines the challenges faced by statistical organizations in measuring retirement and offers several recommendations to inform a discussion for arriving at international standards.

Back Issues of Perspectives on labour and income - back to October 2000
Subject index

Source: February 2007 issue of
Perspectives on Labour and Income:
(Released Feb. 21)

Seniors' access to transportation
December 15, 2006
In today’s society, it is more difficult for a person to be active and independent if their access to transportation is limited. One might think that older people are more vulnerable than other Canadians to limits on their mobility. But to what extent is this really the case? And to what degree are seniors with limited access to transportation affected in their daily lives? This article answers these questions and others using data from the 2005 General Social Survey (GSS) on time use.
HTML
PDF (97K, 8 pages)

September 26
Pension Coverage and Retirement Savings of Canadian Families, 1986 to 2003
"Previous Canadian studies documenting trends in private pension coverage have focused on individuals and thus have been unable to assess whether Canadian families are better-prepared for retirement now than their counterparts were in the past. This study fills this gap and examines how pension coverage and retirement savings of Canadian families have evolved since the mid-1980s. Families' preparedness for retirement is first assessed using wealth data from the Assets and Debt Survey of 1984 and the Survey of Financial Security of 1999. Then, families' pension coverage and retirement savings are examined over the 1986-to-2003 period, using data from Statistics Canada's Longitudinal Administrative Databank."

Complete report (PDF file - 184K, 48 pages)

Source:
Analytical Studies Branch Research Paper Series
- incl. links to free issues going back to June 1994

July 26, 2006
General Social Survey: Time use patterns of older Canadians, 2005
More individuals aged 55 to 64 were working later in life and spending less time in leisure activities in 2005. Both men and women were spending roughly an hour a day more in paid work than they were in 1998. In fact, during the past decade or so, time use patterns of these older Canadians have shifted, in some cases significantly. The study, based on data from the 2005 General Social Survey (GSS) on time use, showed that older men and women have adjusted their time patterns in different ways over time.

Complete study:

Aging Well: Time Use Patterns of Older Canadians, 2005 (PDF file - 271K, 30 pages)
General Social Survey on Time Use: Cycle 19

----------------------

Retirement (PDF file - 94K, 7 pages)
May 2006
Over the past three decades, the age of retirement has changed dramatically.
The median age was close to 65 in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but since the mid-1980s, it has declined considerably.
[Other StatCan content on the subject of retirement - StatCan site search result]

----------------------

February 22, 2006
Study: Aging, health and work, 2003
"The people in Canada's labour force who were within 10 years of retirement in 2003 were generally in good or excellent physical and mental health, according to a new study. However, nearly half a million (19%) individuals aged between 50 and 69 had already left the labour force because of health-related reasons. Their loss is important because of rising concerns over a labour shortage in coming years as the baby-boom generation nears retirement and the growth in Canada's population slows. In 2002, 20% of workers were within 10 years of the median retirement age, double the proportion 15 years earlier.
The article "Aging, health and work" is available in the February 2006 online edition of Perspectives on Labour and Income, Vol. 7, no. 2 (75-001-XIE, $6/$52)

How healthy are Canadians? Annual report 2005
February 9, 2006
Complete report (PDF file - 665K, 69 pages)

Table of contents (download individual articles):

Seniors' health care use [highlights - HTML] [full article - PDF]
Predictors of death in seniors [highlights - HTML] [full article - PDF]
Healthy living among seniors [highlights - HTML] [full article - PDF]
Dependency, chronic conditions and pain in seniors [highlights - HTML] [full article - PDF]
Successful aging in health care institutions [highlights - HTML] [full article - PDF]

Source:
Health Reports Supplement
Health Reports ($)
Health Reports is a peer-reviewed quarterly journal produced by the Health Statistics Division at Statistics Canada.

February 7, 2006
Canada's retirement income programs
The financial reserves in Canada's three principal retirement programs, essential to the future of many Canadians, have doubled since 1990, and they represent one of the largest pools of investment capital in the country.
Related link:
Pension savings of Canadians - table shows, for 1993 and 2003, total accumulated assets of Canadians including public plans, Registered pension plans, Registered retirement savings plans and supplementary retirement income programs.

October 21, 2005
Study: Who's missing out on the Guaranteed Income Supplement?, 1999 to 2001
- short summary only --- the full study report is available only in the October online edition of Perspectives on Labour and Income, Vol. 6, no. 10 (75-001-XIE, $6/$52).
"The vast majority of Canada's senior citizens who qualify for benefits under the federal Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) program receive them, according to a new study published today in Perspectives on Labour and Income. However, a significant portion of low-income seniors are missing out on benefits to which they are entitled, simply because they have not applied for them. The study, based on a variety of sources, found that 86% of seniors who were eligible for the GIS in 2000 received it. But about 206,800 eligible individuals missed out. The theoretical annual cost of payments for these people amounted to roughly $300 million."

