Issues and options for an aging population : Special Senate Committee on Aging second interim report

Extract from the Journals of the Senate of Thursday, February 28, 2008: Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Carstairs, P. C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Cowan: That, notwithstanding the order of the Senate adopted on November 1, 2007, the date for the presentation of the final report by the Special Senate Committee on Aging on the implications of an aging society in Can [...] We discuss issues such as the adequacy of pension income, the active engagement of seniors in the life of the community, and how policy supports the transitions – often near the end of life – to frailty and disability. [...] The other topic is population aging, where the focus in on the policy implications of the changing age structure and size of the population. [...] Discussions here tend to focus on the fiscal consequences of population aging, the social and economic effects of an older workforce and of changes in the ratio of consumers to producers, issues related to lifelong learning and to the timing and gradualness of transitions to retirement.3 The terms of reference for the Committee fit more neatly within the first set of questions. [...] The issues and options outlined in this interim report also reflect that aging is a life-long process, and that some of the options to improve health and well-being among seniors need to be implemented throughout each stage of life, and not only in the senior years.