Rationale
Seniors are among the most frequent and highest-cost users of health care services, accounting for more than 40% of provincial/territorial health expenditures. Seniors are often affected by multiple chronic conditions, which increases the cost and complexity of their care.
Understanding the proportion of the senior population can help to contextualize indicator results; for example, variation in the proportion of seniors across the country could contribute to variation in overall need for and use of health care services. In addition, this contextual measure can inform health planning, such as initiatives to promote healthy aging and aging in place.
Interpretation
High values indicate a large proportion of individuals age 65 and older.
Comments
The health regions presented in this table are based on boundaries and names in effect as of 2023. For complete Canadian coverage, each northern territory represents a health region.