Related Link:

The GIS Story - from Tristat Resources (Richard Shillington)
"How 300,000 seniors got half a billion dollars"

May 17, 2005
Study: Is inflation higher for seniors? 1992 to 2004
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) tracked very closely the inflation experienced by seniors as a group between 1992 and 2004, according to a new study. This is important because the CPI is used to index old-age pensions. During this 12-year span, seniors-only households experienced an average annual rate of inflation of 1.95%. This was only slightly higher than the rate of 1.84% for all other households, and 1.86% for all households combined. The study examined the inflation rate experienced by households composed exclusively of seniors aged 65 and over, comparing them with all other Canadian households and the official CPI.
Complete report:
Is Inflation Higher for Seniors? (PDF file - 169K, 14 pages)

May 9, 2005
National Population Health Survey: Healthy aging, 1994/95 to 2002/03
Canadians maintaining healthy behaviours are more likely to stay in good health, according to a new study. The study suggests that unhealthy habits may not have an immediate impact on the middle-aged adults but they tend to catch up to seniors as life goes on.
Related Link:
Healthy Aging: Healthy today, healthy tomorrow?
Findings from the National Population Health Survey
May 2005
By Laurent Martel, Alain Bélanger, Jean-Marie Berthelot and Yves Carrière
HTML version
PDF version (143K, 10 pages)

September 22, 2004
Employer-sponsored pension plans - January 2003
More and more women in the paid workforce are being covered by registered pension plans (RPPs) in both the public and private sectors, according to new data. In fact, women accounted for the net increase in the total membership of these plans during 2002.

Pension Plans in Canada - January 1, 2003 (PDF file - 823K, 25 pages)

Proportion of labour force and paid workers covered by a registered pension plan (RPP) - 1993 to 2002

Employer pension plans (trusteed pension funds) - First quarter 2004

July 23, 2004
Study: Housing costs of elderly families - 1999
Brief analysis of the burden of rising property taxes on elderly homeowners and renters, many who live on fixed incomes.
- incl. a link to the ($6) July 2004 online issue of Perspectives on Labour and Income, where you'll find the article entitled Housing costs of elderly families.

Canada's retirement income programs 1990 to 2001
November 17, 2003
"The financial reserves in Canada's principal retirement programs increased substantially during the 1990s, although accumulation in the biggest program has leveled off since the turn of the century, according to a new long-term look at pensions."

November 17, 2003
Study: Finances in the golden years - 1999
"The financial situation of Canadian seniors appears much more secure if the equation includes wealth and not just income, according to a new study. More than half of seniors own their homes mortgage free. Nearly half are still saving and only 1 in 10 are dipping into investment capital to make ends meet. Only a third of senior families feel the need to follow a budget compared with half of younger families."

Survey of Financial Security: Private pension savings, 1999
Highlights
Complete report online
Private pension assets totalled well over an estimated $1 trillion in 1999. They consisted of $604 billion in employer pension plans, as well as $408 billion in registered retirement savings plans and registered retirement income funds.
Source:
The Daily (December 14, 2001)

Fact-sheet on retirement (PDF file - 141K, 7 pages)
Source:
Perspectives on Labour and Income Fact-Sheets - June 2002

Pensions: Immigrants and visible minorities (June 21, 2002)
"Using the Labour Market Activity Survey and the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics, this article examines the extent to which registered pension plan coverage of immigrants and members of visible minorities differed from that of other Canadians between 1988 and 1998."

The Assets and Debts of Canadians :
Focus on private pension savings
December 2001
PDF file - 323K, 68 pages
Source:
The Daily (April 3, 2002)

Year of the Veteran - 2005
January 27, 2005
"The Government of Canada has declared 2005 the Year of the Veteran. Throughout the year, Canadians will celebrate, honour, remember, and teach our youth about the contributions and sacrifice of our veterans. Every year is an important year to honour veterans and their service and 2005 is especially meaningful because it marks the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War; and the Government of Canada is developing a new Veterans Charter that will better support releasing Canadian Forces members and their families who are re-entering civilian life."
Source:
Veterans Affairs Canada

Negative Economic Impact of Aging Exaggerated, Says New IRPP Study
"March 11, 2002 - Many assessments of the effects of an aging population on the standard of living of Canadians and our public finances are too pessimistic. Population aging can also have positive consequences, says Marcel Mérette, economics professor at the University of Ottawa, in a new study published today by the Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP)."
Study
Source : Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP)


Guaranteed Income Supplement Undersubscription

The GIS Story - from Tristat Resources (Richard Shillington)
"How 300,000 seniors got half a billion dollars"

