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National survey shows majority of Canadians want to 'age in place'

Ability of public healthcare to provide among major concerns

TORONTO, Dec. 7 /CNW/ - A national survey of Canadians commissioned by Living Assistance Services http://www.laservices.ca (homecare) and conducted by Acrobat Research(1) indicates that almost 80 per cent believe aging at home offers a better quality of life. Gone are the days when aging Canadians thought all their twilight years held was a stay in a nursing home. Of those polled, 70 per cent want both themselves and their parents to age gracefully in their own homes. The older people get, the more they express a desire to stay at home as they age: 65.4 per cent of 18 - 29 year olds compared to 68 per cent of 30 - 49 year olds and 71.8 of those over 50.

Canadians skeptical that healthcare system can cope

Survey results indicate that seven out of ten Canadians are not confident in the ability of their provincial healthcare system to provide for them in their senior years. The most concerned are those in British Columbia (82 per cent) with Ontarians the least concerned (61 per cent); between the two are Atlantic Canada (74 per cent) and Quebec (73 per cent). More highly educated Canadians believe public healthcare will not be adequate, as compared to those without post-secondary education (71.8 per cent contrasted with 63 per cent). Although income level did not affect attitudes about public healthcare, women aged 30 - 49 years were most strident in their concerns (76.1 per cent females versus 68.9 per cent males).

"With the senior population doubling since the early 1980s and expected to almost double again in the next 25 years, our healthcare system is stressed to the limit(2)," says David Porter, director and owner of Living Assistance Services, a Canadian company focused on high-quality homecare. "The future holds increased demands for services like ours due to the limitations of public healthcare.

If nothing changes the worst is yet to come, which is emphasized by the survey findings that show most Canadians remain naïve about the cost and effort required to take care of their loved ones."

Dislike of nursing homes

Those surveyed believe staying at home as they grow older is advantageous because of the enhanced comfort and greater independence it affords as well more familiarity with surroundings. Respondents additionally cited a general dislike of nursing homes and the desire to be close to family.

When queried about their concerns regarding the role of caregiver, respondents pointed to personal time constraints and pressures, a lack of qualifications to provide proper care and the financial impact of becoming a primary caregiver for a loved one.

Choosing a caregiver

A majority of Canadians expect to be involved in the choice of a caregiver for their aging parents. Interestingly, Quebecers are significantly less likely to be engaged in the process as compared to other regions (59.5 per cent versus a national average of 72.5 per cent).

The desire to be part of the decision making process is positively correlated to income. In households making over $60,000 per year, more than 80 per cent of respondents expressed a wish for involvement in selecting a caregiver, as opposed to about 65 per cent in households with less income.

Respondents want to ensure adequate quality of care and choose the most appropriate match for their loved one. They also want to establish a personal relationship with the caregiver and ensure that the caregiver is a responsible individual.

Need for sexual intimacy

Respondents who worried about placing family members in an institution expressed concerns about quality of care. On average, the greatest anxiety people had about institutional environments revolved around loss of control or independence, abuse and lack of personalized care.

The lack of privacy and diminished opportunities for sexual intimacy were also issues. Females were more apprehensive about abuse and lack of personal care than males.

In contrast, men are more concerned than women about the potential loss of privacy resulting in fewer opportunities for sexual relations; native French speakers demonstrated a higher level of concern than those whose primary language is English.

"The trend of Canadians demanding to age in place has grown dramatically in the ten years," says Porter. "Agencies such as ours provide a much-needed service in a country that doesn't appear equipped to deal with the needs of an aging population. With 53 per cent of Canadians not concerned about their potential role as a caregiver for aging parents or relatives, this survey will hopefully serve as a wake-up call and people will begin to recognize the financial, emotional and personal hardships involved in caring for a loved one in need of assistance."

About Living Assistance Services

Living Assistance Services is a non-medical provider of first-rate senior care. Based in Toronto, the ten-year-old company takes pride in hiring only the highest caliber of experienced, qualified caregivers and professional associates to match a senior's needs.

