Our population is ageing. In July of last year, the number of Canadians over 65 was 6,835,866 with an incredible 11,517 people over 100 years old! In the summer of 2019, 17.5% of people were in the senior citizen category. By 2030, it’s estimated that our country will have over 9.5 million seniors, or 23% of all people living in Canada. With this volume of elderly citizens, and life expectancies climbing, Canada’s need for senior services continues to grow. At Key West Video, we’ve seen this need and we’re helping address it through video support. Today’s blog is a look at some of the videos we’ve created with the 65+ group in mind.

Retirement Living Options

Many Canadians change their living situations as they reach retirement age. They may want to downsize from a family home to a smaller space that has less upkeep or take advantage of assistance options. Depending on needs, budget, and availability, older citizens start exploring options. Here are some of the housing situations they may consider:

• Supportive Housing. This allows for an independent living space, but also offers support. Senior services provided can include housekeeping, meal preparation, and healthcare.
• Retirement Communities. These are communities composed of seniors. Secure, independent living is combined with facilities that cater to an older population.
• Retirement Homes. This privately-run housing option offers accommodations, services, and healthcare support. Costs can vary based on the living quarters and level of care needed.
• Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities. These can be private or government supported and are similar to retirement homes. Residents of these facilities generally need a higher level of care.

Key West Video has worked with Chartwell Retirement Residences on several video projects. This cross-Canada company offers a range of housing choices for seniors, from independent retirement residences to assisted living services and long-term care. The video below is from a series we shot with personal finance educator Kelley Keehn. As part of Charwell’s expert advice series, Keehn talks about some of the government programs and tax credits that can help with retirement costs and senior services. During this short video, the viewer learns about affordability options and also sees some b-roll from Chartwell retirement residences. A video such as this helps establish Chartwell as a thought leader in the area of retirement financing, as well as showing off some facility footage.

https://keywestvideo.wistia.com/medias/elqi6kmlxx

Assistance for Seniors

Not all seniors will choose to move out of their homes. Some prefer to stay in familiar surroundings, but could benefit from some assistance. Canes Community Care is a not-for-profit organization that provides senior services for tasks in the home, provides emotional and social support, and helps clients remain part of their community. We’ve made several videos for Canes, including an explainer for Home at Last.

The video below talks about how the Home at Last service provides support for seniors after a hospital stay. By watching this video, a senior, family member, or hospital staff  can learn about the free service and how they can take advantage of it. The explainer tells the story of one senior to illustrate how Home at Last works. Using animation, it was easy to show a variety of characters in a number of situations.

https://keywestvideo.wistia.com/medias/39z5npvujz

Family Caregivers

Did you know that in Canada, there are more than eight million family caregivers? With parents and siblings getting older, many Canadians are filling this role. We created a video for Elizz about their 5 LifeStages of Caregiving Employee Program that’s designed for family caregivers. Elizz is a not-for-profit home care company born out of SE Health. The video below is about an HR program catering to employees who are working while also providing care for elderly family members.

Senior Services and Video

Finding a living situation or assistance for a senior family member can be stressful. After all, we want the very best for our loved ones. Video can help both the person searching for reliable care, and the care provider. A short video is an easy way to introduce a service. This is appealing to viewers who want an overview before deciding to read more or contact a care provider. When a care provider works with KWV, we can offer guidance on how to showcase your senior services to help those in need make an informed decision. Call us today for a free quote.