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Guaranteed Income Supplement : The Duty To Reach All
December 2001
Report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities
"The Guaranteed Income Supplement has proven to be an essential mechanism for combating extreme poverty among one of the most vulnerable groups in Canadian society. That not all eligible seniors receive the GIS is disturbing and unnecessary." (extract from the Conclusion of the report)
News Release (Dec. 4, 2001)
Complete Report Online (Table of Contents + links to sections)
Related Links:
Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities
List of all Parliamentary Committees (incl. links to studies and reports)
List of the Standing and Special Committees of the Senate (incl. links to studies and reports)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Government Response to the Sixth Report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources
Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities
May 2002
"The reduction of low income among Canadian seniors is an important public policy achievement. The Government of Canada has taken action to ensure that the public pension system will be sustainable and will continue to provide a stable base of retirement income. The Guaranteed Income Supplement will continue to be part of a successful Canadian retirement income system."
Source:
Social Development Canada

New Poverty Traps: Means-Testing and Modest-Income Seniors (PDF file - 148K, 13 pages)
April 2003
Richard Shillington
C.D. Howe Institute Backgrounder
"Millions of Canadians accept the homogenous advice of governments and the financial community and put billions into RRSPs. However, for many lower-income Canadians RRSPs are a terrible investment. They are victims of a fraud, however unintentional. Only when more Canadians are aware of the perverse treatment of lower-income citizens’ savings will Ottawa be forced to develop measures that reward, rather than punish, their savings efforts."
Source:
Tristat Resources
(Richard Shillington's website)

Retirement Planning for the "Rest of Us"
Introduction
"This web-site is designed to give Retirement Planning advice for those Canadians, half the population, who do not have an employer pension plan and will not save hundreds of thousands of dollars in their RRSP. Only about 40% of the labour force have an employer pension plan. Jobs with pension plan coverage usually come with benefits like health benefits, maternity benefits etc. By retirement about half of families have no employer pension plan to speak of and must rely on public plans (OAS, GIS & CPP) and a modest retirement savings, mostly RRSP (on average about $40,000). This web-site is designed for those without an employer pension plan or large RRSP. This web-site is about retirement planning for the "Rest of Us."

Retirement Planning Resources
for the "Rest of Us"
- includes links to the following useful resources:
* Why listen to me? * What is wrong with most Financial Advice * Recommended Reading for the "Rest of Us" * Are you GIS Destined? * What you need to know about GIS and Spouses and Widows Allowance * RRSPs don't work well for you * Why you should probably take early CPP * Early CPP: Individual Calculator * Credit Cards * Home Ownership * Your income at retirement

NOTE: Richard is the person who helped the federal government to find a few hundred thousand seniors who were entitled to, but not receiving, the Guaranteed Income Supplement under the Old Age Security Program.

Source:
Tristat Resources
Richard Shillington

Division of Aging and Seniors (Public Health Agency of Canada)
The Division of Aging and Seniors, Public Health Agency of Canada, provides federal leadership on health issues related to aging and seniors. The Division serves as a focal point for information and centre of expertise in this area.

Web Links - a large list of links to sites of interest for seniors or seniors' groups

Provincial government links - links to home pages of governments and special groups representing the interests of seniors

Publications
- large collection of links organized under the following categories:
Age Related/Chronic Diseases - Archives - Caring for Seniors - The Canadian Health Care System - General - Healthy Aging - Injury Prevention - Life Events - Living Environments - Medication Use - Mental Health - Seniors Protection - Statistics - Technology

National Advisory Council on Aging (NACA)
The National Advisory Council on Aging was created on May 1, 1980, to assist and advise the Minister of Health on all matters related to the aging of the Canadian population and the quality of life of seniors.

NOTE: (April 12, 2007)
It's gone.
As of March 5, 2007, when Canada's New Government announced the creation of a new
National Seniors Council. affiliated with the New Horizons for Seniors Program, the NACA was quietly subsumed by the new Council...
If you find an interesting link (below) that doesn't work, try copying the title into Google.ca or anoither search engine...

A few recent sample reports:

Seniors in Canada: 2006 Report Card:
Message from Tony Clement, Minister of Health
October 27, 2006
Today, the National Advisory Council on Aging (NACA) presented its report titled Seniors in Canada: 2006 Report Card. The report reviews data and trends, and describes progress made over the last five years related to key areas affecting seniors' health and well-being.

Complacency in Caring for Seniors is not an Option
News Release
October 26, 2006 -- The National Advisory Council on Aging (NACA) is unveiling today the results of its Seniors in Canada: 2006 Report Card at the Canadian Association on Gerontology Meeting in Quebec City. The Report Card looked at how well Canadian seniors are doing in five key areas: health status, health care system, economic situation, living conditions and participation in society. The overall grade for the five questions under study is a 'B'.

Complete report:

Seniors in Canada 2006 Report Card
PDF version (544K,70 pages)
NOTE: this link is from the Depository Services Program of the Federal Government - that's why it's still active.

