For media inquiries, please contact: magdalen.stiff@torontomu.ca.
December 17, 2024 - Press Release
The National Institute on Ageing (NIA) proudly announces the release of the final paper in its influential series, 7 Steps Toward Better CPP/QPP Claiming Decisions. The concluding Step #7: Strengthening CPP/QPP for Better Outcomes — Two Evidence-Based Reforms, presents solutions designed to remove key barriers that prevent Canadians from taking full advantage of the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Quebec Pension Plan (QPP).
December 3, 2024 - Press Release
The National Institute on Ageing (NIA) is proud to announce the release of a pivotal new report, Missing Pension Plan Members in Canada. The report addresses the significant issue of missing pension plan members, highlighting the challenges faced by plan administrators and individuals entitled to unclaimed pension benefits.
November 27, 2024 - Press Release
Steps 5 and 6 of the eight-part paper series, Improving Long-term Financial Decision-making by Bridging the Psychological Divide Between Today and Tomorrow, delve into the psychological factors that often prompt Canadians to start their pension benefits earlier than necessary: a choice that can significantly reduce their financial security in later years. Building on previous report findings, this segment offers practical strategies to help retirees overcome these factors and make informed decisions about delaying benefits, ultimately enabling them to secure larger, inflation-protected incomes throughout their retirement.
November 21, 2024 - Press Release
With cold and flu season upon us, the National Institute on Ageing (NIA) is introducing a series of resources designed to help older adults make informed choices about recommended immunizations to protect them from respiratory and other diseases. These resources include practical guides and reports aimed at closing critical gaps in preventative health measures for older adults who are the most vulnerable to severe disease outcomes.
November 8, 2024 - Press Release
The National Institute on Ageing (NIA) in partnership with the Canadian Institute for Military and Veterans Health Research (CIMVHR) and the Canadian Frailty Network (CFN) has released a groundbreaking new report calling for the urgent development of a comprehensive strategy to support Canada’s ageing Veterans.
The report, Addressing the Coming of Age and its Related Complexities Among Canada’s Veterans, highlights our ageing Veteran population and the growing challenges they face, including complex physical and mental health conditions that require specialized care.
October 30, 2024 - Press Release
The CPP/QPP claiming decision is one of the most important financial decisions Canadians make. While claiming early can be a critical lifeline for financially vulnerable older adults, many people who can afford to wait are gravitating toward traditional “benchmark” ages (60 and 65) and forfeiting a valuable opportunity to secure a higher lifelong pension.
Step 4 of the 8-part paper series, Providing the Right Information in the Right Way: Removing the Biases in CPP/QPP Communications and Empowering Informed Decisions, identifies information gaps and unintended psychological influences in current government communications that can lead people to claim benefits early. Based on research and evidence, it proposes alternative approaches to empower participants and industry experts in a position to help with the right information in the right way at the right time.
October 8, 2024 - Press Release
As Canada's population continues to age, the demands on the health care system are intensifying. Based on data from the NIA’s 2023 Ageing in Canada Survey, a new report, Health Care Access Among Older Canadians, examines the challenges Canadians 50+ face in accessing health care services and the many ways the Canadian health care system is struggling to meet the complex needs of older adults.
The NIA’s 2023 Ageing in Canada Survey reveals that many older Canadians struggle to get the care they need, despite typically requiring more frequent access to health services due to chronic conditions and multi-morbidity. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated these challenges, by accelerating staff shortages, delayed care, and increased wait times. The report warns that access to a regular primary care provider may be even worse than what was previously understood, with nearly 5 million older Canadians without access to reliable primary care.
September 4, 2024 - Press Release
Tackling common misconceptions around the decision to claim Canada Pension Plan (CPP)/Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) benefits early is one of the many challenges of the CPP/QPP claiming journey.
In Step #3 of an eight-part paper series, Retiring Problematic Narratives, Dr. Bonnie-Jeanne MacDonald, Director of Financial Security Research of the NIA, and co-author Doug Chandler, Associate Fellow of the NIA, explain the most prevalent flawed narratives impacting the decision to claim CPP or QPP benefits — one of the most important financial decisions Canadians face — that can lead to unfavourable results.
July 23, 2024 - Press Release
South Korea has emerged as one of the fastest ageing countries in the world. This is due to it having one of the lowest birth rates, highest life expectancies globally and two baby-boom populations that have just begun their transition to becoming older adults. By 2025, South Korea is expected to become a “super-aged” society, with over 20% of its population being older adults.
In Caring for an Ageing Korea, a new report in the Ageing Beyond Borders Series from the National Institute on Ageing (NIA), the white paper provides an in-depth analysis of South Korea’s comprehensive approach to supporting its rapidly ageing population.
June 25, 2024 - Press Release
the National Institute on Ageing at Toronto Metropolitan University received a $3 million gift from The Slaight Family Foundation. This gift is part of The Slaight Family Foundation’s newest phase of strategic philanthropy, a $30 million donation to support seven Canadian organizations in enhancing dementia prevention, compassionate care and research. This investment comes at a critical time, as researchers project that by 2030 nearly 1 million people in Canada will be living with dementia.
June 12, 2024 - Press Release
Canadians encounter financial risks during their post-employment years that could derail their retirement — particularly from investments, inflation, health and longevity. In Step #2 of the CPP/QPP paper series Making a Case for Secure Pension Income, Dr. Bonnie-Jeanne MacDonald, Director of Financial Security Research for the NIA, and co-authors Doug Chandler and Alyssa Hodder, Associate Fellows for the NIA, explain how delaying CPP/QPP benefits can help address these major areas of financial risk in retirement and the value of secure pension income.
