Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T08:52:51.934Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

What Will the Family Composition of Older Persons Be Like Tomorrow? A Comparison of Canada and France*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 March 2010

Joëlle Gaymu ,
Marc-Antoine Busque ,
Jacques Légaré ,
Yann Décarie ,
Samuel Vézina  and
Janice Keefe
Joëlle Gaymu*
Affiliation:
Institut national d’études démographiques (INED)
Marc-Antoine Busque
Affiliation:
Département de démographie, Université de Montréal
Jacques Légaré
Affiliation:
Département de démographie, Université de Montréal
Yann Décarie
Affiliation:
Département de démographie, Université de Montréal
Samuel Vézina
Affiliation:
Département de démographie, Université de Montréal
Janice Keefe
Affiliation:
Nova Scotia Center on Aging, Mount Saint Vincent University
*
†Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to / La correspondance concernant cet article doit être adressées à: Joëlle Gaymu, DESS. Institut national d’études démographiques (INED), 133 boulevard Davout, 75980 Paris Cedex 20 ([email protected])
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Western societies are experiencing a dramatic growth in the population aged 75 and older. Changes in family composition raise questions about who will care for those who need assistance. We compared population projections to the year 2030 of those families aged 75 and older in Canada and France. Over the next 25 years, the pool of potential family carers, (i.e., spouses and children), will broaden from the effect of the baby boom and increased proportion of women with spouses. The populations most dependent on formal care, with no potential support from a child or a spouse, will increase more sharply in Canada (123%) than in France (34%) but at a slower rate than the total population. Policy and programs in both countries will need to prepare for a greater number of elderly spouses providing care and in Canada, at least, a significant increase in the number that will need to rely on formal services.

Résumé

L’ensemble des sociétés occidentales connaissent actuellement une croissance considérable des personnes âgées de 75 ans et plus. De nombreux changements familiaux affectant ces sociétés, il est pertinent de se demander qui prendra en charge les aînés de demain en cas de besoin d’assistance. Cet article compare les projections démographiques du réseau familial des personnes âgées de 75 ans et plus jusqu’en 2030 au Canada et en France. Au cours des 25 années prochaines, le vivier des aidants familiaux potentiels, constitué des conjoint(e)s et des enfants, s’élargira en raison des effets du Baby Boom (dont l’ampleur a été particulièrement forte au Canada) et de la proportion croissante de femmes qui ont un conjoint. Les populations les plus tributaires de l’aide formelle – sans soutien potentiel provenant d’un enfant ou d’un conjoint – augmenteront à un rythme beaucoup plus soutenu au Canada (123 pour cent) qu’en France (34 pour cent), mais moins rapidement toutefois que l’ensemble des personnes âgées. Les politiques publiques de ces deux pays devront être adaptées afin de soutenir adéquatement des effectifs croissants de personnes âgées confrontés à la dépendance de leurs conjoints. Au Canada, ces politiques devront, de plus, faire face à une hausse, plus forte qu’en France, du nombre d’aînés qui dépendront des services d’aide formelles.

Keywords

projections de populationcomposition des famillessoins et services informelssoins et services formelscomparaison internationalePopulation projectionsfamily compositioninformal careformal careinternational comparison
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 29 , Issue 1: Special Issue from the Social and Economic Dimensions of an Aging Population Project (SEDAP) – Caring for an Aging Population: Context, Practice & Policy , March 2010 , pp. 57 - 71
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

*

We thank our sponsors and colleagues who contributed to the projections:

In Canada: Alzheimer Society of Canada (Project #0640) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Project #81108).

In France: the European Commission which funded the FELICIE project (contract no. QLK6-CT 2002-02310) and the project participants who produced these projections –M. Murphy and S. Kalogirou from the London School of Economics (LESE), and P. Ekamper from the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI)) – or provided analyses on family network: E. Grundy, C. Tomassini, and S. Kalogirou from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).

