Key indicators of aging well
There’s a new, noticeable gap between how Canadians aged 50 and older expect to age and the systems and programs currently in place to support them. In other words, in many areas, their ageing needs are not being met.
Latest data from the National Institute on Ageing’s 2025 annual report called “Perspectives of Growing Older in Canada “shows a 6% decrease in those who view ageing positively while those who cannot afford to retire when they feel they are ready has risen by the same amount. Social isolation and loneliness continue to be serious concerns with over 2 in 5 people asked saying they feel at risk and more than half reporting that they are either very lonely or somewhat lonely.
The report outlines four categories of well-being: social wellbeing, financial security, health and independence, and it looks at the overall aging experience. Within these categories, 10 key indicators of ageing well – or not ageing well – were highlights.
Social Wellbeing
1) Network strength
Determined by factors such as quality and number of close social connections including friends, family, and trusted contacts, weakness in this area is linked to poor health outcomes. Fifty-seven per cent of adults aged 50 and older reported feeling lonely, while 43% report having few social connections, and are at risk of social isolation as a result.
Health concerns include dementia, cardiovascular disease as well as compromised immune system function. Data also demonstrates that an isolated person’s risk of early mortality can be “comparable to that of someone who is either smoking or obese.”
2) Social engagement
The frequency of interactions or engagement with those within one’s social network. Respondents who participated in social, recreational or group activities at least once per week appeared to have decreased to 33% from the previous 39% in 2024, while those who report never joining these types of activities jumped by 3%. Of note however, nearly half of respondents expressed wanting to participate more often, but their overall health and ability to afford the outings affecting their frequency of engagement. Simply put, researchers found that the more healthy and financially stable an older Canadian is, the more able and satisfied they were with their level of engagement in group activities.
3) Experiencing ageism
Seventy per cent of those surveyed said they experienced at least one form of everyday ageism last year. The most common form of this to the form of tasteless jokes about ageing or older people.
Answers to questions demonstrated the frequency of older adults seeing or hearing things that suggest that those in their age group were unattractive, and needed more help that they actually did.
The study results also reported that seniors aged 80 or older claimed more frequent examples of ageism.
Financial Security
4) Income adequacy
Many older adults self-report as being financially stable. Women, renters, those will less education and those in poor health prove to be more likely to report financial struggles.
One in three older Canadians now claim that the steady rise in cost of living is their top financial concern which can negatively impacts other outcomes of healthy ageing; access to housing, good nutrition or the ability to afford to participate in social activities.
5) Material deprivation
The ability to afford basic necessities such as food, housing, utilities, health care and prescriptions is not as widespread as it was in previous times. This has been attributed to lower out-of-pocket dental care costs as a result of the Canada Dental Care Plan which was rolled out in late 2023 and throughout 2024.
6) Retirement readiness
The self-perceived level of readiness to retire including level of savings or timing is concerning with many saying they will have to delay retiring. One in five older Canadians actually report having less than $5000 in savings.
This is leading to what’s being referred to as reimagining retirement as more of a gradual withdrawal from the workforce than a fixed endpoint.
Health and Independence
7) Access to health care
The percentage of older adults who have a primary care provider continues to increase; in 2025 68% reported having access to a primary care, through either a family physician or nurse practitioner, up from 60% in 2024. This still means that approximately 1 in 3 do not have access to primary care.
Yet timeliness of appointments remains a concern, with a disconnect between having a provider and being able to secure a next or same day appointment to see them. Our country ranks among the lowest in a survey of 10 countries in this category—particularly disconcerting for older Canadians who may be left with untreated health issues.
8) Access to home-and-community based care
Despite their ability to reduce the need for more expensive forms of institutional care, only 10% of older adults reported needing home care services and only 7% felt they needed community support. However, within these groups nearly half of those surveyed said they were unable to secure reliable home care or community support.
Much like with health care, wait times were reported to be a barrier due to a lack of sufficient availability to meet demand. Income adequacy also had an impact on access to home care and community support as many services are not covered by provincial health plans and are costly.
9) Ageing in the right place
The majority of adults aged 50 and older prefer remain in their own homes for as long as possible — a goal often described as “ageing in place.” This preference reflects more than comfort or familiarity; it speaks to the importance of independence, belonging and connection to their community.
Several factors determine one’s ability to age in place. The data shows that:
• Homeowners were found to have a higher rate of staying put than renters.
• The more income an older adult or the family has, the more likely they will be able to stay in their current home or downsize to a smaller home.
• Suitability of the home is key. Is it accessible, can or has it been retrofitted and reviewed for safety features.
10) Perspectives on Ageing
Some factors that affect attitudes toward ageing included self-perceived control over one’s ability to age well, with respondents saying overwhelmingly (89%) that overall health was the largest contributor to their sense of control. Seventy-seven per cent of respondents were in good overall health had a positive outlook on ageing, while only 33% of those in poor health reported optimistic views.
The amount of ageism encountered also had a notable impact as well, with only 13% of older adults feeling that their demographic generally being respected or valued in Canadian society.
Aidan Tierney is an editorial assistant with the Canadian Abilities Foundation (CAF).
Photo: Getty Images Unsplash