NACA Demands Improvements to Canada's Long-Term Care Institutions
News Release
October 19, 2005
"The National Advisory Council on Aging (NACA) urges governments, care institutions and other stakeholders to work together to improve the lives of seniors in long-term care facilities. The need for improvements is discussed in a statement to be released during the Canadian Association on Gerontology's meeting in Halifax, October 20-22nd [see the link to the conference website below]. The Council supports the recommendations put forward by the Canadian Healthcare Association (CHA) in its 2004 Policy Brief on the subject."

Related Links:

The changing face of long-term care
Expression Bulletin, Issue 18-4*
Fall 2005
HTML version
PDF version (8 pages, 423 KB)
Table of contents: The changing face of long-term care - What is a long-term care facility? - Who resides in LTC facilities? - Trends for change - Beacons for the future - The best for all - For more information...- Insert: The National Advisory Council on Aging demands improvements to Canada’s long-term care institutions
[*Expression is published four times a year by the National Advisory Council on Aging. The bulletin is available on the NACA Web site.]

2005 Annual Meeting, Canadian Association on Gerontology
Halifax, October 20-22
- Program (PDF file - 625K, 37pages)

NACA Reports on Poverty Among Canadian Seniors on International Day of Older Persons
Press Release
October 3, 2005
"The National Advisory Council on Aging (NACA) urges governments and society to work toward eradicating seniors' poverty in Canada. The Council launched on October 1st, the International Day of Older Persons as declared by the United Nations, a new report called Seniors on the margins: Aging in poverty in Canada. 'The UN theme for this special day was 'Aging in the new millennium. Focus on poverty, older women and development.' It is fitting that NACA releases its findings on the economic vulnerability of Canadian seniors now,'claims Bubs Coleman, spokesperson for NACA. 'The prospect of a golden retirement simply does not exist for many seniors, particularly those living alone, women over age 80, visible minorities and immigrants.'"

Complete report:

Seniors on the margins:
Aging in poverty in Canada
October 2005
Table of contents: Preface - Introduction - Definitions - The economic situation of seniors - Issues and solutions - Conclusion - NACA recommendations - References - Bibliography
HTML version
PDF version (33 pages, 300 KB)


Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors share commitment to working together for seniors
News Release
QUÉBEC, May 26, 2005
"Ministers Responsible for Seniors met for two days in Québec City and reaffirmed their commitment to work together to continue preparing for the challenges and opportunities facing their governments and Canadian society as a result of our growing seniors' population. Canada's population is changing. Today one in eight persons is over 65; in less than 20 years, that number will be one in five. As a result, the needs for health care, housing, and other social services will change in the coming years."
Source:
Social Development Canada

Hidden harm: the abuse of seniors
January 30, 2004
Bulletin of the National Advisory Council on Aging Expression
"Abuse of seniors is under-reported. Reasons for this are fear of retaliation or institutionalization, shame, desire to protect the abuser or incapacity to act. Ignorance, secrecy or complacency on the part of family, friends and professionals also come into play. What are the signs of abuse and who perpetrates it? How can it be prevented? What help is available?"
Complete Report:
HTML
PDF version (938K, 8 pages)
TIP: in the "Sources and Resources" section of this report, you'll find links to eight relevant online resources plus a list of toll-free 1-800 phone numbers for all Canadian jurisdictions where help is available for seniors experiencing abuse.

Interim Report Card Seniors in Canada 2003
- incl. How Healthy are Seniors? - How Well is the Health Care System Serving Seniors? - How Well are Seniors Faring Economically? - How Supportive, Enabling and Safe are Seniors' Living Conditions? - How Fully are Seniors Participating in Society? - The Last Word

 
Evaluation of the Maintenance and Preventive Function of Home Care
Hollander Analytical Services
Prepared for Health Canada
Cutting house cleaning help to elderly leads to higher health costs down the line
Press Release (May 26, 2001)
Full-text report (PDF file - 275K, 59 pages)
Source : Hollander Analytical Services

Canadian Senior Years
Canadian Senior Years is designed for all Canadian seniors over 50 with a special focus on the Grey Bruce area of Ontario. The site features up-to-date news feeds on subjects of interest to Canadian seniors, hundreds of mostly Canadian site links, games, discussion boards, email pals section, a memorial listing, articles and much more.

