Statistics Canada - Statistique Canada
Skip main navigation menuSkip secondary navigation menuHomeFrançaisContact UsHelpSearch the websiteCanada Site
The DailyCanadian StatisticsCommunity ProfilesProducts and servicesHome
CensusCanadian StatisticsCommunity ProfilesProducts and servicesOther links
More information Definitions Upcoming releases Disability among persons aged 65 and over Disability among working-age adults (aged 15 to 64) Profile of disability among adults Profile of disability among children Prevalence of disability in Canada PDF version Catalogue number Main page

Disability among persons aged 65 and over

Mobility problems affect eight in ten seniors with disabilities
Mobility problems more common among women 65 and over
Memory problems: the less visible disability most widespread among adults aged 65 and over
Men more likely than women to be limited by memory problems
Tables

Mobility problems affect eight in ten seniors with disabilities

Mobility problems affect more than 1,1 million persons aged 65 and over, or nearly eight persons in ten with disabilities. Nationally, 23.3% of adults aged 65 to 74 reported having mobility problems, and the rate climbed to 42.9% for those 75 and over.

Table: Prevalence of mobility-related disability among adults aged 65 years and over, by age group and sex, Canada, 2001. Opens new browser window. Prevalence of mobility-related disability among adults aged 65 years and over, by age group and sex, Canada, 2001

 

Mobility problems more common among women 65 and over

Women are more likely to have mobility difficulties. Among those with a disability, nearly 84% had difficulty moving about. By comparison, 70% of men with disabilities aged 65 and over reported having mobility problems. Notwithstanding the fact that the average age of women is certainly greater than that of men in that same age group, there is a substantial difference between the sexes.

 

Memory problems: the less visible disability most widespread among adults aged 65 and over

Activity limitations related to memory problems are often associated with aging. Among adults aged 65 and over, 153,000 persons reported being limited by memory problems or periods of confusion, representing 4.3% of Canadian seniors. Among seniors with disabilities, one person in ten reported having limitations in everyday activities related to memory problems. The proportion of persons with this disability increases with age up to age 85. From that point on, PALS results show a slight decline in activity limitations due to memory problems but this drop is not significant.

 

Men more likely than women to be limited by memory problems

Men with disabilities aged 65 and over are more likely to be limited in their activities by memory problems (12.5%), compared to women with disabilities in the same age group (9.1%). However, the difference between the sexes was not significant among adults aged 85 and over.



Home | Search | Contact Us | Français Return to top of page
Date Modified: 2003-04-04 Important Notices