CANADA: Older Canadians more prepared for dying than for living

* Survey says: Seniors a study in contradictions * Majority want to avoid nursing homes, * Few planning for independent living. TORONTO (CNW), March 5, 2008: A survey designed to provide a 'snapshot' of Canadians aged 65 to 85 released today provided some surprising results to those working on the frontlines with aging Canadians. According to the recent Living for Today - Ready for Tomorrow survey conducted by Ipsos-Reid, nine out of ten Canadians between the ages of 65 and 85 have a will, half already have a cemetery plot and 44% have a pre-arranged funeral. At the same time, much fewer are actually planning or taking the necessary steps to help ensure they're leading independent lives for as long as possible. "The survey results show a big discrepancy between seniors' desire to remain in their homes and the plans they're making to reach this goal," says Holly Quinn, Chief Nursing Officer for Bayshore Home Health, the sponsor of the survey. "It's inevitable that the health of many people in this age group will deteriorate at some point in the future, creating a need for support, different living arrangements or both. Despite this fact, the majority of seniors have not given much thought to their future needs." © 2005 CNW Group Ltd