Aboriginal Peoples Survey, 2012
Aboriginal seniors in population centres in Canada Aboriginal Peoples Survey, 2012
Aboriginal seniors in population centres in Canada

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by Vivian O'Donnell (Statistics Canada), Michael Wendt (Statistics Canada) and the National Association of Friendship Centres

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Setting the context

As the 'baby boom' generation moves into its senior years, there is much attention and focus upon Canada's aging population. However when it comes to the Aboriginal population in particular, focus more often falls upon youth rather than seniors given the relatively young Aboriginal population. In 2011, only 6% of Aboriginal people were seniors (65 years and over) while seniors comprised 14% of the non-Aboriginal population. High fertility rates combined with higher mortality in the Aboriginal population over the last several decades have resulted in this youthful age structure.^{Note 1}

However, there is a trend towards aging. (Chart 1) The number of Aboriginal seniors in Canada more than doubled from 2001 to 2011 to reach 82,690. Seniors comprised 4% of the Aboriginal population in 2001; this was up to 6% in 2011. According to recently released population projections, this demographic trend towards aging is expected to continue in the coming decades.^{Note 2} This aging is partly due to increasing life expectancies. Further, while fertility rates of the Aboriginal population remain higher than the non-Aboriginal population, they are also on the decline.^{Note 3}

Not only is there a demographic trend towards aging in the Aboriginal population, there is also an increasing number and percentage of Aboriginal seniors living in population centres. In 2001, most Aboriginal seniors were living in rural or reserve communities, with 43% living in population centres. In 2011, the percentage of Aboriginal seniors living in population centres surpassed the halfway mark to reach 52%.^{Note 4}

There is limited research available about Aboriginal seniors in population centres. A better understanding of their needs and circumstances could assist in the development of policies and programs in a wide variety of areas such as health care, care giving, and financial circumstances. In order to address this information gap, this study provides a statistical profile of Aboriginal seniors living in private households in population centres in Canada, including their socio-economic conditions and health status.

Aboriginal seniors include First Nations, Métis and Inuit seniors 65 years and over. In 2011, 46% of Aboriginal seniors living in population centres reported being First Nations, 45% were Métis, and 3% were Inuit. Only 1% reported belonging to more than one Aboriginal group (for example, First Nations and Métis). In this study, the Aboriginal senior population also includes seniors who did not report being First Nations, Métis or Inuit, but who reported that they had registered Indian status and/or band membership (about 5% of Aboriginal seniors in population centres).

A population centre is an area with a population of at least 1,000 persons and no fewer than 400 persons per square kilometre. In this study, only off-reserve population centres were included.^{Note 5} Population centres are classified into three groups, depending on the size of their population: small (1,000 to 29,999), medium (30,000 and 99,999), and large urban population centres (100,000 or more). Of Aboriginal seniors living in population centres in 2011, 52% were living in large urban population centres, 32% in small population centres, and the remaining 16% were in medium population centres.

It is important to note that findings presented in this study refer to Aboriginal seniors who were living in private households only, and do not include those living in collective dwellings (such as nursing homes and seniors' residences).

More than half of Aboriginal seniors live in population centres in 2011

In 2011, there were 43,130 Aboriginal seniors living in population centres. While this is a relatively small population, it is growing. From 2001 to 2006, the number of Aboriginal seniors in population centres increased by 57%. The growth rate for the non-Aboriginal senior population in population centres over the same time period was 11%. High growth rates in the Aboriginal population were also observed from 2006 to 2011, with a 61% increase in the total number of Aboriginal seniors in population centres. (Table 1)

In general, the percentage of Aboriginal people living in population centres, as opposed to rural or reserve communities, has been increasing over time. Likewise, the percentage of Aboriginal seniors living in population centres has been increasing. While the percentage of Aboriginal seniors living in population centres has now increased to more than half (52%), they remain less likely to live in population centres compared to non-Aboriginal seniors. In 2011, 80% of non-Aboriginal seniors were living in population centres. (Chart 2)

Compared to their younger counterparts, Aboriginal seniors were less likely to live in population centres. In 2011, among the Aboriginal working age population (25 to 54 years), 59% were living in population centres compared to 52% of Aboriginal seniors.