Employing a staff of 100, Living Assistance Services will take a limited number of clients to ensure that those in need receive the dedication and attention they require. The company has recently begun to franchise its operation across Canada. To learn more about Living Assistance Services, visit www.laservices.ca

(1) A total of 1,000 Canadians, 18 years and older were surveyed in Fall 2009. Results are accurate to within +/- 3.2 per cent, 19 times out of 20. The research was conducted by Acrobat Research, via their national telephone omnibus Omnitel, on behalf of Living Assistance Services.

(2) Source: Statistics Canada - Catalogue no. 91-520 pg. 46

What would Canadians give up to add five years to their lives?

Nearly 6-in-10 Canadians would be willing to give up beer, alcohol and wine. (Excluding Canadian Goan Men !)

TORONTO, Dec. 9 /CNW/ - Many Canadians would not be willing to give up indulgences like watching television (55 per cent), red meat (45 per cent) and alcohol (34 per cent), even if it would add five healthy years to their lives, according to a recent RBC Insurance survey.

The survey found that more than three-quarters of Canadians (76 per cent) agree that they maintain healthy eating habits most of the time. However, men appear to have less willpower when it comes to some indulgences. In fact, half of men (50 per cent) are unwilling to give up red meat to add five healthy years to their lives compared to four-in-ten women (40 per cent). Men are also less willing to give up alcohol (39 per cent) for those extra five years compared to women (28 per cent).

"The holidays are the time of year when many Canadians give in to temptation and indulge in their favourite treats," said Dr. Robert Snihura, chief medical director, RBC. "A healthier lifestyle can improve one's physical fitness, increase energy levels, help prevent illness and reduce stress, which may ultimately increase longevity."

The poll also shows that more than half of Canadians (55 per cent) feel there is too much stress in their lives, with parents particularly vulnerable to stress. Seven-in-ten (69 per cent) Canadian households with children admitted there is too much stress in their lives, compared to 51 per cent of households without kids. Stress amongst parents seems to be increasing as 57 per cent indicated that they feel more stressed and anxious than they did two years ago.

"High levels of stress can lead to increased health problems as you get older so it's important to protect your family with the right type of insurance policy," said Cathy Preston, head of Life and Health, RBC Insurance.

Canadian parents are concerned about the effects of a death or disability, as three quarters (76 per cent) of Canadians with children worry about what would happen to their family if their income dropped because of death or illness, but only 68 per cent feel like they have enough life insurance for their family's needs.

"The survey suggests that some Canadians are not confident they have enough life insurance," said Preston. "To assist them, a free online customized life insurance guide is available to help determine what type and amount of life insurance they need to protect their family's financial future."

For more information about the life insurance guide, visit www.rbcinsurance.com/guide.

About this survey

These are some of the findings of an RBC omnibus conducted by Ipsos Reid between November 2 and November 5, 2009. This online survey of 1,032 Canadian adults was conducted via the Ipsos I-Say Online Panel, Ipsos Reid's national online panel. The results are based on a sample where quota sampling and weighting are employed to balance demographics and ensure that the samples composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to Census data. With a representative sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within +/-3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Margins of error for regions will vary.

For further information: Margie McNeil, RBC Insurance, (905) 606-1425, margie.mcneil@rbc.com; Angela Gordon, RBC Insurance, (905) 816-5650, angela.gordon@rbc.com

Coffee may cut prostate cancer risk
http://www.newsonair.com/sciencenewste.asp?top1=top1

A US study suggests drinking coffee could help to cut the risk of advanced prostate cancer. It found the heaviest consumers had a 60 per cent lower risk of aggressive tumours than men who did not drink any coffee.

Coffee has an effect on the way the body breaks down sugar and also on sex hormone levels - both of which have been linked to prostate cancer.

The Harvard Medical School study was presented to an American Association for Cancer Research conference.

Canadians Embrace Greener Holiday Traditions

Many Canadians Following the New '4 Rs' of the Season: Re-Gift, Re-Design, Re-Wrap and Re-Plant

TORONTO, Dec. 9 /CNW/ - Many Canadians are instituting new Christmas traditions that have less environmental impact, according to a Waste Management survey conducted by Ipsos Reid.

