Canadian children often get excited about going to Grandma's house: a warm, cozy, nurturing place where there are always treats, and transgressions are easily forgiven. But how often do you hear a child speak of going to Grandpa's? Are grandpas sterner or are there simply fewer of them?
Grandmas generally live longer than grandpas. In 1996, a 65-year-old woman could expect to live another 20 years, while a man the same age could expect to live for only 16. In 1998, elderly Canadian women outnumbered elderly men by half a million. Seventy-five percent of elderly men lived with their spouse, compared to 43% of elderly women. The older a woman, the more likely she is to live alone. In 1996, 30% of women aged 65 to 74 lived alone, compared with 49% of those aged 75 to 84 and 58% of those 85 and older.