In general, women outnumber men in the senior population. In 2011, this was true in both the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations, where women represented 55% and 54% of seniors, respectively. This was more pronounced in population centres: in 2011, 58% of Aboriginal seniors, and 56% of non-Aboriginal seniors, were women.

Most Aboriginal seniors in population centres live with family members

In 2011, 64% of Aboriginal seniors in population centres were living with family members – either with their married spouse or common-law partner (50%), as a lone parent^{Note 6} (8%), or with other relatives (6%). The remaining 36% were not living with family members – they were living alone (32%) or with non-relatives only (4%).

In 2011, living with a spouse or partner was the most common living arrangement for both Aboriginal senior women (40%) and men (65%). However, almost as many Aboriginal senior women were living alone (38%) as were living with a spouse or partner. (Chart 3) Among non-Aboriginal seniors – 46% of women and 76% of men were living with a spouse or partner, and 37% of women and 17% of men were living alone.

Aboriginal seniors living with grandchildren

In general, Aboriginal senior women started having children at younger ages than women currently of childbearing age. According to the 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Survey (APS), 44% of Aboriginal senior women currently living in population centres were in their teen years when they gave birth to their first child. It would likely follow then that they would become grandparents at relatively young ages as well.

Using available data sources, it is not possible to identify the population of grandparents as a whole. However, it is possible to identify grandparents living with grandchildren, and this group can be expressed as a proportion of the overall population 65 years and over.^{Note 7} In population centres, 22% of Inuit seniors, 10% of First Nations seniors, and 6% of Métis seniors were grandparents living with at least one grandchild in 2011. This is compared to 7% of their non-Aboriginal counterparts.

Seniors who live with their grandchildren can be living in a skip-generation household, or a multigenerational household. A skip-generation household refers to a household containing one or more grandparents and grandchildren, and no parents. A multigenerational household refers to a household containing three or more generations of grandparents, parents and children. In 2011, compared to their non-Aboriginal counterparts, higher percentages of Aboriginal seniors in population centres were living in skip-generation households. (Chart 4)

Many Aboriginal seniors report being long-time residents of their population centre

Generally speaking, there are higher rates of residential mobility in population centres. In 2011, more than half (54%) of Aboriginal residents of population centres reported living at a different address five-years before the survey. In contrast, 26% of Aboriginal residents of reserve communities and 33% in rural areas reported that they were living at a different address five years previous to the survey.

Seniors are less likely to change residences than their younger counterparts. In 2011, 26% of Aboriginal seniors in population centres reported that they were living in a different residence five years before (16% within the same city/town and 10% in a different city/town). By comparison, 58% of Aboriginal people aged 25 to 54 years old in population centres reported living at a different address five years before (36% in same city/town and 22% in a different city/town). (Chart 5)

According to the 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Survey (APS), many Aboriginal seniors in population centres have been long-time residents: 27% of Aboriginal seniors in population centres reported that they had lived in their current city, town or community all their life, and 52% reported that they had moved there more than 10 years before.

In addition, the 2012 APS found that among First Nations seniors with registered Indian status living in population centres, 40% had previously lived on a reserve or in a First Nation community.

