Abstract:

The form of mandatory retirement that has accompanied industrial development in Canada leads to a misuse of human & material resources throughout the life cycle. It arose primarily out of the needs of employers, not the needs of the retired. This basic function is reflected in pension schemes that only benefit long-term male employees. Thus women, who are perceived as making a negligible contribution to the economy, suffer financial insecurity in old age. The social problems resulting from these economic considerations are then defined as individual failure. This definition in turn influences the design of services developed for the elderly.