Why long-term care homes alone won’t solve Canada’s aged care challenge

Canada’s aging population, rising healthcare costs and a desire among baby boomers to continue living independently are putting additional pressure on an already strained aged care system. Keeping seniors at home longer can help governments meet these rising citizen expectations while enhancing the resilience and long-term sustainability of our health system.

In a new research paper, we explore how shifting care to the community while rethinking facility and community designs can help governments create a foundation for seniors to age at home. Specifically, we examined how governments can bring together a community of solvers to:

leverage the country’s network of pharmacy professionals
increase support for informal caregivers
introduce temporary assisted living homes
craft effective community design incentives

Making it easier to age at home will alleviate the pressure on acute and institutional care while improving seniors’ quality of life. But it must be done holistically and in a thoughtful manner to have the positive impact citizens expect.