Vi Roden, a 101-year-old resident of West Vancouver, B.C., reads 50 books a year, attends history lectures, and practices yoga twice a week. She founded a charity for survivors of sexual abuse at 65 and enjoys every day of her long life.
Joseph Novak, a 100-year-old Second World War veteran in Whitehorse, lost his eyesight but spends his days listening to music and audiobooks.
Margaret Friend, 101 and living in Hamilton, has dementia but can remember her 14 siblings, noting that she is the last one alive.
The rise in centenarian population in Canada, exemplified by individuals like Ms. Roden, Mr. Novak, and Ms. Friend, is a significant demographic shift. Statistics Canada data shows a tripling of the centenarian population from 2000 to 2023, with projections suggesting a further increase.
Experts credit improvements in healthcare and genetics for the longevity of individuals like these. However, challenges such as dementia and social isolation are prevalent among centenarians, prompting calls for policy changes.
Despite advancements in healthcare and awareness, society is still unprepared for the growing elderly population. Researchers and professionals urge for better support systems for the elderly.
Individuals like Bill Hamill, a 100-year-old war veteran in Gibsons, B.C., emphasize moderation as the key to a long life. Research shows a combination of healthy lifestyle choices and genetics contribute to reaching 100.
The global rise in centenarians mirrors the trend in Canada, where the elderly population is growing significantly. As the number of centenarians and older individuals increases, the need for better care and support for cognitive decline becomes more pressing.
Martin-Matthews highlighted the significant increase in the number of Canadians living with dementia over the next 30 years, despite a global decrease in the overall rate of dementia likely due to improved nutrition, exercise, and preventive behaviors.
During a Zoom interview, centenarian Margaret Friend shared stories from her life and talked about her favorite activities at her care home, such as bingo and bowling. Her son, Jim Friend, who attributes his mother’s longevity to good genes, noted that her memory has been declining noticeably in the past year, presenting a personal learning curve for him.
While some centenarians, like Mr. Hamill, can vividly recall past experiences, others struggle with short-term memory loss. For example, Mr. Hamill remembers his time in the military but has trouble with recent events. On the other hand, Ms. Roden, a yoga enthusiast, vividly described her 101st birthday celebration with family and a llama on a farm.
Dr. Wong emphasized the importance of lifestyle factors like exercise, socialization, and hearing health in maintaining brain health. He also highlighted the issue of social isolation among centenarians, most of whom live alone and have outlived family and friends.
As the population of centenarians grows, experts express concerns about housing and care options for this demographic, especially as their own children are aging. Mark Rosenberg stressed the need for more diverse housing options for seniors, as many face financial challenges in their later years. Ms. Martin-Matthews also underscored the need for improved care facilities and community support for elderly individuals, especially in light of the challenges highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic in long-term care homes.
Martin-Matthews highlighted the growing trend of older children, such as Mary Lou Hamill, who are caring for their elderly parents, who are also over the age of 65.
Bill Hamill, who will be 101 in August, expressed his gratitude for being able to relocate to B.C. to live with his daughter after the passing of his son and partner in Ontario. “I thought I would be staying in Toronto, but I’m glad I didn’t because I really need her,” Mr. Hamill stated about his daughter.
He looked through a photo book given to him for his 100th birthday and pointed to a black-and-white picture of himself and six young men in suits. “That was my wedding night,” he recalled, with the men being his brothers who served as his groomsmen.
“They’re all gone,” he mentioned calmly. “I come from a family of 10 children, and I was the seventh. My last brother passed away a few months ago, so I’m the last of my generation.”
Despite this, he maintained an optimistic outlook. “Right now, there’s not much to complain about other than having to get up throughout the night, but apparently that happens to most old guys,” he quipped.
Ms. Roden also finds humor in her unexpected longevity. For her, the biggest challenge of being 101 is to “stay upright.”
“When asked about growing old, I told a friend that I believe you have to approach it with grace and humor,” Ms. Roden shared. “You have to laugh at yourself sometimes. ‘I can’t do that. I can’t do this.’ Just laugh, laugh at yourself.”
And she did.
