PILLAR ONE

Ensuring Older Canadians Remain Independent, Productive and Engaged Citizens

With the number of older Canadians expected to double in numbers between 2010 and 2030 – and with many more enjoying their extra years in good health – older Canadians should be given opportunities to remain engaged and productive members of society. Over the last decade, the number of older Canadians who continue to work past the age 65 has doubled, allowing them to continue contributing their considerable experience and skills. However, work experience and skills are only one part of what older Canadians’ can contribute, while further strengthening their personal finances for older age.

Older Canadians continue to contribute to society in many other ways and are overrepresented as volunteers and unpaid caregivers supporting other Canadians of all ages. They also remain the most politically engaged members of our society and have the highest voter participation rates.[ii] To ensure communities can continue to support their older residents to remain independent and engaged, access to reasonable income supports, affordable housing, and inclusive transportation services should continue to be strengthened. To combat the growing levels of social isolation and reinforce efforts to end ageism and elder abuse in society, physical environments and public spaces need to be age-friendly; and health, community, social and recreational services, and employment opportunities must be designed to be inclusive with the needs of older Canadians in mind.

The Federal Government can work with Canada’s provinces, territories and municipalities to enable this pillar in a variety of ways:

Making Addressing Ageism, Elder Abuse and Social Isolation a National Priority

Ensuring that ageism, elder abuse, and social isolation are national priorities can be achieved by continuing to support activities and policies that value the role, contributions, and needs of older Canadians. Read more on this opportunity in Evidence Brief #1.

Ensuring Older Canadians do not Live in Poverty by Improving their Income Security

Ensuring older Canadians do not live in poverty can be achieved by enhancing existing public support systems and by providing new options to help Canadians save for themselves. Read more on this opportunity in Evidence Brief #2.

Ensuring Older Canadians Have Access to Affordable Housing

Ensuring access to affordable housing for older Canadians can be achieved by maintaining federal commitments to development of housing infrastructure and emphasizing housing for older adults as a priority. Read more on this opportunity in Evidence Brief #3.

Ensuring Older Canadians Have Access to Inclusive Transportation

Ensuring access to inclusive transportation can be achieved by developing an inclusive transportation infrastructure, addressing governance of accessibility, and monitoring accessibility measures. Read more on this opportunity in Evidence Brief #4.

Enabling the Creation of Age-Friendly Communities, Physical Environments and Spaces

Ensuring the development of more age-friendly communities, physical environments and spaces can be achieved through the incorporation of well-established universal design standards in national building codes. Read more on this opportunity in Evidence Brief #5.