Chart 3 Population in couples by age group and sex, Canada, 2006
In 2006, 96% of senior women in couples were married; the remaining 4% lived in common-law unions. The number of women in common-law unions, while low, has been increasing. From 2001 to 2006, the growth of senior women in common-law unions was 54% compared with a 13% growth of senior women in couples overall. As common-law unions become more accepted by older generations, and as the population living common-law in their younger and middle adult years grow older, the number of women who live common-law in their senior years can also be expected to rise. Many seniors who lived common-law in 2006 had been previously married. Among women 65 years and over who were in a common-law union in 2006, 43% had a legal marital status of divorced or separated, 38% were widowed and 19% had never been legally married. Among senior men, these figures were 59%, 22% and 20%, respectively.
While many senior women in private households lived as part of couples in 2006, a large proportion also lived alone; this pattern became more pronounced throughout the senior years. According to 2006 Census data, a higher proportion of men lived alone than did women up until their early fifties, reflecting earlier union formation for women as well as the tendency to be younger than their spouse or partner. By their mid- to late fifties, however, this pattern reversed (Chart 4). Thirty-seven percent of women 65 years and over lived alone in 2006, more than double the 17% of senior men who did so. This gap continued to widen throughout the senior years, owing to women's greater longevity and, consequently, a higher proportion of women who were widowed. Fifty-four percent of women aged 80 and over lived alone, compared with 24% of men in that age group. Living alone during the senior years, particularly for the oldest old, could have implications, to the extent that there is more reliance on formal or informal care, and for other issues such as housing needs and finances.
Chart 4 Population who live alone by age group and sex, Canada, 2006
Besides living as part of a couple or living alone, senior women live in other types of private-household arrangements—for example, with adult children or with other relatives.10 In 2006, 7.8% of senior women lived with their adult children and 7.3% lived with relatives, as did 2.2% and 2.6% of senior men, respectively. However, living arrangements involving multiple generations sharing a home could mean that exchanges of support flow in either direction. In addition, a small percentage of both women, 1.6%, and men, 1.8%, lived only with non-relatives such as a roommate.
Many recent senior immigrant women live with relatives
Within the population of senior women exists much variation of living arrangements. Senior immigrant women and men were more likely to live with relatives, although this was more common for senior women than for men. Close to 13% of senior immigrant women lived with relatives, as did 3.4% of senior immigrant men (Table 4). Among recent immigrants—those who arrived from 2001 to 2006—the proportions were 40% and 9.5%, respectively. Most senior immigrant women arrive in the Family Class immigration stream as either parents or grandparents and are thus supported by their sponsor for 10 years. Among the non-immigrant population, 5.0% of women aged 65 years and over, and 2.3% of men in this age group, lived with relatives.
Thirty percent of senior immigrant women lived alone, compared with 40% of senior non-immigrant women. Of senior immigrant women who had arrived in the five years prior to the 2006 Census, 8.3% lived alone. The corresponding percentages for men aged 65 years and over who lived alone were less than half of the figures for senior women in each of these respective categories: 13%, 19% and 2.7%.
Extent of social network decreases with age for senior women
Network of family and friend can be a source of support and play an important role in senior's feelings of satisfaction with life as a whole.11
In 2008, almost all (98%) women aged 65 and over reported having at least one family member whom they felt close to, that is, whom they felt at ease with and could talk to about what was on their mind and whom they could ask for help (Table 5).
The size of family networks diminishes somewhat by age group. Women aged 75 and over (51%) were slightly less likely than those aged 65 to 74 (57%) to have five or more family members whom they felt close to. Similar differences are observed with respect to having close friends. Women aged 75 and over were more likely than younger women to have no friends whom they felt close to. In 2008, 10% of women aged 65 to 74 reported no close friends, compared with 15% of those aged 75 and over.
Senior women living alone reported fewer people whom they felt close to than their counterparts living in couples. More specifically, among women living alone just under half (49%) reported feeling close to five or more people within their family. By comparison, the corresponding proportion was 59% for those in couples (Table 6).
Even though they felt close to fewer people, senior women living alone were more likely than those living in couples to have more frequent daily contacts. For example, nearly one senior woman in five (18%) living alone reported getting together daily with one or more members of their friends, double the proportion recorded for women living in couples (9.2%).
Table 6 Social network characteristics of senior women and men, by living arrangement, Canada, 2008
While the majority of senior women reported that they were satisfied with their social life, those living alone were more likely to say that they missed having people around. One woman in three (33%) aged 65 and over living alone reported that they missed having people around, while for those living in couples, the corresponding proportion was 26%. However, the gap was wider for senior men: 37% of those living alone reported that they missed having people around, compared to 29% of those in couples (Table 6).
Three-quarters (75%) of senior women living alone reported that they were happy and interested in life. Nevertheless, this proportion was smaller than for women in couples (82%) and senior women in general (79%). Once again, living alone seemed to have a greater affect on senior men: 69% of men living alone reported that they were happy and interested in life, compared with 80% of those in couples.
Nearly one senior woman in three had done volunteer work
In 2008, approximately 3 in 10 senior women (32%) had done volunteer work, up from 26% in 2003. Participation in this activity decreases with age. Among women aged 75 and over, 26% reported that they had done volunteer work in the 12 months preceding the survey (Chart 5).
Chart 5 Women and men who did volunteer work, by age group, Canada, 2008
In 2008, women aged 65 to 74 were especially likely to put in a large number of hours doing volunteer work. In fact, the percentage of those who had done more than 15 hours of volunteer work per month was 35% (Chart 6). By comparison, the corresponding proportion was 16% for women aged 25 to 54.
In 2008, women aged 65 to 74 were especially likely to put in a large number of hours doing volunteer work. In fact, the percentage of those who had done more than 15 hours of volunteer work per month was 35% (Chart 6). By comparison, the corresponding proportion was 16% for women aged 25 to 54.
The proportion of senior women holding a paid job doubled in the past decade
In 2009, 6.4% of women aged 65 and over held a paid job, double the proportion that did so in 2000 (3.2%). For senior men as well, the percentage holding a paid job went up during this period, increasing from 9% in 2000 to 15% between 2000 and in 2009. The increase observed for senior women and men in the 2000s marks a break with the trends observed in previous decades (Chart 7).
Chart 7 Employment rates of women and men aged 65 years and over, Canada, 1976 to 2009
While employment rates increased for senior women, more than half of those employed (58%) worked part-time in 2009. For senior men, the corresponding proportion was 35% for the same year. Unlike women, the percentage of senior men holding a part-time job has remained stable since the mid-1990s (Chart 8).
In the past century, women's participation in the labour force has steadily increased. This trend is reflected in the declining percentage of senior women who never had paid work in their lifetime. In 1976, more than four women in 10 (42%) had never held a paid job. The proportion fell over the decades that followed, declining to 14% in 2009 (Chart 9).
Editor's Note: We're including a link to the Government Job Bank
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