The Effect of Aging Population on Canada's Health Care System



Introduction3

Research Question3

Thesis Statement4

Motivation4

Outline of Reminder5

Literature Survey5

Data and Analysis10

Conclusion18

References20

Appendix22

The Effect of Aging Population on Canada's Health Care System

Introduction

This term paper is based on the effect of aging population on Canada's health care system. The aging of the population can be considered a success for public health policy and the socio-economic development, but it also poses challenges to society in order to best improve the health and extend the functionality for the elderly, as well as their social participation and security. In the past, Canadian Healthcare System has supported projects on current and emerging health issues, including primary health care, home care and continuing care, palliative care and end of life management of chronic diseases and patient safety. These initiatives serve to encourage policy decisions based on evidence and innovation in the implementation of pilot approaches, identifying and sharing best practices, developing research and data, and active dissemination and knowledge transfer (Health Care in Canada 2011, 2013).

The Canadian health care is one of the many areas where the government is proud of. The overall participation rate in Canada will likely to decline in the coming decades due to increasing proportion of the population in the categories of older people. In recent decades, the age participation rate of these groups is much lower than those of younger groups.

Research Question

How will an aging population affect Canada's ability to invest for the future through the health care system?

Thesis Statement

“The capacity of health and social systems to meet the needs of a growing number of older people is one of most debatable issues related to the sustainability of public health funding in Canada”.

Motivation

I believe that this research have great significance as the effect of aging population on Canada's health care system is one of the debatable topic in Canada these days. I have selected this topic as health and aging are two realities with extremely complex meaning. To provide an accurate demographic picture of the Canadian population in the twenty-first century, it is important to understand the health goals associated with the elderly, to analyze the attitudes towards them that are likely to influence societal decisions and evaluate policy changes which can produce positive change. Health objectives related to the elderly population can be examined from numerous perspectives.

Moreover, I perceive that the aging population may affect economic growth and public finances of Canada. Population aging is expected to slow the rate of economic growth in Canada and the corresponding growth rate of the tax base of government. It also provides a parallel increase in public spending on pensions and state health care. The public health care system in Canada is changing. Reforms have been conducted over the past four decades and will continue to reflect changes in medicine and society. The basis of this system, however remain the same i.e. the universal coverage for health care services medically offered as needed rather than ability to pay.

Outline of Reminder

The paper is divided into various sections such ...