Demographic Profile of Seniors

Research Highlights

• There are 23,069 individuals aged 65+ residing in Guelph-Wellington (2001); 12% of the total population (same as Ontario)
• By 2016, this number is projected to increase by 49% (34,276); versus an increase of 12% for the population as a whole
• Statistics Canada’s projections indicate that by 2026, one in five Canadians will be 65 or older
• Demographic aging is an important factor in determining future social service costs

An Aging Population
Research shows that the post-war baby boomers (i.e. individuals born during the two decades following World War II) outnumber both the previous generation and the one that followed them. Today, over 12% of Guelph-Wellington’s population is over 65 years of age (2001). Statistics Canada’s projections indicate that by 2026, one in five Canadians will be 65 or older.¹

Source: A Needs Analysis for Supportive Housing for the Elderly in WRWCDC (DHC January 2003)
with data from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Provincial Planning Database May 2002)

In Guelph-Wellington, the population 65 years and older is expected to increase by 24% between 2001 and 2011. In contrast, the overall population of Guelph-Wellington is expected to grow by 12% during the same time period. The fastest growth is occurring among the population aged 85 and over.

Seniors Residing in Guelph-Wellington
According to the 2001 Census, there are 23,260 individuals aged 65 years or older residing in Guelph-Wellington. The majority of them (55%) are between the ages of 65-74 years. And, most (56%) live in the City of Guelph.

The senior population is predominantly female. In 2001, women represented 57% of Guelph-Wellington residents aged 65 and over and over 71% of those aged 85 and older.

Life Expectancy
Life expectancy has risen substantially during this century. Women born in 1941 can expect to live four years longer than women born in 1921.² Women have a longer remaining life expectancy than men. In Ontario, female life expectancy at birth was 81.3 years, compared to 75.9 for males (1996). Recent gains in life expectancy have been largely accompanied by an increase in the number of years spent with slight or no disability.

This increase in life expectancy combined with a decrease in the average number of births is resulting in the aging population phenomenon.

Delayed marriage, postponement of children and decreased fertility rates, coupled with increased life expectancy means that the average married couple may have more living parents than children.³

Seniors from Ethno-cultural Groups
In 1996, 27% of seniors living in Canada were immigrants.⁴ In comparison, immigrants made up 17.4% of the overall population of Canada; 16.9% in Guelph-Wellington.

Most immigrants aged 65 and over arrived in Canada quite a long time ago; 61% of them arrived before 1961. Almost all the seniors now arriving in Canada fall within the category of family reunification, and they account for a small percentage of the immigrants arriving each year (4% of total immigration in 1995). ⁵

According to the 2001 Census, visible minorities in Canada make up 8.1% of the population aged 65-74 and 5.9% of the population aged 75 and over, whereas they make up 13.4% of the overall population. Guelph-Wellington has a small visible minority population (7.4% of the overall population), compared to the provincial (19.1%) and national (13.4%) averages.

Approximately 4.5% of all Canadian seniors speak neither English nor French compared to 1.7% of the population aged 15 to 64. Communication difficulties can lead to inappropriate care. Interpretation services, both linguistic and cultural, are often required to ensure effective care.

Seniors from various ethnic groups can have different customs from the main culture in terms of lifestyle, forms of family interaction, and social support networks.

1. William, C. (Summer 2005). The Sandwich Generation. Canadian Social Trends. Statistics Canada – Catalogue No 11-008.
2. Brink, S. (October 2004). Elder care: the nexus for family, work and health policy. Caledon Institute of Social Policy.
3. Preston, S.H. (December 1984). Children and the elderly in the U.S. Scientific America 251, 6: 44-49.
4. Statistics Canada (October 1, 1999). The Daily.
5. National Advisory Council on Aging (1999). 1999 and Beyond: Challenges of an Aging Canadian Society. National Advisory Council on Aging.