About one in four Aboriginal seniors in population centres in a low-income situation

In 2011, 23% of Aboriginal seniors living in population centres were in a low-income situation, compared to 13% of non-Aboriginal seniors.^{Note 8} A higher percentage of Aboriginal senior women were part of the low-income population compared to Aboriginal senior men – 26% compared to 18%. (In the non-Aboriginal population, women were also more likely to be in a low-income situation – 16% compared to 9%.) (Chart 6)

Data showed that there is a relationship between low-income and living arrangements. Higher percentages of those who lived alone were part of the low-income population compared to those who were living with a spouse or partner. In 2011, a relatively high percentage of Aboriginal senior women (38%) were living alone. Almost half of these women (49%) were part of the low-income population. (Chart 7)

Almost one in ten Aboriginal seniors in population centres report experiencing food insecurity

Food insecurity exists within a household when one or more members do not have access to the variety or quantity of food that they need due to lack of money. "Researchers have found that people who experience food insecurity also tend to report: poor or fair health, poor functional health, or an inability to perform key activities due to health problems, long-term physical and/or mental disabilities that limit activity at home, work or school, multiple chronic conditions, major depression [and] a perceived lack of social support."^{Note 9}

In 2012, 9%^E of Aboriginal seniors living in population centres reported low or very low food security compared to 2% of non-Aboriginal seniors. Food insecurity is experienced by higher percentages of their younger counterparts – among Aboriginal people in population centres, 25% of Aboriginal youth (15 to 24 years old) and those in the working age population (25 to 54 years) reported low or very low food security. (Chart 8)

Compared to young people, Aboriginal seniors have lower levels of formal schooling

Overall, more than half (54%) of Aboriginal seniors in 2011 reported no formal schooling qualifications (no certificate, diploma or degree). In population centres, this was slightly lower at 47% with no certificate, diploma or degree.

In both the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations, seniors had lower rates of formal education than young people. In 2011, the percentage of those 25 and over with no certificate, diploma or degree was higher with each subsequent age group. The education gaps between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in population centres remained fairly consistent in all age groups. (Chart 9)

Percentage of Aboriginal seniors in population centres with a paid job almost doubled from 2001 to 2011

In 2011, 13.2% of Aboriginal seniors in population centres held a paid job, almost double the proportion that did so in 2001 (6.8%). The employment rate of Aboriginal seniors in 2011 (13.2%) was slightly higher than that of non-Aboriginal seniors (11.5%).

Employed Aboriginal senior men in population centres worked primarily in 'trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations' (33%) and 'sales and service' occupations (24%). The most common occupations for employed Aboriginal senior women in population centres were 'sales and service occupations' (31%) and 'business, finance and administration occupations' (25%). These were also the occupations most commonly reported by employed non-Aboriginal senior men and women.

About one in ten Aboriginal seniors in population centres can carry on a conversation in an Aboriginal language

In 2011, about 6% of Aboriginal people living in population centres could speak and understand an Aboriginal language well enough to conduct a conversation. This percentage was 11% for Aboriginal seniors in population centres. Higher percentages of First Nations seniors (16%) and Inuit seniors (42%) in population centres could carry on a conversation in an Aboriginal language, compared to Métis seniors (5%).

Overall, Cree was the most commonly spoken Aboriginal language in population centres in 2011, with a total of 18,440 speakers overall.^{Note 10} This was followed by Inuktitut (10,780) and Ojibway (7,330). Among Aboriginal seniors specifically, Cree, Inuktitut and Ojibway remain the most commonly spoken Aboriginal languages in population centres.

The 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Survey (APS) collected information about proficiency from those who could speak or understand an Aboriginal language, "even if only a few words". The percentage of people in population centres who reported being able to speak an Aboriginal language 'even if only a few words' was approximately one-third in each of the age groups – 34% of 15 to 24 year olds, 37% of 25 to 54 year olds, 34% of 55 to 64 year olds, and 33% of those 65 years and over.

However, the differences between the age groups emerged when considering the ratings of ability. About 13% of Aboriginal seniors reported being able to speak 'very well' or 'relatively well' compared to 4% of 15 to 24-year olds, 6% of 25 to 54 year olds, and 9% of 55 to 64 year olds. (Chart 10)

In 2012, 44% of Aboriginal seniors in population centres reported that speaking and understanding an Aboriginal language was 'very' or 'somewhat' important to them. This was lower than the percentage of youth 15 to 24 years (51%) and those of working age 25 to 54 years (52%).

