Nearly a quarter of the Canadian population will be over age 65 by 2031.
As Canada approaches this transformative shift, understanding the needs, challenges, and opportunities for an aging society has never been more critical. The CSA Group’s report, “A Canadian Roadmap for an Aging Society” sets a clear vision for addressing this future. RIWI is proud to have been a partner in this research, facilitating a survey of 2500 French and English-speaking respondents in Canada.
Here are some key insights from the report:
- As of 2021, older adults accounted for approximately 18% of Canada’s population but consumed about 45% of healthcare spending by provincial/territorial (P/T) governments. Annual healthcare costs for individuals aged 65 and older average $12,000, compared to $2,700 for those under 65.
- By 2039–2040, P/T health expenditures may make up 10.5% of the economy, which represents a rise of 2.5 percentage points compared to the figures from 2010.51 These increased expenditures may crowd out province’s ability to pay for other emerging issues.
- Nearly 60% of older Canadians prefer to age in place, yet many lack access to affordable or accessible housing.
- 30% of older Canadians report feelings of loneliness, which is comparable to smoking and obesity in terms of health risks.
- The homelessness rate among older adults has grown by 30% in recent years, primarily due to financial insecurity.
- Depression is the most common mental illness among older Canadians, with 10–15% experiencing mild symptoms of depression. Older adults are also at high risk of suicide and a significant number engage in problematic substance use, particularly binge drinking.
- As of 2021, there were nearly 477,000 Canadians living with dementia, two thirds of whom were women.
- 55% of older Canadians face challenges with digital literacy, limiting their ability to access online services.
- 8 million Canadians provide unpaid care to family or friends, with caregivers spending an average of 20+ hours per week on caregiving tasks.
Read the full report here: https://www.csagroup.org/article/public-policy/aging-canada-2040-policy-implications-of-demographic-change
The aging of Canada’s population presents challenges, but it also offers opportunities for innovation, equity, and growth. As the CSA Group’s report demonstrates, addressing these opportunities requires collaborative efforts grounded in robust research and insights.
RIWI is proud to have been part of this critical work and look forward to continuing to support evidence-based decision-making for a brighter, more inclusive future.
