Aging Veterans: Past, Present and Future S e p t e m b e r 2 6 - 2 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
C a n a d i a n F r a i l t y N e t w o r k C o n f e r e n c e Aging Veterans: Past, Present and Future S e p t e m b e r 2 6 - 2 7 , 2 0 1 9 I N T R O D U C T I O N Mary Beth MacLean Health Economist, Research Directorate, Veterans
S e p t e m b e r 2 6 - 2 7 , 2 0 1 9
C a n a d i a n F r a i l t y N e t w o r k C o n f e r e n c e
I N T R O D U C T I O N
Mary Beth MacLean
Maureen Denison
O B J E C T I V E S
History of programs for aging Veterans Program Use Disability/Frailty Veteran Population Data Sources
PA S T
100,000 200,000 300,000 400,000 500,000 600,000 700,000 800,000 1914 1919 1924 1929 1934 1939 1944 1949 1954 1959 1964 1969 1974 1979 1984 1989 1994 1999 2004 Number of CF Regular Force Personnel
Increased tempo of
Canadian Regular Force Personnel
>650,000 served in WWI of 8 million Canadians 1.1 million served in WWII of 11 million Canadians ~20,000 served in Korean War >40,000 served in Afghanistan
PA S T
Expansion of Programs over Time
1915 Hospitals 1919 Disability & Treatment Benefits 1930s War Veterans Allowance 1945 Veterans Charter
1915 to 1950s
Reestablishment
1960 to 1980s
Aging War Service Veterans 1960s Contract LTC beds 1981 Aging Veterans Program (renamed Veterans Independence Program (VIP))
1990s to today
Aging Post Korean War Veterans 1991 VIP Extended to post- Korean War Veterans
PA S T
Three Powerful Drivers Responsible for Canada’ s Veterans Independence Program
Regrets over “warehousing” WWI Veterans
Growing wait lists for facility care Expected doubling of facility costs
Pedlar D, et al. Canada's Veterans Independence Program: a pioneer of "aging at home". 2009
PA S T
Canada’ s Veterans Independence Program – A Pioneer of Aging at Home
Pedlar D, et al. Canada's Veterans Independence Program: a pioneer of "aging at home". 2009
P R E S E N T
More than 115,000 younger and older Veterans using VAC Programs
10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000 70,000 <65 65-74 75-84 85-94 95+
Age Group
VIP Veteran Clients
CAF War Service 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000 70,000 <65 65-74 75-84 85-94 95+
Age Group
Total Veteran Clients
CAF War Service
P R E S E N T
Frailty prevalence the same as other Canadians
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 Grip strength Get up and go Standing balance 4 Metre walk Chair rise
Aged 45 plus
Regular Forces Reserve Forces Non-Veterans
Wolfson et al., Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging: Veteran Report on Health and Aging, March, 2019.
P R E S E N T
But more recent Regular Force Veterans appear to be worse off
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% Self-perceived health (excellent/very good) Difficulty with ADLs Arthritis Back problems High blood pressure Depression Anxiety
Mean age 44
Regular Force released 1998 to 2012 Canadian Comparitor
VanTil LD, MacLean MB, Sweet J, McKinnon K. Understanding the future needs of Canadian Veterans. Health Reports. 2018; 29(11):20-25.
200,000 400,000 600,000 800,000 1,000,000 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2026 2028 2030 2032 2034 2036
Reserve Force service since 1953 Regular Force service since 1953 War Service prior to 1954
Veteran population declining mostly due to the aging of War Service Veterans
VanTil LD, MacLean MB, Sweet J, McKinnon K. Understanding the future needs of Canadian
PA S T, P R E S E N T & F U T U R E
VanTil LD, MacLean MB, Sweet J, McKinnon K. Understanding the future needs of Canadian
Post-Korean War Veterans are aging rapidly as well
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% <30 yr 30-39 yr 40-49 yr 50-59 yr 60-69 yr 70+ yr 2003 2016 2026 PA S T, P R E S E N T & F U T U R E
LASS
(Survey & Income)
Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging Canadian Survey of Disability Veteran Suicide Mortality Study
Canadian Community Health Survey 2003
VAC Admin Data
P R E S E N T
< 1997 VAC Admin data VAC Client Health Survey 1997 & 1999 2003 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) 2010 ongoing every 3 years Life After Service Studies (LASS) 2019 CCHS 2017 Can. Survey
Veteran registry Census 2021 2011 ongoing Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging
Data sources
PA S T, P R E S E N T & F U T U R E
Q u e s t i o n s