Waste Management commissioned the survey to learn about Canadians' holiday habits and encourage actions that will make the season greener. "Canadians typically produce, on average, 25% more trash in the month of December than in any other month," says Wes Muir, Director of Corporate Communications, Waste Management. What's more, all the garbage produced on Christmas day can actually interfere with the festivities, as one quarter of Canadians will spend at least an hour on Christmas day packing up trash.

The survey results reveal that many wasteful holiday traditions are not as essential to seasonal fun as might be expected. Instead, Canadians are finding new ways to cut down on waste while enjoying seasonal celebrations. The new set of seasonal standards seem to be: Re-Gift, Re-Design, Re-Wrap and Re-Plant.

Re-Gift

Re-gifting may not be as taboo as once thought. One in ten (12%) adult Canadians say that they typically re-gift at least one of the gifts they receive at Christmas. In fact, one half (48%) of Canadians have re-gifted presents. All these re-gifters could be doing the environment a favour. "Finding another use for presents you don't need is not necessarily a bad thing," says Muir. "Re-gifting could prevent more items from ending up in a landfill." The key to a successful re-gifting strategy is to remove any old tags or wrapping, add personal touches where possible, and most importantly, ensure the gift goes to someone who will enjoy it.

Re-Design

One in ten Canadians toss their Christmas cards 'almost immediately' after receiving them. Christmas letters are even less popular: one in five thinks the traditional family Christmas letter is 'cheesy, annoying' and they 'wish people would stop sending them'. "Before you send out stacks of paper cards and letters, think about where they'll end up," cautions Muir. Computer software and online programs can make it easy to re-design favourite holiday greetings and images that can be sent electronically in lieu of paper cards. It seems many Canadians have already taken the hint, with 23% choosing to minimize their environmental impact by sending digital Christmas cards instead of paper cards or letters this year.

Re-Wrap

The image of pristine, ornately wrapped gifts piled high under the tree may be on its way out. "Wrapping paper can generate a large amount of waste very quickly," warns Muir. Fortunately, many Canadians are taking a greener approach by re-using wrapping paper (14%), choosing re-useable bags (24%), giving gifts that don't require wrapping (6%), or using another wrapping method (5%). While the majority (57%) of Canadians still wrap their Christmas gifts with traditional wrapping paper, 57% of those who use wrapping paper plan on recycling it. Muir advises, "If you are using traditional gift wrap, look for kinds made from recycled paper, re-use it as much as possible, and recycle it when it can no longer be used."

Re-Plant

75% of Canadians will have a tree this holiday. Among those who will have a real tree, 75% will recycle it through a local Christmas tree recycling program. Notes Muir, "Once recycled, trees can be turned into garden mulch, into erosion barriers along the beach, or used to create feeding grounds for lake fish. Even better is to buy a potted tree that can be re-planted in the spring, which will provide benefits to the environment by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen into the air." To find more information on a local Christmas tree recycling program, contact your local municipal waste management or public works office.

Waste Management is pleased to see the efforts Canadians are making to transform old ways into new environmentally friendly traditions. Says Muir, "With these small efforts, Canadians are demonstrating a commitment to preserving the environment. Waste Management encourages people to create environmentally conscious traditions this season that will make the holiday a little greener."

About Waste Management

Waste Management, based in Houston, Texas, is the leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. Our subsidiaries provide collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services. We are also a leading developer, operator and owner of waste-to-energy and landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the United States. Our customers include residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers throughout North America. To learn more visit www.wm.com  or www.thinkgreen.com .

This release contains some of the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted between November 26 and 30, 2009, on behalf of Waste Management. For this survey, a national sample of 1,015 adults from Ipsos' Canadian online panel was interviewed online. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics and ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. A survey with an unweighted probability sample of this size and a 100% response rate would have an estimated margin of error of +/-3.1 percentage points 19 times out of 20 of what the results would have been had the entire population of adults in Canada been polled. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.

For further information: Waste Management: Media: Wes Muir, (905) 483-3099, www.wm.com