Chronic Diseases Amongst Older Adults

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define chronic diseases as “conditions that last 1 year or more and require ongoing medical attention or limit activities of daily living or both” (CDC, n.d.). In a paper by the Public Health Agency of Canada (2021), it was stated that the prevalence of chronic diseases increases with age. Among seniors aged 85 years and older, the most common chronic diseases include hypertension, osteoarthritis, ischemic heart disease, osteoporosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2021). As modern medicine has made it possible to live longer, we are aware that it also results in increasing the risk of experiencing a chronic health condition (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2021). So, how is our healthcare system addressing the rise in chronic diseases? In an older article published by the Public Health Agency of Canada, it was stated that “not enough has been done to specifically target health promotion to them (seniors).” (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2014). Is this statement still factual today, almost 10 years since that article was published?

In my research on chronic disease management in Canada, I would like to explore whether there has been an increase in health promotion initiatives targeting the senior population to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. I found several resources that will be beneficial in this research, and I’ve included these references below. Questions I will explore are: 1) Are we providing enough education and resources to focus on health promotion activities that will reduce chronic diseases, and, 2) For those experiencing chronic diseases as older adults, do they feel they have enough support from our healthcare system to be able to effectively manage their disease? I look forward to diving more into the research on this topic!

REFERENCES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (n.d.). About chronic diseases. https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/about/index.htm

Public Health Agency of Canada. (2021, July 20). Aging and chronic diseases: A profile of Canadian seniors. Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/aging-chronic-diseases-profile-canadian-seniors-report.html

Public Health Agency of Canada. (2022, June 29). Encouraging older adults with pre-frailty and frailty to “Move Strong”: an analysis of secondary outcomes for a pilot randomized controlled trial. Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/health-promotion-chronic-disease-prevention-canada-research-policy-practice/vol-42-no-6-2022/encouraging-adults-frailty-movestrong-analysis-secondary-outcomes-pilot-randomized-controlled-trial.html

Public Health Agency of Canada. (2014, October 9). The Chief Public Health Officer’s Report on The State of Public Health in Canada 2010 – Growing older: Adding life to years. Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/corporate/publications/chief-public-health-officer-reports-state-public-health-canada/annual-report-on-state-public-health-canada-2010.html