We Know What Older Canadians Want. Now Let’s Measure Whether We’re Delivering.

Every October 1, Canada marks National Seniors Day. It’s a day to celebrate the contributions of older adults, but it is also a time to consider how can we create the systems and structures that will better enable older adults to live with dignity and confidence. Doing this effectively relies on understanding what people actually need — and then checking whether we’re delivering it.

The National Institute on Ageing’s annual Ageing in Canada Survey is a decade-long research program designed to tap into the perspectives and experiences of older adults. Each year it asks a representative sample of Canadians aged 50 and older a set of questions to measure ten indicators of ageing well. The 2025 survey, now in its fourth year, reached 6,001 people in communities across every province and territory. Because of the annual cycle, we can track trends year-over-year, which turns ageing policy from a matter of opinion into something we can measure.

It tells us where there are pressing challenges that need to be addressed. When asked how Canadian society views older adults, only 13% said older adults are generally respected and valued. Close to half said they’re sometimes overlooked or dismissed. And 70% reported everyday ageism — the subtle comments, jokes, and assumptions about ageing that add up.

But attitudes aren’t the whole story. The survey also measures whether the systems older adults rely on actually match what they say they need.

What the numbers say people want

Start with where people want to live. In 2025, 81% of Canadians aged 50 and older said they want to remain in their home, or a smaller one, for as long as they can. That’s four out of five — one of the clearest signals in the survey.

Now measure whether our systems deliver it. Across the same 50-plus population, just under half — 49% — felt their home was fully suitable to support them as they age, and another 45% said their home works for now but might not meet their future needs. When asked what they had done to prepare, 62% reported making no modifications or plans at all.

Care tells a similar story. In 2025, only 51% of those who needed home care were able to get it all or most of the time, and just 47% of those who needed community support services received them all or most of the time. Wait times and cost were among the biggest barriers. Home care workers are delivering this care every day; there just isn’t enough of it to go around.

There is a clear disconnect between the desire to age in place, and the systems and structures to support it: roughly half of homes are not fully ready, and only about half of those needing home care or community support services reliably getting them.

Measurement is already showing progress

The Ageing in Canada Survey allows us to track progress over time. Home care access rose from 48% to 51% between 2024 and 2025, and community support access from 44% to 47%. These are modest gains — but they are benefitting older adults in Canada each day.

The survey also shows what happens when a measured gap gets targeted directly. The share of older adults who couldn’t afford dental care fell from 16% in 2024 to 11% in 2025, a reduction that the NIA links to the rollout of the Canadian Dental Care Plan. The gap was measured, a policy was aimed at it, and the number moved.

Prioritizing the Voices of Older Adults on National Seniors Day

It is time that all levels of government prioritize the voices and experiences of older adults in shaping public policy. So this National Seniors Day, let’s use the numbers. Bring them to a city councillor, an MP, or a local health authority and ask what their plan is for improving outcomes. Ask the older adults in your own life which of these gaps they’re living with. Support the home and community care providers working to close them.

And above all, let’s continue to measure what matters, and make sure we are responsive to the experiences and perspectives of older adults in Canada.