Canadians to federal candidates: Ignore seniors care at your peril this election

OTTAWA, Aug. 24, 2015 /CNW/ - Almost nine in 10 (89%) Canadians think the next federal government must address the health care needs of Canada's aging population, according to polling data compiled for the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) in the 2015 National Report Card on Health Issues.

A virtually equal number (90%) agree that Canada needs a national strategy on seniors care that addresses the need for care provided at home, in hospitals, hospices and long-term care facilities, as well as end-of-life care.

Although health has not been a major issue in the first three weeks of the federal election campaign, nine in 10 respondents (90%) believe Canadians' health care needs should be an urgent priority for whoever forms the next government on Oct. 19.

"Politicians are elected to lead and now more than ever Canadians are looking for federal leadership to help develop a national seniors strategy," said CMA President, Dr. Chris Simpson.

Key findings

• Nearly nine in ten Canadians (89%) agree that whoever wins the election this fall must address the health care needs of Canada's aging population;
• Nine in ten Canadians (90%) agree that Canada needs a national strategy on seniors health care that addresses the need for care provided at home and in hospitals, hospices and long-term care facilities, as well as end-of-life care;
• The majority of Canadians (57%) agreed that how they vote in the upcoming federal election will depend, at least in part, on who has the best plan to address seniors health;
• If federal and provincial governments fail to collaborate to improve health care for the aging population, over four in five (83%) fear responsibility and costs for seniors care will fall on younger family members;
• Three in four Canadians (76%) see seniors care as a national problem requiring cooperation among governments to work closely together.

Dr. Simpson added that he and his fellow physicians will continue to press federal candidates seeking election to commit to establishing a national seniors care strategy. To that end, the CMA is urging Canadians to go to DemandAPlan.ca to join the over 22,000 people that have already signed up in support of a national seniors strategy.

For the CMA National Report Card on Health Issues, Ipsos Reid surveyed a nationally representative sample of 2,008 Canadian adults (18 and over) online between July 20th – 24th, 2015. The precision of Ipsos online polls is considered accurate to within +/ - 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) is the national voice of Canadian physicians. Founded in 1867, the CMA is a voluntary professional organization representing more than 80,000 of Canada's physicians and comprising 12 provincial and territorial medical associations and 60 national medical organizations. CMA's mission is helping physicians care for patients. The CMA will be the leader in engaging and serving physicians and be the national voice for the highest standards for health and health care.

SOURCE Canadian Medical Association

Communications, Canadian Medical Association, Email: [email protected], Tel: [phone]