• Canada Still Needs
    A National Seniors Strategy

    THE 2020 THIRD EDITION IS NOW AVAILABLE

Evidence Briefs

Read our evidence briefs supporting a National Seniors Strategy

NSS Report

Read our full report on a National Seniors Strategy

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A NATIONAL SENIORS STRATEGY FOR CANADA

The year 2015 marked the first time Canadians aged 65 and over started to outnumber children under the age of 15. This demographic shift in Canada prompted the publication of the first version of the National Seniors Strategy (NSS 2015), recognizing that Canada’s policy response to an ageing population was lagging behind real, historically unprecedented changes in the make-up of our national population. Older Canadians now represent Canada’s fastest growing demographic. In 2019, approximately 1 in 6 Canadians were over 65 years of age. By 2035, one in four Canadians will be over 65 years of age.

As in 2015, this demographic shift still presents both challenges and opportunities to improve the social, financial, and health policy landscape for older Canadians. While Canadians 65 and older account for approximately 17.5% of the population today, they represent almost 44% of all public-sector health care dollars spent by provinces and territories. With the population ageing faster than ever before, health care, social services, and economic systems must be continuously reviewed to ensure that they can remain sustainable and continue to meet the needs of all Canadians as they age.

Meeting the growing and evolving needs of our ageing population will require concerted coordination and effort between municipalities, provinces, with the federal government playing a key leadership role on this issue of significant national importance.  Historically, our federal government has been able to play a key role as a standard-setter, catalyst and funder of important social change in areas like the delivery of health care.  We believe that in a similar way our federal government can enable the meaningful change that will be needed to meet the needs of ageing Canadians.

The way we approach our coming of age will also require coordination and mobilization across government departments as well as between the private and public sectors. Indeed, many are now seeing the need for an integrated approach where the federal government could help keep us all moving in the right direction. As a result, many see that implementing a National Seniors Strategy could provide us exactly the focus and commitment we need to ensure Canada can become the best country to grow up and grow old in.

WHY A NATIONAL SENIORS
STRATEGY WEBSITE?

With a growing number of Canadians, health and social care professionals, economists, and national organizations suggesting its time for a National Senior Strategy, this website has been conceived as a way to provide an evidence-based view on how to consider the concepts that could and should be considered and included in a national approach.

We invite you to learn with us and share with us your knowledge and thoughts that could help further inform better policies and strategies that help Canada become the best country to grow up and grow old in.

THE FOUR PILLARS OF
A NATIONAL SENIORS STRATEGY

Independent Productive and Engaged Citizens

Enables older Canadians to remain independent, productive, and engaged members of our communities.

Read more.

Healthy and Active Lives

Supports Canadians to Lead healthy and active lives for as long as possible. Read More.

Care Closer to Home

Provides person-centred, high quality care as close to home as possible by providers who have the knowledge and skills to care for them. Read More.

Support for Caregivers

Acknowledges and support the family and friends of older Canadians who provide unpaid care for their loved ones. Read More.

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