EDMONTON – Is rural Canada a good place to grow old?
The answer: it depends.
It depends on the size of the community, how many seniors live there, what kind of services the community offers and if the senior is a joiner or a loner.
“It’s all about the fit between what kind of person you are and the kind of community you live in,” said Jacquie Eales, research manager with the rural seniors project in the department of human ecology at the University of Alberta.
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“There’s a great deal of difference in how supportive rural communities are,” said Eales.
While one senior may be active in the community, know about the services available and have a good support group of friends and family, another senior may feel isolated or not know how to access senior services.
“Seniors aren’t all the same,” said Eales.
The four-year study for the federal department of veterans affairs found four types of seniors: community-active; stoic; marginalized and frail, all having different needs.
Community-active seniors have a diverse social network of family, friends and community members. They’re involved in a range of activities and have the resources to allow them to be active in their communities. They derive satisfaction from contributing to their community.
The stoic seniors are reserved, independent and practical. They have a strong work ethic, preferring activities that are purposeful or meaningful and stay connected to the community through their daily routines. They prefer solitary time to social activities.
They provide support to others when asked and make few demands on others. Accessing services such as home care may be considered by them as a sign of weakness.
Marginalized seniors may live alone or be part of a tight-knit couple. They often have small social networks and income. They are family focused, yet live at a distance from most relatives. They have limited involvement with neighbours and community activities, and wait for family and friends to initiate contact. They may not access services, even in emergencies, because of concerns with costs and misinformation.
Frail seniors have health challenges and rely on others for support. They stay engaged with people and participate in community activities to the extent of their interest and abilities, which vary widely.
Some travel while others are constrained by aging bodies. They often depend on family and friends for support including brokering connections to services.
The communities most supportive to seniors had small populations, a high proportion of seniors, several long-term care facilities and more hours of unpaid work.
The different groups of seniors mean there is no one community that fits all, said Eales who studied three Canadian rural communities as part of her research.
She looked at the farming community of Oyen, Alta., the seasonal community of Parrsboro, N.S., and the retirement community of Bobcaygeon, Ont.
Oyen, in southeastern Alberta, has a population of 1,100, with 23 percent of the population more than 25 years of age.
“Oyen has lots of options for supportive living,” said Eales.
One resident described the Oyen Lodge with 33 beds and eight independent living apartments as a “dry cruise” because of all its social activities. Meals for seniors still living at home were prepared in the hospital and delivered by seniors.
While Oyen had by far the best services, its biggest challenge is helping people connect to the services, she said.
Bobcaygeon, a retirement community 200 kilometres northeast of Toronto in the heart of cottage country, has a population of 2,800. About 41 percent of residents are older than 65 years.
The stunning scenery along the waterway makes it ideal for outdoor activities and recreation especially for active seniors, but its limited care facilities make it difficult for more frail seniors or those on a fixed income.
While there were doctors in Bobcaygeon, none had openings for new clients. The Meals on Wheels program relied on volunteers for the entire program from cooking to delivery.
“Their Meals on Wheels program is amazing considering it’s all done by volunteers.”
Also noticeable was the large pool of volunteers who enjoyed becoming involved in the community, she said.
Parrsboro, N.S., on the Bay of Fundy, used to have a vibrant ship building industry, an active harbour and booming forestry sector. Now the community of 1,500 with 25 percent of the population older than 65 is struggling economically with a decreasing population.
“In Parrsboro, there was quite a different feel to it. They remember the glory days. They remember when the community was vibrant,” said Eales.
There is no home-delivered meal program but there is a home care program where workers prepared meals for one to two days in the seniors’ home.
With young people moving away, it was left to other seniors to keep an eye on each other. Some shovelled snow or cut wood and others slipped their neighbours $20 to help with the bills.
Eales said while the mandate of Veterans Affairs is to look after war veterans, the department will use the report to help direct services to clients. The report shows not all seniors will come to the services or seek them out, but services must be brought to some seniors.
