Many Canadians think of retirement as a time filled with vacations, getaways to the cottage and spending more time on hobbies and interests. However, there are many other factors to consider when thinking about retirement savings. More and more Canadians are forgetting about some key obstacles that may change their perspective on what they actually need to save in order to retire comfortably.

Life Expectancy

Canadians are underestimating their life expectancy. Along with many societal advancements, health care technology has been one of the most improved areas in recent years. As a result, people are more aware of their health conditions, taking better care of themselves and thus, seniors are living longer.

According to Statistics Canada, Canadian males have an average life expectancy of 79 and females an average of 83. In 2000, the average life expectancy for males was 77 and females 82. On average, there is an increase of about 2-3 years on the average life expectancy of Canadian male and female every decade.

Knowing this, seniors now have to save more for their retirement than their predecessors. 4 in 10 Canadians age 55+ say there is a serious risk that they will outlive their retirement savings. While an additional 40% will still be in debt after the age of 65, according to The Vanier Institute for the Family.

The Rise of Long Term Care Cost

According to benefitscanada.com, Baby Boomers currently account for 33% of the population and 14% of Canadians are over the age of 65. Based on today’s demographics and trends, by the year 2036, 25% of the population will be over the age of 65. And according to Statistics Canada, in 2036, one in ten Canadians will require long-term care by the age of 55, three in ten Canadians by the age of 65 and five in ten by the age of 75.

Seniors requiring long-term care will incline in the next couple decades, and with that, the cost of long-term care will also be on a steady climb. Based on inflation for health care services reported by Statistics Canada, the inflation rate of long-term care costs per year since 2010 is an average of 3% per annum.

Young Adults living in the Parental Home

Is your 20-29 year old still living at home? According to the 2011 Census Report, 42.3% of over 4 million young adults between the ages of 20-29 either never left the parental home or they returned home after living elsewhere. More and more young adults are still living with their parents as a source of emotional or financial support. Some of the reasons include cultural preferences, cost of housing, aspirations for higher education or the struggles of unemployment.

These and many other factors can help you determine how much you need to save in order to live a comfortable retirement life. It is also important to understand your options when it comes to financial security. Seniors who are at least 55 years of age, and who own a home, are eligible for a reverse mortgage.

With a reverse mortgage, you can access up to 55% of the value of your home, while maintaining the ownership, never having to move or sell. There are no payments required and you can receive your tax-free cash in monthly installments, in a lump sum or a combination of both. The best part is, the loan from the reverse mortgage does not have to be repaid until the borrower passes away or moves/sells their home. You can now live comfortably knowing that this is an option for you.

Contact Dominion Lending Centres to find out what you can access from your most secure investment, your home!

Yvonne Ziomecki

HomEquity Bank – Senior Vice President, Marketing and Sales