Senior Citizens

Basic Aspects of the Issue

Seniors, as Dehaney notes (see below), make up 2x the national average proportion of the population in rural areas...up to 40% in some agricultural communities. This makes this section of the population a major part of the rural economic scene.

As the baby boomers retire this section of the community will take up an even greater proportion of the community mix. There is a great difference between early stage retirees and late stage seniors in terms of the types of services needed and mobility needs. Rural communities provide a varying mix of services and levels of human contact. Cutbacks in medical support is rising as a major problem for many.

As seniors move from rural municipalities, they face a choice of whether to move into the local town, or to a larger center. There are many factors at play in this decision. The choice they make affects the overall economic well being of small towns. Their presence on the farms also has increased the problems of child safety and childcare during peak work seasons, as they are no longer available for looking after children.

As the "dependency rate" (proportion of non income-producing citizens) rises in small towns, the need for workers in towns is increasingly filled by spouses of farmers, breaking down the barriers between town and farm communities.

Rural Development Institute Research Studies

• "Levels and Patterns of Consumption by Seniors in Western Manitoba" - William J. DeHaney
  This study is a check into the myths of "low income seniors" and "seniors spend less". It looked at
  • 15 categories of goods and services
  • old and young seniors (big differences seen)
  • Potential demand for services for seniors
  • spending patterns of seniors

  Among its many findings, the study notes that there is a higher percentage of money spent on basics, and that this does not vary by town size. It also notes that the biggest problem is finding household furnishings and clothing. A review of this study might be worthwhile by the many institutions serving seniors in the Westman area for insight into the situation facing them today.

• "Child Care and Child Safety for Farm Children in Manitoba" - Lois M. Brockman
  This study relates to the need for childcare on the farm now due to demographic changes and the changes in farm operations. Family size is down and retirees have gone to urban centers. Risks are up and funding for childcare is a problem. The limited periods of need and erratic hours during peak seasons, along with sparse populations call for unique rural rule sets for farm day cares.

• "Socio-Economic Linkages Between Agriculture and Rural Communities in Western Canada" - Richard Rounds
  This is a very good overview of he current interdependent dynamics of agriculture and rural communities in Western Canada. With the aging populations in small centers, farm spouses are moving in to fill labor needs in the towns, which in turn helps keep farm standard of living higher than possible otherwise. This dynamic is breaking down the older town-farm splits in social and economic dynamics.

Other Resources