Perceptions by Gerry Warner

We are an aging society. Not much news in that, but how many of us realize just how old our society is getting? It may come as a shock to many to realize that in less than five years Canada will have more seniors than teenagers and there are some serious implications to that.

Canada’s population passed the 35 million mark late in 2012 and we’re on track to hit 50 million by 2054, according to Statistics Canada. And when we do the face of Canada will look far different than today.

By 2054, the predominant hair color of Canadians will be grey – at least of the ones who still have hair – because in 2054 seniors 65 and over will greatly outnumber teenagers who are the fastest shrinking demographic in the country. In fact, children under 15 make up just 16.7 per cent of the population now, while seniors are at a record high of 14.8 per cent, and growing. The fastest growing demographic in the country today are people over 80 and in just four years, Canada will face what demographers call “cross-over day” when there will be more seniors than children.

Back in the ‘60s, we were told we couldn’t trust anyone over 30. And when you look around the world today – especially City Hall in Toronto – that wasn’t bad advice.  Now with the median age in Canada 40.1, there’s no one left to trust, certainly not Rob Ford who’s 44.

So where does this leave us? For starters, you better have a will because if you don’t have one now you’ll probably need one in the near future. And if you haven’t checked your will for 20 years or more, you better take another look. Things have changed. For instance, there’s something called a “living will,” which my good wife and I did up over 20 years ago and is now hopelessly out of date with the children grown up and gone and some of the instructions in it quite possibly not legal anymore.

For instance, I left instructions to be cremated and my ashes scattered in a few of my favorite streams. No problem there. But I also left instructions that if I ever ended up in a vegetative state because of accident or disease, I wanted no extraordinary medical measures taken to keep me alive. But thanks to a recent Supreme Court of Canada ruling against doctor-assisted suicide that instruction may be on shaky ground and need to be revisited. And what if old age renders me so frail that I can no longer walk or take care of myself? Would I want to live? Quite possibly not. But could I leave instructions for a doctor to end my life on this mortal coil? Not legally, according to Canada’s Supreme Court.

This brings up the delicate subject everyone tries to avoid, but in a rapidly aging society, it really can’t be avoided anymore – suicide – which, of course, is illegal under the Canadian Criminal Code and with good reason. Personally, I can easily understand why someone in great pain and suffering from a terminal disease would consider any option, but there are better options out there and they should surely be considered before taking the irrevocable one.

Thanks to modern medicine and palliative care, it’s easily possible to live your last days in relative comfort surrounded by family, friends and loved ones and do so in your own home in many cases. This is the ideal option, but there are others. Interior Health operates two palliative care rooms at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital in Cranbrook and the rooms are well appointed and comfortable, just like home. The only problem is there are only two of them and there’s usually a long waiting list.

But in that case, there’s also the Cranbrook-Kimberley Hospice Society, which doesn’t have a hospice here yet, but offers a variety of services and programs, including trained volunteers that provide home visits and breaks for caregivers, as well as a bereavement support group and other services. You can reach the society toll free at: 1-855-417-2019 or get a referral through your physician.

And if you’re really doing some thinking about these issues, keep in mind a few lines from Dylan Thomas: “Though lovers be lost, love shall not. And death shall have no dominion.”

– Gerry Warner is a retired journalist and Cranbrook City Councillor. His opinions are his own.

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