Spotlight on Vulnerable Seniors in Vancouver

Information taken from an Infographic by Sparc BC (Social Planning and Research Council of BC) and United Way of Lower Mainland

 ·       Between 2001-2011, the seniors’ population increased from 70,335 to 81,930. (an increase of 16%)

·       Between 2001-2011, the number of people over the age of 100 increased from 95 to 165 seniors. (an increase of 74%)

·       Between 2001-2011, the number of seniors living alone increased from 20,030 to 21,575. (an increase of 8%)

·       In 2011, the Vancouver Health Service Delivery Area found that 26% of seniors had per-ceived their health as fair to poor.

·       Between 2000-2010, 3,345 new immigrant seniors settled in Vancouver.

·       One-third senior households spend 30% or more of their income on housing. Between 2006-2011, this number rose from 12,635 to 14,025 seniors. (an 11% increase in seniors at risk of losing their homes.)

·       Between 2009-2012, the number of seniors and persons with disabilities (PWD) on BC Housing’s social housing waitlist in-creased from 1,575 to 2,172 people. (a 38% increase)

·       In 2011, 15,190 seniors lived on a low income. Seniors living alone had after-tax incomes of approximately $19,500 or less. Seniors living in couples had after-tax incomes of approximately $27,250 or less. (one in five seniors live on a low income)

·       Between 2001-2011, the number of seniors who could not speak English increased from 15,755 to 17,740 seniors. (23% of seniors cannot speak English)

·       In 2011, Cantonese (12,305) and Mandarin (9,410) were the most commonly spoken languages among seniors other than English. (63% of seniors do not speak English as their first language)