References

Anderson, G.F., & Hussey, P.S. (2000). Population aging: A comparison among industrial countries. Health Affairs, 19(3), 191–203.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Angel, R.J., & Himes, C.L. (1992). Minority group status, health transitions, and community living arrangements among the elderly. Research on Aging, 14, 496–521.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Arber, S., Gilber, G.N., & Evandrou, M. (1988). Gender, household composition and receipt of domiciliary services by elderly disabled people. Journal of Social Policy, 17, 153–175.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Attias-Donfut, C. (Director). (1995). Les solidarités entre les générations. Paris, France: Coll. Essais et Recherches, édition Nathan.Google Scholar
Bontout, O., Colin, C., & Kerjosse, R. (2002). Personnes âgées dépendantes et aidants potentiels: une projection à l’horizon 2040. Paris, CREDES: Etudes et Résultats, 160, 1–10.Google Scholar
Breuil-Genier, P. (1998). La dépendance des personnes âgées: Recours aux proches et aux aides professionnelles. Paris, INSEE: France: Portrait Social, 91–107.Google Scholar
Carrière, Y., Keefe, J., Légaré, J., Lin, X., & Rowe, G. (2007). Population aging and immediate family composition: Implications for future home care services. Genus, 63(1–2), 11–31.Google Scholar
Carrière, Y., & Pelletier, L. (1995). Factors underlying the institutionalization of elderly persons in Canada. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 50B, 164–172.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chappell, N.L. (1991). Living arrangements and sources of care giving. Journal of Gerontology, 46, S1–S8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cooney, T., & Uhlenberg, P. (1990). The role of divorce in men’s relations with adult children after mid-life. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 52, 677–688.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cranswick, K., & Dosman, D. (2008). Eldercare: What do we know today? Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Canadian Social Trends. Statistics Canada Catologue 11-008-X No. 86. Retrieved 15 April, 2009, from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-008-x/2008002/article/10689-eng.htm#footnote11Google Scholar
Daatland, S.O., & Herlofson, K. (2003). ‘Lost solidarity’ or ‘changed solidarity’: A comparative European view of normative family solidarity. Ageing and Society, 23, 537–560.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
De Jong Gierveld, J., Van Tilburg, T., & Lecchini, L. (1997). Socio-economic resources, household composition and social network as determinants of well-being among Dutch and Tuscan older adults. Genus, 53(3–4), 75–100.Google Scholar
Delbes, C., & Gaymu, J. (1992). Les personnes âgées en France: d’hier à demain. Espace, populations, sociétés, 1992-1, 43–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Delbès, C., & Gaymu, J. (2003a). La retraite, 15 ans après (Les Cahiers de l’INED, n°154). Paris, France: Institut national d’études démographiques.Google Scholar
Delbès, C., & Gaymu, J. (2003b). Passé 60 ans: de plus en plus souvent en couple? Population et Société, 389., 1–4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Delbès, C., & Gaymu, J. (2006). Les femmes vieillissent seules, les hommes vieillissent à deux. Un bilan européen. Population et Société, 419, 1–4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Désesquelles, A., & Brouard, N. (2003). The family networks of people aged 60 and over living at home or in an institution. Population, 2, 181–206.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dolinsky, A.L., & Rosenwaike, I. (1988). The role of demographic factors in the institutionalization of the elderly. Research on Aging, 10, 235–257.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ettner, S.L. (1995). The impact of ‘parent care’ on female labor supply decisions. Demography, 32, 63–80.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Freedman, V.A. (1996). Family structure and the risk of nursing home admission. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 51b, S61–S69.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gaymu, J., Ekamper, P., & Beets, G. (2007). Qui prendra en charge les Européens âgés dépendants en 2030? Population, 62, 789–820.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Glaser, K., Murphy, M., & Grundy, E. (1997). Limiting long-term illness and household structure among people aged 45 and over, Great Britain 1991. Ageing and Society, 17, 3–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grundy, E. (2006). Ageing and vulnerable people: European perspectives. Ageing and Society, 26, 105–134.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grundy, E., & Glaser, K. (1997). Trends in, and transitions to, institutional residence among older people in England and Wales 1971-1991. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 51, 531–540.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. (2009). Canadians in context. Aging Population. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Retrieved 15 April, 2009, fromhttp://www4.hrsdc.gc.ca/[email protected]?iid=33Google Scholar
Jacobzone, S. (2000). Coping with aging: International challenges. Health Affairs, 19, 213–225.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kalogirou, S., & Murphy, M. (2006). Marital status of people aged 75 and over in nine EU countries in the period 2000-2030. European Journal of Ageing, 3, 74–81.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Keefe, J., Guberman, N., Fancey, P., Barylak, L., & Nahmiash, D. (2008). Caregivers’ aspirations, realities, and expectations: The care tool. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 27, 286–308.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lafrenière, S., Carrière, Y., Martel, L., & Belanger, A. (2003). Dependent seniors at home—Formal and informal help. Health Reports, 14(4), 31–40.Google ScholarPubMed
Légaré, J., & Alix, C. (2007). La taille des familles et des fratries au Québec au cours du 20è siècle: quelques comparaisons avec l’Amérique du Nord. In Oris, M., Brunet, G., Widmer, E., & Bideau, A. (Eds.), Les Fratries: une démographie sociale de la germanité (pp.219–237). Berlin, Germany: Peter Lang.Google Scholar