Improving Seniors Quality of Life
Centre for Health Promotion
University of Toronto
In April, 1999, the Seniors Quality of Life Project began its two year program of research into the quality of life of seniors in 8 cities across Canada. Seniors groups in Halifax, Québec City, Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, Regina, Whitehorse and Vancouver are organizing and carrying out a series of public consultations on issues and factors affecting the quality of life and well-being of seniors.
On the main page, you'll find links to the report from Toronto (see below)  - Toronto discussions - Survey results - Vancouver discussions and as well as information about the Quality of Life Project.
A City for All Ages: fact or fiction?
Effects of Government Policy Decisions on the Quality of Life of Toronto Seniors
The Toronto Project
September 2000 Report
Don't miss the excellent Links to Seniors' Resources

Reducing Poverty among Older Women: The Potential of Retirement Incomes Policies
Monica Townson
August 2000
Funded by the Status of Women Canada's Policy Research Fund
Links to the table of contents, the abstract, the executive summary and the complete report in PDF format (493 KB, 102 pages)

Reports about Public Pensions and Aging Society
Links to over a dozen reports and websites, from the National Council of Welfare to the OECD
From the website of Human Resources Development Canada's Income Security Programs Branch

Sixth Meeting of Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers responsible for Seniors
Toronto, June 27, 2002
"Toronto - Building on a decade of collaborative initiatives, Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors continue to take a leading role in addressing a number of important issues affecting current and future seniors in Canada"

Out of Sight, Out of Mind
The Plight of Seniors and Homelessness (PDF file - 308K, 117 pages)
A report on homelessness and the risk of homelessness among seniors and vulnerable adults in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia
September 2003
Henry C. Hightower, Jill Hightower, M.J. (Greta) Smith
Published by
Seniors Housing Information Program
"The Seniors Housing Information Program is a non-profit organization which provides information on housing and services for seniors living in or wishing to live in the Vancouver and the Lower Mainland of British Columbia."
Housing Directory - supportive housing for seniors in the Lower Mainland of BC - 1200+ listings

New Seniors Directory Launched - Prince Edward Island
Health and Social Services
News Release
November 4, 2003
"The Department of Health and Social Services, in partnership with the Atlantic Seniors Health Promotion Network-PEI (ASHPN-PEI) today launched the new Prince Edward Island Senior's Quick Reference Guide."

BC Ministry of Community Services
"The Ministry of Community Services’ mandate is to promote sustainable, liveable communities that provide healthy and safe places for British Columbians. It works in partnership with other ministries, local and federal governments, the private sector, and not-for-profit organizations to develop policy and deliver programs and services regarding local government, seniors’, women’s and community issues." [Excerpt from Ministry Overview ]

- BC Seniors Home Page - incl. links to : Helping Seniors Live Well * BC Seniors' Guide * BC Seniors' Information Line * Premier's Council on Aging and Seniors' Issues * much more...
***
BC Seniors' Guide - 8th edition (2006)
HTML - click on links in the left column: Health Services * Housing * Transportation * Finances * Lifestyles * Personal Security * Other Services * Directory
PDF (1.8MB, 120 pages)

January 23, 2008
Prince Edwards Island Seniors' Guide and Information Line Released
CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI -- The Prince Edward Island Seniors’ Secretariat today announced a new Prince Edward Island Seniors’ Guide and a toll-free information line for seniors, families and caregivers. The new guide is a 68-page directory of information about health services, personal security, active living, clubs and activities, housing, legal matters and more.

Prince Edward Island Seniors’ Guide 2008 - 1st Edition (PDF file - 1.7MB, 99 pages)
[version française du guide ]

Source:
Seniors' Secretariat

See also:

InfoPEI - Seniors
- incl. links to info about:
* Active Living * Caregivers' Information * Congratulatory Messages for Seniors * Emergency Assistance * Finances * Health Services * Housing * Life Long Learning Opportunities * Personal Security/Legal * Research * Senior Centres/Clubs and Organizations * Seniors Emergency Home Repair Program * Seniors Guide * Seniors and Medication * Seniors' News * Seniors' Secretariat * Services for Seniors * Transportation/Travel * Veterans' Programs * World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Senior Citizens' Secretariat - Nova Scotia
"The Senior Citizens' Secretariat works with seniors and their organizations on programs, services and activities that are important to their quality of life. As of April 1, 2000 the chair of the Secretariat was transferred to the Minister of Health."
Source : Nova Scotia Department of Health

Senior Citizens' Secretariat
"The Senior Citizens' Secretariat works with seniors and their organizations on programs, services and activities that are important to their quality of life. As of April 1, 2000 the chair of the Secretariat was transferred to the Minister of Health."

A Statistical Profile of Nova Scotia Seniors (PDF file - 1MB, 62 pages)
July 2003
"The statistical profile encompasses a range of topics from education and health to leisure and finances. Facts, graphs and statistics help paint a clear picture of the 65+ population. Populations projections provide insight into the future as our population ages. The report is aimed at those who work with seniors and is being distributed throughout the province." News Release:
Statistical Profile Released
July 22, 2003
"Nova Scotia's seniors make up 13.7 per cent of the province's population and their numbers will increase dramatically in the future, says a new publication that analyzes Nova Scotia's aging population."

Also from the Senior Citizens' Secretariat :

Programs for Seniors 2006 (PDF file - 9.8MB - LARGE download , 148 pages)
Suggestion to the Senior Citizens' Secretariat web team:
- if you don't want seniors to expire at their computers waiting for this giant download from the Web, you can do *two* PDF versions --- one with all the fancy graphics and stuff (i.e., 9.8MB), and the other with formatted text only.
The average size of a simple PDF file shouldn't be more than 3-4 KB per page.