Compared to youth, higher percentage of Aboriginal seniors lacking social support

Research has shown that social participation and social supports are important to the health and well-being of seniors, including reduced risk of mortality,^{Note 11} disability,^{Note 12} and depression.^{Note 13} The 2012 APS included the question: "Who would you turn to for support in times of need?" Most Aboriginal seniors in population centres reported that they had someone to turn to for support – 73% reported family members such as a spouse, son, or daughter, 7% reported non-relatives such as friends, neighbours or coworkers, and 12% named both family members and non-relatives. The remaining 8% of Aboriginal seniors in population centres reported having no one to turn to for support in times of need. This was higher than the percentage of youth aged 15 to 24 (2%). (Chart 11)

Self-rated health status

In the 2012 APS, 31% of Aboriginal senior women and 34% of Aboriginal senior men rated their health as 'excellent' or 'very good.' Generally, the percentage of people who report excellent or very good health decreases with age. When compared to 2001, the percentage of Aboriginal senior women and men who reported excellent or very good health has increased. (Chart 12)

Most Aboriginal seniors report having at least one chronic condition

In 2012, 88% of Aboriginal senior women in population centres reported having been diagnosed with at least one chronic condition.^{Note 14} This was slightly higher than for men, at 86%. Not surprisingly, as age increases, the rate reporting having at least one chronic condition increases, with similar patterns between men and women. (Chart 13)

In 2012, high blood pressure and arthritis (excluding fibromyalgia) were the most commonly reported chronic conditions by Aboriginal seniors in population centres. About half of both Aboriginal senior men (50%) and Aboriginal senior women (51%) reported being diagnosed with high blood pressure. However, higher percentages of women (61%) reported being diagnosed with arthritis compared to men (37%) (Table 2). Among non-Aboriginal seniors, women were also more likely than men to be diagnosed with arthritis.

Conclusion

The Aboriginal population is a young population, with many children and youth and relatively few seniors. In 2011, the age structure of the non-Aboriginal population was such that seniors (65 years and over) and children (under 15 years) comprised relatively similar proportions – 14% were seniors and 17% were children. By contrast, in the Aboriginal population, 6% were seniors while children accounted for more than quadruple this share, at 28%. However, there is a trend towards aging in the Aboriginal population which is expected to continue in the coming decades.^{Note 15}

In 2001, most Aboriginal seniors were living in rural or reserve communities;^{Note 16} however, by 2011, more than half of Aboriginal seniors (52%) were living in population centres. This study provided a brief statistical portrait of this growing population. Data revealed that most Aboriginal seniors in population centres were living in a family context, either as part of a couple, with their own children, or with other family members. However, compared to their male counterparts, relatively high percentages of Aboriginal senior women in population centres were living alone (38% of women, compared to 24% of men). Data also show that compared to their non-Aboriginal counterparts, higher percentages of Aboriginal seniors in population centres were part of the low-income population and had experienced food insecurity. Increasing numbers of Aboriginal people in population centres are working into their senior years, with the percentage of Aboriginal seniors in population centres holding a paid job almost doubling since 2001. Many Aboriginal seniors in population centres were facing health challenges, with the majority reporting having been diagnosed with at least one chronic condition. These findings point to a number of areas that should be considered when planning future programs and services to best support Aboriginal seniors in population centres.

This profile is limited to Aboriginal seniors living in private households. Aboriginal seniors living in collective dwellings, such as nursing homes or seniors' residences have been excluded. This is an important consideration when studying the senior population. According to the 2011 census, 7.9% of seniors in Canada were living in collective dwellings. Qualitative studies have discussed how many Aboriginal seniors are leaving rural and remote communities and moving to population centres to access care and services unavailable in their communities, including nursing homes, chronic care or long-term care hospitals.^{Note 17,Note 18} However, currently there is no data collected specific to the Aboriginal population living in collective dwellings. This is a data gap that warrants further research and exploration.

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Notes