Textbook Chapter 3 Questions Flashcards
What role does the economy and the state of a country’s development play in their ability to respond to population aging?
As the population ages, the economy and the country’s development will need to adapt to the aging population and the economy will be affected due to the changes in spending in different systems in our society
What role does culture play in shaping a society’s response?
The culture in different places affects how we respond to aging. In north America for example, seniors tend to take care of themselves, they live by themselves and are usually independent away from their families. In more Asian countries, these countries respond by moving their senior relatives in so they can be cared for, and the senior is dependent and in control of their adult children.
How do world trends such as global economy activity shape the lives of old and young in the least developed and less developed nations?
The least developed nations and the less developed nations will have larger numbers of older people than ever before. They will struggle to provide resources for the old and the young due to the global economy activity.
What role did the death rate play in population aging in Canada? What role will it play in the future?
The death rate in Canada began to drop across the country, as individuals tended to live much longer lives than recorded ever before.
What role did the birth rate play in population aging in Canada? What role will it play in the future?
The birth rate in Canada began to decline, being the primary cause.
What caused the growth in the very old and oldest populations in Canada?
Due to increasing health care asccess and the development of new medications, we are able to prolong our lives well into the 100s due to keeping healthy. This shift is the reason why we’ve seen a growth in the very old and oldest populations.
What are the pros and cons of using dependency ratios to project future costs in an aging society? Why do some economists urge caution in using these ratios to predict future costs?
Dependency ratios are only able to tell a part of the story. Even small changes in Canada’s economy and social norms could lead to large decreases in the cost of an older population. They are rough estimates.
They are great when estimating the impact of the population aging on public pensions and healthcare costs.
What economy and social changes influence the effect of the dependency ratio on society?
A stronger economy would also ease the dependency burden. Even a small improvement in the income of middle-aged people, compared with costs for services to the old, would significantly decrease the costs of an older population to society. Social policies have the greatest effect on the cost of an older population.
How much do immigrants make up the senior population
30% of the senior population
3/4 of current seniors moved before 1970 from Europe
What percentage makes up the visible minority seniors in Canada?
11% of seniors
What percentage makes up the indigenous senior population?
6.5% of seniors
What are the 3 challenges among ethnic minority seniors?
- Economic security
- Indigenous seniors and recent immigrant seniors experience high rates of poverty
- Immigrants seniors need to live 10 years before the become eligible for pensions and income support programs - Health
- Dimishing “healthy immigrant” effect
- Language barriers to access to health care - Family life
- “Role emptying” and “role reversal”
- Loneliness among older recent immigrants
What are the 3 demographic forces in Canada?
- Immigrantion
- Death rates - mortality
- Birth rates - fertility
The combined effects of these 3 forces caused the population to age
How much of the population comes from immigration?
Almost 75%
What is the overall dependency ratio?
This ratio to project the future costs of an aging society
Seniors dependency ratio will increase in the future
