Ah, ageism, the fine art of stereotyping
Ah, ageism,
the fine art of stereotyping an entire group of people because, well, who needs
individuality when you can make sweeping generalizations? Lately, the media has
been having a field day discussing how affluent seniors have become. Some in
the media have even dubbed us “Old. Rich. Spoiled.” Quite the
compliment, I must say.
Let’s take a
moment to appreciate the riveting statistics Canada has to offer. According to Stats
Canada, in 2020, the total median income of Canadian senior citizens aged 65
years and over amounted to $32,020 Canadian dollars. and 25% of seniors earn an
income of less than $21,000. Hold on to your pearls, because 50% of Canadian
seniors are living on less than that, with the majority of them braving the
solitude of living alone. Meanwhile, those youthful whippersnappers are
enjoying a median income of, $51,170 for the prime working-age population,
often in the luxurious embrace of a two-person household, where costs are
conveniently split. How utterly unfair!
Now, don’t
you dare forget about the impoverished souls in British Columbia. Our Senior
Advocate, claims that over 52,000 seniors in that province
are barely surviving on a measly $16,300 per year. How they manage to scrape by
is truly a mystery. Sure, some may argue that low-income seniors live in homes
without mortgages, but let’s not overlook those property taxes, insurance, and
maintenance costs that just love to devour their fixed income. And let’s not
forget the joy of being a part of the 20% of senior households that are rented,
facing annual increases on their stagnant income. It’s a real party.
But wait,
there’s more! Seniors also get to revel in the delightful realm of healthcare
costs. Need drugs? Mobility aids? Dental care? Eyeglasses or hearing aids?
Well, tough luck, my friend. Seniors bear the full brunt of those expenses,
with no workplace benefits to soften the blow.
Sure,
seniors might have some wealth squirrelled away, but let’s not forget they’re
required to actually generate an income from it. Unlike those lucky ducks who
receive their income from Employment and can watch their wealth compound
effortlessly. Life just isn’t fair, is it?
But hey,
it’s not all doom and gloom. Seniors also happen to make some pretty impressive
contributions to society. They volunteer like there’s no tomorrow, bless their
generous souls. And let’s not forget the millions of hours of care they provide
to their spouses and sometimes even their parents. Can you imagine the horror
if they didn’t step up? The cost to the government would be downright
staggering! In fact, unpaid caregivers over 65 save the Canadian healthcare
system an estimated four billion dollars. Cha-ching!
And guess
what? Seniors don’t just stop at unpaid labour, they’re also quite generous with
their wallets. In B.C., seniors are oh-so-kindly required to part with 80% of
their income for the privilege of residential care, up to a maximum of
$3092.66. But that’s not all! They also graciously offer up 70% of their income
for government-subsidized assisted living, with the maximum amount varying
based on local market conditions. And as if that weren’t enough, they even get
to co-pay the costs of their home support on a sliding scale, all based on
their income. Isn’t that just delightful?
So, you see,
dear friends, seniors are a truly unique bunch. Some have Money, some don’t.
Some are in good health, while others aren’t so fortunate. Some give back to
their communities, while others… well, let’s just say they’re not as
dedicated. But what matters most is that we value their uniqueness, just like
we do with those not yet burdened by the grand old age of 65. Let’s make sure
no one gets left behind and create a society that embraces one and all. Cheers
to that!
Originally Published on https://boomersnotsenior.blogspot.com/
