What Did We Do?
To support decision-making, in this report we:
- identify and describe the current context of aging and hinderances to aging in place in Canada
- describe considerations relevant to aging in place for equity-deserving groups, highlighting perspectives of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples and communities
- describe and appraise strategies and initiatives intended to address unmet needs and improve outcomes of importance to older adults in Canada
- describe some systemic considerations related to implementing initiatives that support aging in place in the country.
What Did We Learn?
- The reasons people are unable to age in place in Canada are interrelated and disproportionately impact members of equity-deserving groups, such as First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples and other communities experiencing historical, structural, and systemic factors that cause lifetime disparities in social determinants of health.
- Several interventions have been shown to improve outcomes associated with aging in place, including strategies to support chronic disease prevention and management, dementia prevention and support, and falls prevention.
- First Nations, Inuit, and Métis organizations and Peoples have similarly prioritized increasing the availability of, and access to, culturally safe and trauma-informed care in the home and community; social connections and belonging; and adequate housing, accessible transportation, and spaces for socialization, and community health infrastructure in their communities.
- Cost considerations of the affordability of implementing these initiatives may include those related to infrastructure, health care services (formal and informal), social support systems, and potential cost savings as a result of changes in resource use.
- Health policy researchers and implementation specialists informed us that implementing initiatives to support aging in place requires a shift from traditional paradigms that prioritize consistency, standardization, and efficiency.