A Statistical Profile of Nova Scotia Seniors (PDF file - 1MB, 62 pages)
July 2003
"The statistical profile encompasses a range of topics from education and health to leisure and finances. Facts, graphs and statistics help paint a clear picture of the 65+ population. Populations projections provide insight into the future as our population ages. The report is aimed at those who work with seniors and is being distributed throughout the province." News Release:
Statistical Profile Released
July 22, 2003
"Nova Scotia's seniors make up 13.7 per cent of the province's population and their numbers will increase dramatically in the future, says a new publication that analyzes Nova Scotia's aging population."

Programs and Services for Seniors 2003-2004 (PDF file - 351K, 83 pages) - Alberta
July 2003
A comprehensive guide to programs, benefits, and services available to seniors in Alberta from provincial and federal governments and a number of agencies.
- includes links to : Congratulatory Messages - General Information - Income Support Programs - Helping Agencies - Housing - Information and Referral - Legal Services - Health Services - Protecting You and Your Information - Transportation - Websites of Interest for Seniors - Quick Reference List
Source : Alberta Seniors (Govt.)
Related Link:
Directory of Alberta Seniors Organizations (PDF file - 335K, 94 pages)
October 2002

Alberta Council on Aging
Ontario Seniors Directorate
Home Page
News Releases
Links to Seniors' Organizations - Approx two dozen links to relevant sites : Ontario - National (Canadian) - International


For People 55 and Over
PDF file - 3.9MB, 68 pages
2005 Edition (Latest revision January 2005)
Excellent collection of information on programs and services for seniors - includes links to relevant websites for more information on eligibility, benefits, where and how to apply for assistance for each program, etc.

From the Ontario Seniors' Secretariat :

Senior Smart Ontario Web Site a Resource for Planning for Seniors
News Release
October 30, 2003

Senior Smart Ontario
"...designed to help gerontologists, municipal planners, seniors advocates and others become more responsive to the needs of Ontario’s growing seniors population. (...) Senior Smart Ontario features statistical information about Ontario and Canadian seniors, including data on seniors’ population, lifestyle, health and well-being. Also featured is a quiz to test attitudes about ageing, tips on how to communicate with seniors, academic resources and links to sites that address ageing around the world."

Guide to Programs and Services for Seniors in Ontario


Seniors' Guide to Services and Programs 2002 (PDF file - 380K, 67 pages)
Government of New Brunswick
- includes descriptions of services and contact information for federal, provincial and local government programs and services; also includes non-governmental organizations
Source:
Department of Family and Community Service

Intergenerational Equity: Policies for all Generations
News Release
May 21, 2004
(Click on "Download" to open the news release)
"Terms like 'crisis'and 'unsustainability' dominate talk about our aging society today. A growing older generation, we are told, is consuming more than its fair share of resources. But aging baby boomers may not be the problem. The problem may be our frame of reference."

What's Fair? Ethical Decision-making in an Aging Society
Executive Summary (6 pages)
May 2004
(Click on "Download" to open the executive summary)

What's Fair? Ethical Decision-making in an Aging Society
Complete report (65 pages)
May 2004
by Nuala Kenny
(Click on "Download" to open the report)
"A joint report from CPRN's Family Network and The Change Foundation, with additional support from the Law Commission of Canada, proposes a new framework for policies that involve sharing scarce resources across generations. In What's Fair? Ethical Decision-making in an Aging Society, author Nuala Kenny applies what she calls the 'ethic of care' to the challenge of intergenerational equity."

Source:
Family Network
[ Canadian Policy Research Networks ]

Related Links:

The Change Foundation
(Founded by the Ontario Hospital Association)
"Our mandate is to promote, support and improve health and the delivery of health care through four activity areas: Applied Research and Analysis, Development Programs, Education Programs, Grants to Charities. We bring together researchers, health care providers, managers, and policy makers from Ontario and beyond to understand the impact of change on the health of consumers and the delivery of health services.

Law Commission of Canada
"The Law Commission of Canada is an independent federal law reform agency that advises Parliament on how to improve and modernize Canada’s laws. The Commission's work is structured around the following four complementary themes: Personal Relationships * Social Relationships * Economic Relationships * Governance Relationships."
NOTE:
Law Commission of Canada abandoned by Conservative government
The Law Commission of Canada was informed on the 25th of September, 2006, of the federal government’s decision to eliminate the Commission’s funding.
(From the now-defunct LCC English homepage)
Try doing a Google search on the title of the report)

 


Fifty-Plus.net - Canadian Association of Retired Persons

From the United Way of Greater Toronto:

Social Issues : The quality of life for many of Toronto's seniors has deteriorated alarmingly in recent years.
"United Way's landmark new report, A Commitment to Care: Community Support Services for Seniors, identifies the causes behind the problem, what United Way is doing to help, and recommendations for improving care."
November 2001
A Commitment to Care: Community Support Services for Seniors (Complete report online)
PDF file - 2154K, 96 pages
Report Highlights


Seniors Losing Ground in Poverty Battle:
A Stealth attack on Seniors (PDF)
April 2000
Source : Daily Bread Food Bank (Toronto)

Federal-Provincial-Territorial Meeting of Ministers responsible for Seniors Victoria, British Columbia
- PLAN FOR CHALLENGES OF AN AGING SOCIETY (March 3, 1998 )

Poverty Among Seniors in Canada (PDF file - 94K, 2 pages)
by Chris Sarlo
"The claim that almost one in five seniors in Canada is currently impoverished has as much credibility as the latest sighting of Elvis."
Source:
Fraser Forum February 2004
[ The Fraser Institute ]

 

International Seniors' Websites

Pensions at a glance 2007
OECD
People in OECD countries will have to save more for their retirement as a result of the major pensions reforms carried out in recent years, according to this report. The average pension promise in 16 OECD countries studied was cut by 22 per cent. For women, the reduction was 25 per cent.
Posted June 8, 2007
Source:
Australian Policy Online

New Resources on Aging (bi-weekly e-letter) - U.S.
- latest issue: March 17
Table of Contents:
* Editorial Notes * On the WEB * New Publications * New Resources at the Center Library * Calendar of Events * Community Resources
- almost 100 links in the current issue!

Web Links on Aging
1,000+ links, organized alphabetically from Academic to Women, split into three pages for easier download
A - H
I - P
Q to Z

Source:
The University of California at Berkeley Resource Center on Aging

Confusions about Social Security (PDF file - 195K, 11 pages)
Paul Krugman (Princeton University)
January 2005
"There is a lot of confusion in the debate over Social Security privatization, much of it deliberate. This essay discusses the meaning of the trust fund, which privatizers declare either real or fictional at their convenience; the likely rate of return on private accounts, which has been greatly overstated; and the (ir)relevance of putative reductions in far future liabilities."
Source:
The Economists' Voice - U.S.
(Editor: Joseph E. Stiglitz)

Related Links:

Social Security Administration (U.S. Government)
"Visit the Social Security Administration Web site for publications and online resources to help you understand your Social Security benefits, how to apply for benefits, and the history of the Social Security program. You can also apply for benefits online."

AARP Social Security Center
[AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization for people over 50.]
"AARP maintains a special Social Security Center on its Web site. Visit the center to test your knowledge and find answers to some commonly asked questions about Social Security. You can also learn about issues and challenges facing Social Security, and you can tell your elected officials what you think about Social Security."

Four questions (and answers) from AARP
- Is Social Security Broke?
- Will Social Security be there for me when I retire?
- Couldn't I do better investing the money on my own?
- But aren't I paying a lot of money now to get a little money later?

For links to more info about the Bush administration's push to privatize Social Security in the U.S. in 2005 and about the Chilean pension model, go to the Pension Reforms Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/pensions.htm

FirstGov for Seniors (U.S.)
 - incl. links to : Consumer Protection - Education & Training - Health - Legislation - Letters to the Editor - Other Links - Retirement Planner - Seniors & Computers - Services - Strategic Plan - Tax Assistance - Travel & Leisure- Work & Volunteer - State Websites for Seniors
Site Map

National Council on the Aging (U.S.)
"Organizations and professionals promoting the dignity, self-determination and well-being of older persons"

BenefitsCheckUp
"NCOA's latest innovation, BenefitsCheckUp, is a simple and confidential online service made for seniors and caregivers. The program searches more than 1,000 federal and state programs and finds those for which the senior may be eligible."

National Institute on Aging (NIA) - U.S.
The National Institute on Aging is a component of the National Institutes of Health (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) that is devoted to improving the health of older people.

AgeSource Worldwide - Information resources about aging from around the world
Source : AARP (American Association of Retired Persons)

Internet Resources Related to Aging (U.S.)
List of Contents - like a site map, incl. links to sites organized under the followng headings : General Interest - Government - Health - Housing - Income - Law - Leisure - Libraries, Clearinghouses and Databases - Social Services - States and Communities - Statistics and Research - Listservs - Newsgroups - Electronic Magazines - Search Tools - Alphabetical Index
Other Internet Directories Related to Aging - links to 9 directories, most from the U.S. Administration on Aging, including state and even local links to resources for seniors
Source :

AARP (American Association of Retired Persons)
"AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization for people 50 and over. We provide information and resources; advocate on legislative, consumer, and legal issues; assist members to serve their communities; and offer a wide range of unique benefits,special products, and services for our members. These benefits include AARP Webplace at www.aarp.org, Modern Maturity and My Generation magazines, and the monthly AARP Bulletin. Active in every U.S. state and territory, AARP celebrates the attitude that age isn't just a number -- it's about how you live your life."

