Understanding quality of life among persons with disabilities in Canada: Material and social well-being / Comprendre la qualité de vie des personnes ayant une incapacité au Canada : bien-être matériel et social

[u/StatCanada]

Almost two-thirds (64%) of persons with disabilities reported being lonely, with women (67%) reporting higher rates of loneliness than men (60%). Research shows that housebound individuals are at an elevated risk of social isolation and loneliness, driven primarily by limited opportunities for social engagement.

Using data from the 2022 Canadian Survey on Disability, our new study, titled “Understanding quality of life among persons with disabilities in Canada: Material and social well-being,” summarizes selected quality of life indicators among persons with disabilities in Canada to capture a wide scope of material and social well-being. These indicators are being in core housing need, experiencing food insecurity, being housebound and experiencing loneliness.

---

Près des deux tiers (64 %) des personnes ayant une incapacité ont déclaré se sentir seules, et les femmes (67 %) ont déclaré des taux de solitude plus élevés que les hommes (60 %). Les recherches montrent que les personnes confinées à la maison présentent un risque accru d’isolement social et de solitude, principalement en raison des possibilités limitées de participer à des activités sociales.

Notre nouvelle étude, intitulée « Comprendre la qualité de vie des personnes ayant une incapacité au Canada : bien-être matériel et social », s’appuie sur les données de l’Enquête canadienne sur l’incapacité de 2022. L’étude résume certains indicateurs de qualité de vie chez les personnes ayant une incapacité au Canada pour tenir compte d’un large éventail de facteurs liés au bien-être matériel et social. Ces indicateurs sont le fait d’avoir des besoins impérieux en matière de logement, l’insécurité alimentaire, le confinement à la maison et la solitude.

[u/purplemetalflowers]

Not a surprise considering we still don't have adequate accessibility laws nor adequate income supports for ppl too disabled to work.  There simply  aren't enough accessible spaces or accessible transportation options, especially outside major cities, and many disabled folk don't have the financial means to participate in social activities. 

[u/unfortunatelyapotato → u/purplemetalflowers]

right like no shit disabled people are lonely do they realize how exhausting it is constantly trying to get your basic needs med while navigating literal and metaphorical barriers to absolutely every aspect of day to day life.

[u/TheKeg → u/unfortunatelyapotato]

add to that modern "dating". mention being disabled in your profile, matches/likes drop like a rock. mention it while chatting and suddenly ghosted

[u/unfortunatelyapotato → u/TheKeg]

yeeee and then even if someone was up for it trying to find the energy + money to go out with another person when you're broke af from being disabled

[u/wysticlipse]

When your entire monthly income is less than 600$ a month (Newfoundland rates for reference) and it basically costs money to go stand outside if you don't want to be harassed by cops for loitering, is it any wonder why we're lonely?

Especially if you're in a smaller town where the only public transport is cab and so the barrier to even *leaving the house* is anywhere from 10-50$.

[u/Hananners]

Existing is expensive. Housing right now is more expensive than what the gov't allots for an entire month's amount, even just outside the small town I was forced to moved to. I can't afford to move into another space, so I'm stuck living in a situation that I'd like to get away from. I'm essentially stranded if the buses don't run, which happens all too frequently. I can't even afford to rent a studio apartment on disability, which is absurd.

And I consider myself lucky, because before I moved here I was homeless for 2 years. I now have a roof over my head and access to a family doctor in town, but I'm still incredibly isolated and trapped living with someone I want to get away from.

There is a desperate need for subsidized housing, and a disability stipend that actually covers the cost of food and shelter. I can barely work and am past burnout just to keep alive. 

[u/FiRe_McFiReSomeDay]

Is that statistically significantly more than people without disabilities?

[u/rhionaeschna → u/FiRe_McFiReSomeDay]

Yep. My lonliness is worse now than it was prior to disability.

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/211124/dq211124e-eng.htm

[u/FiRe_McFiReSomeDay → u/rhionaeschna]

Thanks, looks like 3/10 = Sometimes , in the general population.

[u/rhionaeschna → u/FiRe_McFiReSomeDay]

Theres another Stats Can publication specifically on mental disabilities also having higher than average numbers lonliness. I think any life circumstance that makes you feel isolated is going to cause lonliness for many. Disability definitely is isolating.

[u/PedalOnBy]

This would be a lot more useful if compared to the general population.