8,980 seniors on PEI live with disability across Canada there are 1.8 million seniors with disabilities

8,980 seniors on PEI are living with disability, 1.8 million across Canada

Disability is a fact of life for seniors. About 40% of seniors in Canada have one or more disabilities.

They need assistive devices and home care to remain living independent in their homes. In the third of a four part series we explore who are these seniors and what are their disabilities using Prince Edward Island as the model.  

There are 8,980 seniors on Prince Edward Island living with one or more disabilities, based on a total PEI population of 133,750 in 2006.

There were 18,830 seniors on PEI at the time of the 2006 census. PEI’s disability rate (16.3%) is slightly higher than the national average (14.3%). PEI’s rate of disability among seniors is 48% versus the national rate of 40%. (PALS 2006)

Looming very soon on the horizon is a 20% increase in the number of seniors with disabilities as the Baby Boom ages.  8,000 people between 45 and 64 years old are disabled and will soon be seniors.

Disability is caused by genetics, injuries, disease and as part of the aging process. While only a small percentage of children have disabilities, less than 1,000, as people age the level of disability increases. For instance, about 1,000 children under the age of 15 have a disability on PEI. By age 45 that number has jumped to 8,000. (See PALS 2006 People with disabilities by sex age PEI Table 2.3-1)

Not only do the numbers of people increase but the percentage of the population goes from 3% of children to 21% of the population at age 45, to 36% at age 65 and to 63% of Islanders age 75 and older.

Of the 8,980 Islanders with disabilities, 3,770 are between 65 and 74 years old, and 5,210 are 75 and older.

Severity of disabilities

Not every disability is serious enough to disrupt someone’s life. Disabilities are rated from mild, moderate, severe and very severe. A mild disability may have only a limited impact on the daily life of the senior. Very severe disabilities may involve someone who has become bedridden in an institution.

In between those two ends of the spectrum are the moderate to severe disabilities which are amenable to assistive devices. A senior with a moderate walking disability may get along with a cane or walker. A severe walking disability implies the use of a wheelchair but not total incapacity.

On Prince Edward Island, there are 3,540 seniors with mild disabilities, 2,190 with moderate, 2,350 with severe and 890 with very severe disabilities. (See PALS 2006 Severity of disability sex and age groups PEI 2006 Tables 4.3-1)

What disabilities are afflicting seniors

The most prevalent disabilities afflicting seniors are mobility or walking, agility or dexterity, pain and hearing. Seeing that can be corrected with normal glasses is not considered a disability.

All statistics are from the Statistics Canada Participation and Activity Limitation Survey  2001 and 2006. PALS 2010 is expected in December of 2010.

Related stories

Seniors with disabilities need assistance for independent living

Independent living for seniors with disabilities better and less costly

PEI seniors with disabilities forced into institutions

Not enough help for PEI seniors with disabilities

PALS 2006 Tables