TORONTO, November 13, 2002 -- Seniors in seven municipalities across Canada believe while their quality of life is profoundly affected by policies at all levels of government, they have little input in the policy process, says a synthesis report of seven studies that involved hundreds of seniors, seniors service providers, and municipal staff across Canada.
These studies took place in Montreal, Quebec City, Ottawa, Toronto, Regina, Vancouver, and Whitehorse. "Seniors told the researchers that municipal, provincial and federal governments are not giving serious consideration to seniors’ needs and are not listening to them to find out what they need," said synthesis report lead author Toba Bryant of the York University Centre for Health Studies. The issues identified as common across all studies - access to information, health care, housing, income security, safety and security, social contacts and networks, and transportation - were also seen as impacting the quality of life of not just seniors, but all Canadians. This was also the case for the issues that were raised in a majority of localities: ageism of society, having voices heard, promoting healthy lifestyles, and lack of political will by governments to address key issues.
"Findings in this report show that issues seniors see as important to their health and well-being are remarkably similar to research findings concerning the social determinants of health. The consistency between the lived experiences of older persons across Canada with traditional research methodologies should direct policymakers to address these important issues," commented Bryant.
The report, A Nation for All Ages? A Participatory Study of Canadian Seniors’ Quality of Life in Seven Municipalities, reflects findings from two years of studies carried out by networks of seniors, seniors’ organizations, service providers, and municipal staff in seven municipalities across Canada.
Bryant says the report's findings indicate that there is a gap between government rhetoric and recent government actions on seniors’ issues. "The report concludes that governments are not giving appropriate attention to issues that address the determinants of Canadians’ health and well-being in general and older persons in particular."
The synthesis report and the seven studies upon which it is based were funded by the Population Health Fund of Health Canada. The full report is available at http://www.yorku.ca/ychs.
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For further information, please contact:
| Dr. Toba Bryant | Dr. Dennis Raphael |
| York Centre for Health Studies | School of Health Policy and Management |
| 416-736-5941 | Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies |
| tbryant@yorku.ca | 416-736-2100, ext. 22134 |
| draphael@yorku.ca |
YU/105/02
