Senior women and men spend their time in different ways

This table displays the results of Participation rate and time spent on selected activities Participation rate, Average time spent (participants), Men (ref.) and Women, calculated using percent, minutes and hours units of measure (appearing as column headers).
	Participation rate		Average time spent (participants)
	Men (ref.)	Women	Men (ref.)	Women	Men (ref.)	Women
	percent		minutes		hours
Paid work	13	6	398	343	6.6	5.7
Unpaid household work	83	91	177	209	2.9	3.5
Meal preparation	61	76	78	91	1.3	1.5
Indoor cleaning	33	68	75	122	1.2	2.0
Outdoor cleaning/maintenance	30	10	166	99	2.8	1.7
Other unpaid work	28	34	86	80	1.4	1.3
Shopping for goods and services	36	39	82	87	1.4	1.4
Active pursuits	75	77	213	209	3.6	3.5
Engaging in civic, religious and organizational activities	8	10	119	131	2.0	2.2
Socializing and communicating	37	46	135	135	2.2	2.2
Engaging in cultural activities	3	4	138	156	2.3	2.6
Engaging in leisure and physical activities	44	39	132	133	2.2	2.2
Using technology	30	27	129	110	2.1	1.8
Passive leisure activities	92	89	291	276	4.9	4.6
Watching television or videos	87	82	255	235	4.2	3.9
Listening to music and radio	6	3	104	109	1.7	1.8
Reading	35	41	119	119	2.0	2.0
Sleeping	100	100	542	544	9.0	9.1
Source: Statistics Canada, General Social Survey, 2015.

Senior women and men spend their time in different ways. This suggests that gender differences in paid and domestic work persist among seniors, even though they have generally transitioned out of employment and parental roles. For example, the participation rate for paid work among senior men (i.e., the proportion of persons who reported having done an activity on an average day) was 13% versus 6% for senior women.

There are also differences in unpaid household work. The participation rate for senior women was 91% versus 83% for senior men. Further examination of unpaid household work showed differences in the participation rates for certain activities. For example, senior women are two times more likely than senior men (68% versus 33%) to do some indoor cleaning during the day, and they are also more likely to engage in meal preparation than their male counterparts (76% versus 61%). At the same time, women aged 65 and over reported spending, on average, significantly more time on these activities. For instance, senior women spent an average of 47 more minutes per day on indoor cleaning and 13 more minutes on meal preparation.

Factors that affect the time use of seniors 1

Seniors are increasing as a percentage of the population. According to the 2016 Census, there were 5.9 million seniors in Canada, which accounted for 16.9% of the total population. In comparison, there were 2.4 million seniors in 1981 or 10% of the population.

The first baby boomers turned 65 in 2011, which has led to the largest increase (+20%) in the number of seniors in Canada in 70 years. In addition, although they represent a relatively small proportion of the overall senior population, centenarians were the fastest-growing population between 2011 and 2016 (+41%). The overall population in Canada, in comparison, grew by 5% during the same period.

As a result of the rapid increase in the number of seniors, 2016 marked the first time that the census enumerated more seniors than children aged 14 and under.

The proportion of the population aged 65 and over is also expected to continue to increase over the coming decades and, by 2031, there may be as many as 9.6 million seniors in Canada, which would represent 23% of the total population. An ageing population has important implications as more Canadians are receiving an old age pension and are seeking health care and services, while housing and transportations needs are also changing. As a result, understanding the factors associated with time use among this growing population can provide information for policymakers to develop long-term strategies.

Another important factor is that the senior population is increasingly female, given that women have a longer life expectancy than men. According to the 2016 Census, among seniors (aged 65 and over), the number of women exceeded the number of men by more than 20%, while there were two women for every man in the population aged 85 and over.

Housework is defined as exercise, so it in good to see that both men and women are engaging in this type of physical activity. In 2015, 91% of senior women (aged 65 and over) engaged in unpaid household work on a typical day, compared with 83% of senior men. When they engaged in unpaid household work, senior women also spent more time on such activities (3.5 hours a day) than senior men did (2.9 hours).

About three-quarters of men and women aged 65 and over engaged in other active pursuits such as socializing and using technology, spending approximately 3.5 hours doing so on a typical day. A further 9 in 10 seniors also engaged in passive leisure activities such as watching television and reading.

Factors that affect the time use of seniors include age, sex, employment status, educational attainment and living arrangements. Older seniors, for example, spend more time on passive leisure activities (e.g., watching television and reading) and sleep more than younger seniors.

Health status also affects seniors’ participation in some activities. Seniors who reported that their health was poor or fair were less likely to participate in socializing and reading, as well as civic, religious and organizational activities than those who said that their health status was excellent or very good.

Between 1986 and 2015, the participation rate of senior women in active pursuits declined, from 77% to 69%. In addition, both senior men and women decreased their average time spent on active pursuits over the period, by 35 minutes and 40 minutes a day, respectively.

How do you spend your time?

A growing body of research is examining how older Canadians spend their time.  Over the next few posts, I will take a look at the research put out by Stats Canada on this issue. The findings are important because in Canada people are retiring later and living longer. For example, the 2016 Census showed that more people are working past the age of 65: nearly 1 in 5 Canadians aged 65 and over reported working at some point during the previous year, which was almost double the proportion in 1995.

Understanding how my generation spend our time is essential as many of us continue to contribute to society in other ways (such as volunteering and caregiving)—our contributions do not end when we are no longer formally employed. Research has found that those of us who volunteer give more hours than those in any other age group. Our generation is more likely to engage in charitable giving and, although we are the least common group of caregivers, we are the most likely to spend the greatest number of hours providing care.

Once my age group retires, what are we doing with our free time? We could be using our time to volunteer, exercise or travel or we could be spending our post-retirement years in a more inactive way. Existing research has shown that, as we age, there is a definite shift in time allocation from paid work to leisure activities. It is also important to note that, according to this research, part of that increase can be attributed to more passive leisure activities and not necessarily active pursuits. In addition, existing health research has found that many of us spend the most time on sedentary activities.

Existing research shows the importance of being socially engaged throughout the ageing process. Ageing is a transitional period when people experience changes not only in physical health but also in social roles that can influence how seniors organize their time and social activities. Social engagement in meaningful activities and maintaining close relationships is important for many older adults. Maintaining connections to family and friends, however, may be more difficult for my generation, because our social networks become smaller with age.

'' BANANAS...'' A very few interesting FACTS?

This is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again, but as always check your facts, just in case you make a monkey of yourself.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fibre. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

DEPRESSION:
According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS:
Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

ANEMIA:
High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

BLOOD PRESSURE:
This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

BRAIN POWER:
200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school (England) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brainpower. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

CONSTIPATION:
High in fibre, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

HANGOVERS:
One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

HEARTBURN:
Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

MORNING SICKNESS:
Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

MOSQUITO BITES:
Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

NERVES:
Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found the pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

ULCERS:
The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

TEMPERATURE CONTROL:
Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has FOUR TIMES the protein, TWICE the carbohydrate, THREE TIMES the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A BANANA a day keeps the doctor away!'

PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS...
PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with a dry cloth. Amazing fruit !!!

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!