The Growth of Debt Among Older Americans (PDF file - 347K, 12 pages) - U.S.
by Tamara Draut and Heather C. Mcghee
Borrowing to Make Ends Meet Briefing Paper #1
February 2004
"In September 2003, De-mos released Borrowing to Make Ends Meet, a report on the growth of credit card debt among American families. The report documented a 53 percent average increase in self-reported household credit card debt between 1989 and 2001, based on data from the Survey of Consumer Finances. In examining debt increases by income, race, and age, the authors found that certain populations were hit harder than others. This paper is the first in a series of Borrowing to Make Ends Meet Briefing Papers, offering a closer look at the economic security of different populations as seen by examining their debt, assets, and major costs.

Related Link:

Borrowing to Make Ends Meet:
The Growth of Credit Card Debt in the ’90s
"The mid and late 1990s will always be remembered as an era of unprecedented prosperity. But for most American families, the roaring ’90s had a dark underbelly—it was also the Decade of Debt. Between 1989 and 2001, credit card debt in America almost tripled, from $238 billion to $692 billion. The savings rate steadily declined, and the number of people filing for bankruptcy jumped 125 percent. How did the average family fare?"
Complete report (PDF file - 732K, 64 pages)
Executive Summary (PDF file - 232K, 12 pages)

Source:
De-mos - A Network for Ideas and Action
- non-partisan, non-profit public policy research and advocacy organization based in New York City
"De-mos -- 'people' in Greek -- is the root word of democracy. Our mission is to create a more vibrant, fair, and inclusive America for the 21st century. We strive to help everyone realize the promise of American life through sharing in the nation's economic prosperity and participating in our democracy."

Canadian Perspectives:

Study: Finances in the golden years - 1999
November 17, 2003
"The financial situation of Canadian seniors appears much more secure if the equation includes wealth and not just income, according to a new study. More than half of seniors own their homes mortgage free. Nearly half are still saving and only 1 in 10 are dipping into investment capital to make ends meet. Only a third of senior families feel the need to follow a budget compared with half of younger families."
Source:
Statistics Canada

Internet Resources Related to Aging (U.S.)
List of Contents - like a site map, incl. links to sites organized under the following headings : General Interest - Government - Health - Housing - Income - Law - Leisure - Libraries, Clearinghouses and Databases - Social Services - States and Communities - Statistics and Research - Listservs - Newsgroups - Electronic Magazines - Search Tools - Alphabetical Index
Other Internet Directories Related to Aging - links to 9 directories, most from the U.S. Administration on Aging, including state and even local links to resources for seniors
Source :

Links to AARP sites in all states

AARP Online U.S. Pension Calculator (Note: this page works better for me in IE5.5 than in Netscape 4.75)

Sharing the nation's prosperity ? Pensioner poverty in Britain (PDF file - 513K, 61 pages)
March 2003
A. Goodman, M. Myck and A. Shephard,
Source : The Institute for Fiscal Studies, London (U.K.)

An Aging World: 2001 (PDF file - 3973K, 190 pages) - U.S.
November 2001
This new 190-page release from the Census Bureau and the National Institute of Aging presents comparative data related to aging, including population and projected population internationally, life expectancy, retirement, health information, and social support. The report was, in part, inspired by a review from the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) that argued for an international focus on aging as an aid to policymakers worldwide. The main body of the report is broken into eleven chapters, covering topics ranging from urban versus rural populations to marital status to income security. Appendices include detailed tables, references, an international comparison of urban versus rural definitions, and sources and limitations of the data.
Reviewed by : Scout Report
Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2001
- Go to the Census Bureau

SeniorSite (U.S. site, worth a visit to see hundreds of links to valuable information)

U.S. Administration on Aging
- Site Index - all on one page...
- Internet Information Notes: Links to major U.S. web resources on selected topics and issues in Aging.
Includes Adult Day Services - Ageism - Alcohol Abuse - Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias - Assisted Living - Caregiving for the Elderly - Disability and Aging - Consumer Protection & the Elderly - Diversity and Aging - Health and Long Term Care Costs - Health Maintenance Organizations - HIV, AIDs and Aging - Home Design - Hormone Replacement Therapy - Intergenerational Programs - International Aging Statistics - Life Expectancy - Long Term Care Insurance - Long-Term Care State Services - Mental Health and Aging - Nursing Homes - Nutrition - Prescription Drug Web Sites - Senior Centers - Senior Housing Sites and Directories - Suicide and the Elderly - Technology, Aging and Disabilities - Transportation and Mobility - Trends and Projections - Workforce & Aging

International Aging Statistics
U.S. Administration on Aging
The links to Internet sites on this page point to demographic data as well as reports addressing issues and emerging global developments created by the aging of their populations.
- includes links to over 90 r