Légaré, J., & Décarie, Y. (2007). Using Statistics Canada LifePaths Microsimulation Model to project the health status of Canadian elderly (SEDAP Research Paper No. 227). Hamilton, Ontario, Canada: McMaster University.Google Scholar
Légaré, J., & Martel, L. (2003). Living arrangements of older persons in the early nineties: An international comparison. Genus, 59(1), 85–103.Google Scholar
Légaré, J., & Noin, D. (1992). Le vieillissement de la population en France et au Québec/Population ageing in France and in Quebec (editorial). Espace, populations, sociétés, 1992-1, 11–12.Google Scholar
Marcil-Gratton, N., & Légaré, J. (1987). Being old today and tomorrow: A different proposition. Canadian population studies, 14(2), 237–241.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martel, L., & Légaré, J. (2001). Avec ou sans famille proche à la vieillesse: Une description du réseau de soutien informel des personnes âgées selon la présence du conjoint et des enfants. Cahiers québécois de démographie, 30, 89–114.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McGarry, K., & Schoeni, R.F. (2000). Social security, economic growth, and the rise of the elderly widow’s independence in the twentieth century. Demography, 137, 221–236.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Michael, R., Fuchs, V., & Scott, S. (1980). Changes in the propensity to live alone: 1950-1976. Demography, 17, 39–56.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mickus, M., Stommel, M., & Given, C.W. (1997). Changes in living arrangements of functionally dependent older adults and their adult children. Journal of Ageing and Health, 9, 126–143.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mo, L., Légaré, J., & en collaboration avec Guillaume Marois. (2007). Revenu, logement et protection en matière de pensions durant le cycle de vie de différentes générations: jusqu’à quel point les premiers boomers québécois se préparent-ils mieux à la retraite que leurs parents? In Gauthier, H. (sous la direction de), Vie des générations et personnes âgées: aujourd’hui et demain (Vol. 2, pp. 289–321). Québec, Canada: Institut de la statistique du Québec.Google Scholar
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD. (2009). Health at a glance 2007: OECD indicators. Retrieved March 15, 2009, fromhttp://oberon.sourceoecd.org/vl=748557/cl=24/nw=1/rpsv/health2007/g1-1-03.htmGoogle Scholar
Oldman, C., & Quilgars, D. (1999). The last resort? Revisiting ideas about older people’s living arrangements. Aging and Society, 19, 363–384.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Palloni, A. (2001). Living arrangements of older persons. In Living arrangements of older persons: Critical issues and policy responses, population bulletin of the United Nations (pp. 54–110), Special issue n°42/43. New York: United Nations.Google Scholar
Pampel, F.C. (1992). Trends in living alone among the elderly in Europe. In Rogers, A. (Ed.), Elderly migration and population redistribution (pp. 97–117). London: Belhaven Press.Google Scholar
Pickard, L., Wittenberg, R., Comas-Herrera, A., Davies, B., & Darton, R. (2000). Relying on informal care in the new century? Informal care for elderly people in England to 2031. Aging and Society, 20, 745–772.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ricci, M. (1991). Residential care for the elderly in Italy: Recent trends and regional differences. Paper presented at the European Population Conference, Session “Living arrangements of the elderly,”Paris.Google Scholar
Robine, J.M., Romieu, I., & Michel, J.P. (2003). Trends in health expectancies. In Robine, J.M., Jagger, C., Mathers, C.D., Crimmins, E.M., & Suzman, R.M. (Eds.), Determining health expectancies (pp.75–101). Chichester, England: Wiley.Google Scholar
Schulz, R., O’Brien, A.T., Bookwala, J., & Fleissner, K. (1995). Psychiatric and physical morbidity effects of dementia caregiving: Prevalence, correlates and causes. The Gerontologist, 35, 771–791.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Soldo, B.J., Wolf, D.A., & Agree, E.M. (1990). Family, households, and care arrangements of frail older women: A structural analysis. Journal of Gerontology, 45, S238–S249.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Spiess, C.K., & Schneider, A.U. (2003). Interactions between care-giving and paid work hours among European midlife women, 1994 to 1996. Ageing and Society, 23, 41–68.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Statistics Canada. (2004). LifePaths. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Retrieved 15 June, 2005, fromhttp://www.statcan.ca/english/spsd/LifePaths.htmGoogle Scholar
Stinner, W.F., Byun, Y., & Paita, L. (1990). Disability and living arrangements among elderly American men. Research on Aging, 12, 339–363.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tomassini, C., Glaser, K., Wolf, D.A., Broese van Groenou, M.I., & Grundy, E. (2004). Living arrangements among older people: An overview of trends in Europe and the U.S.A. Population Trends, 115, 24–34.Google Scholar
United Nations. (2005). Living arrangements of older persons around the world. New York: Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population division, United Nations.Google Scholar
Van Imhoff, E., & Keilman, N.W. (1991). LIPRO 2.0: An application of a dynamic demographic projection model to household structure in The Netherlands (NIDI CBGS Publications 23). Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Swets & Zeitlinger.Google Scholar
Walker, A., Alber, J., & Guillemard, A.M. (1993). Older people in Europe, social and economic policies. The 1993 Report of the European Observatory, Commission of the European Communities, Directorate General V, Employment, Social Affairs, Industrial Relations, Brussels, Belgium.Google Scholar
Wolf, D.A. (1995). Changes in the living arrangements of older women: An international study. The Gerontologist, 35, 724–731.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wolfson, M., & Rowe, G. (2004). Disability and informal support: Prospects for Canada. In Cohen, S.B. & Leproski, J.M. (Eds.), Eighth conference on health survey research methods (pp. 15–22). Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics.Google Scholar