No. 35 - Hospitalization of seniors

Seniors are generally far more likely than those in younger age groups to be hospitalized. Seniors, for example, were three times more likely than those aged 45-64 to be hospitalized in 1998. Hospitalization rates also rise substantially among older seniors, with people aged 75 and over 75% more likely than those 65-74 to be hospitalized that year.

Seniors also tend to stay in hospital for considerably longer periods than younger people. In 1998, the average hospital visit of seniors lasted 14 days, compared with less than 10 days per visit among all age groups under age 65.

Again, older seniors stay in hospital for longer periods than their younger counter-parts, with older senior women averaging the longest hospital stays. That year, women aged 75 and over stayed in hospital an average of 18 days per visit, compared with 14 days for their male counterparts.icted to some extent.

Hospitalization rates, by age, 1998