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 Affairs Canada • PhD Student, Aging and Health, Queen’s University • Maureen Denison • Senior Policy Advisor, Policy Development, Veterans Affairs Canada

O B J E C T I V E S Future Past Present Veteran History of Program Use Population programs for Disability/Frailty aging Veterans Data Sources

PA S T Canadian Regular Force Personnel 800,000 700,000 1.1 million served in WWII of Number of CF Regular Force Personnel >650,000 served 600,000 11 million in WWI of Canadians 8 million 500,000 Increased Canadians tempo of 400,000 >40,000 served operations ~20,000 served in Afghanistan 300,000 in Korean War 200,000 100,000 0 1914 1919 1924 1929 1934 1939 1944 1949 1954 1959 1964 1969 1974 1979 1984 1989 1994 1999 2004

PA S T Expansion of Programs over Time 1915 Hospitals 1960s Contract LTC beds 1919 Disability & Treatment 1991 VIP Extended to post- 1981 Aging Veterans Program Benefits Korean War Veterans (renamed Veterans 1930s War Veterans Independence Program (VIP)) Allowance 1945 Veterans Charter 1960 to 1980s 1915 to 1950s 1990s to today Aging War Service Veterans Reestablishment Aging Post Korean War Veterans

PA S T Three Powerful Drivers Responsible for Canada’ s Veterans Independence Program Expected doubling of facility costs Growing wait lists for facility care Regrets over “warehousing” WWI Veterans 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 Total Veteran Clients VIP Veteran Clients CAF War Service CAF War Service 70,000 70,000 60,000 60,000 50,000 50,000 40,000 40,000 30,000 30,000 20,000 20,000 10,000 10,000 0 0 <65 65-74 75-84 85-94 95+ <65 65-74 75-84 85-94 95+ Age Group Age Group

P R E S E N T Frailty prevalence the same as other Canadians Aged 45 plus 40.0 Regular Forces Reserve Forces Non-Veterans 35.0 30.0 25.0 20.0 15.0 10.0 5.0 0.0 Grip strength Get up and go Standing balance 4 Metre walk Chair rise 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 Mean age 44 Regular Force released 1998 to 2012 Canadian Comparitor 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Self-perceived Difficulty with ADLs Arthritis Back problems High blood pressure Depression Anxiety health (excellent/very good) VanTil LD, MacLean MB, Sweet J, McKinnon K. Understanding the future needs of Canadian Veterans. Health Reports. 2018; 29(11):20-25.

PA S T, P R E S E N T & F U T U R E Veteran population declining mostly due to the aging of War Service Veterans 1,000,000 Reserve Force service since 1953 Regular Force service since 1953 800,000 War Service prior to 1954 600,000 400,000 200,000 0 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2026 2028 2030 2032 2034 2036 VanTil LD, MacLean MB, Sweet J, McKinnon K. Understanding the future needs of Canadian Veterans. Health Reports. 2018; 29(11):20-25.

PA S T, P R E S E N T & F U T U R E Post-Korean War Veterans are aging rapidly as well 35% 2003 2016 2026 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% <30 yr 30-39 yr 40-49 yr 50-59 yr 60-69 yr 70+ yr VanTil LD, MacLean MB, Sweet J, McKinnon K. Understanding the future needs of Canadian Veterans. Health Reports. 2018; 29(11):20-25.

P R E S E N T LASS (Survey & Canadian Income) Longitudinal Canadian Study on Aging Veteran Canadian Community Population Veteran Health Suicide ~640,000 Survey 2003 Mortality Canadian Study Survey of Disability VAC Admin Data

PA S T, P R E S E N T & F U T U R E Data sources 2011 ongoing Canadian Veteran registry Longitudinal Study on Aging Census 2021 2003 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) < 1997 VAC Admin data 2019 CCHS 2010 ongoing every 3 2017 Can. Survey years Life After Service on Disability Studies (LASS) VAC Client Health Survey 1997 & 1999

Q u e s t i o n s QUESTIONS?