May 8, 2024 - Press Release
In Step 1 of a new eight-part paper series, (Re) Introducing the Retirement Income System: A New Framework Tailored to the Retiree’s Perspective, Dr. Bonnie-Jeanne MacDonald, Director of Financial Security Research for the NIA, and co-authors Doug Chandler and Alyssa Hodder, Associate Fellows for the NIA, explain why Canada needs to fundamentally rethink how the retirement income system is communicated to the public.
April 11, 2024 - Press Release
Deciding when to claim benefits from the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), or its Quebec counterpart, the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP), is one of the most important financial decisions retiring Canadians will make.
In a new eight-part paper series, 7 Steps Toward Better CPP/QPP Claiming Decisions, Dr. Bonnie-Jeanne MacDonald, Director of Financial Security Research for the NIA, answers the question: How can we help Canadians make better decisions and get the most from the CPP/QPP programs?
March 12, 2024 - Press Release
Although located on opposite sides of the world, Canada and Australia share many demographic similarities and comparable challenges in meeting the growing demands for long-term care (LTC) services from their ageing populations with increasingly complex needs.
Discover the insights shaping the future of ageing with the Ageing Beyond Borders Series. In a new report by the National Institute on Ageing (NIA), Enhancing Care for Older Adults in Canada and Down Under, several opportunities to improve the organization, governance, and delivery of LTC services in both Canada and Australia are identified.
January 31, 2024 - Press Release
In a new report by the NIA, in partnership with the Environics Institute for Survey Research, the 2023 NIA Ageing in Canada Survey takes an in-depth look at the perspectives of growing older in Canada using a base sample of 5,875 Canadians. The survey is the largest of its kind in Canada and provides the first follow-up look at the perspectives and experiences of Canadians 50 and older across three key dimensions of ageing well — social well-being, financial security, and health and independence — since its inaugural launch last year.
December 21, 2023 - Statement
Today, the National Institute on Ageing released the following statement. “The federal government’s announcement of the highly anticipated Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is welcomed and celebrated by the National Institute on Ageing (NIA). The NIA, together with our partners, have long been advocating for the federal government to promote wellness, prevention and chronic disease management to better enable healthy ageing and independence for older Canadians. By fully or partially covering the essential dental care costs for older Canadians without dental insurance and a household income of less than $90,000, most older Canadians will be able to receive the oral health care they need and deserve.”
December 5, 2023 - Press Release
Holiday loneliness is something that many older adults will experience this holiday season. A new report from the National Institute on Ageing (NIA) warns that social isolation and loneliness are significant issues affecting the older population in Canada.
The report, Understanding the Factors Driving the Epidemic of Social Isolation and Loneliness Among Older Canadians, finds that as many as 41 per cent of Canadians aged 50 years and older are at risk of social isolation and up to 58 per cent have experienced loneliness before.
November 13, 2023 - Press Release
In response to both new and updated vaccines becoming available, the National Institute on Ageing (NIA) is releasing updated versions of its pamphlets "A Guide to Vaccines for Older Canadians", and "COVID-19 Vaccines — What Older Canadians Need to Know". These two unique resources provide easy-to-understand and practical information in 18 languages to inform and prepare older Canadians especially for the predicted ‘tripledemic’ coming this cold and flu season, and beyond.
October 4, 2023 - Press Release
The NIA’s report Addressing the Significant Impact of RSV Infections among Older Canadians. It’s Time for Action., provides information on the burden of RSV infections, the recent development of new highly effective RSV vaccines, and the ongoing challenges and opportunities surrounding vaccination among older Canadians.
September 12, 2023 - Press Release
The NIA’s new report Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Addressing the Invisible and Older Faces of Canada’s Opioid Crisis outlines how due to a number of factors including ageism, older Canadians have been failed across the board with respect to a widespread lack of research, awareness, policy and guidelines geared to understanding and curbing the opioids crisis.
July 5, 2023 - Press Release
The NIA’s Jurisdictional Scan of LTC standards across Canada identifies opportunities for provinces and territories to align with the new HSO National LTC Services Standard so they can better help their LTC homes deliver the quality of care Canadians deserve.
le 5 juillet, 2023 — Communiqué de Presse
La revue juridictionnelle de le NIA des normes de soins de longue durée à travers le Canada identifie des opportunités pour les provinces et les territoires de se conformer à la nouvelle norme nationale des services de soins de longue durée de HSO afin de mieux aider leurs établissements de soins de longue durée à fournir la qualité de soins que les Canadiens méritent.
June 29, 2023 - Press Release
Faced with a rapidly ageing population, staffing challenges and decades of funding shortfalls, long-term care systems in Canada require nothing less than a paradigm shift to remain viable into the future, a new report from the National Institute on Ageing (NIA) warns. Third and final report in NIA series outlines road map for a more sustainable, affordable and equitable LTC system.
le 22 juin, 2023 — Communiqué de Presse
Le National Institute on Ageing (NIA) est fier d’annoncer un nouveau partenariat de recherche avec la Sun Life qui aura pour but de cerner les obstacles à la sécurité financière des aînés au Canada et de trouver des solutions pour les surmonter.
June 22, 2023 — Media Release
The National Institute on Ageing (NIA) is proud to announce a new research partnership with Sun Life that will seek to identify barriers to financial security for older Canadians and find solution to overcome them.
June 20, 2023 — Media Release
Incontinence is far more common than we think, affecting about a quarter of Canadian adults. But because of the stigma around it, older adults living with incontinence are unlikely to seek medical attention for it — and may face significant challenges, loneliness and financial stress as a result. Incontinence can also be a major barrier to ageing in the right place as it’s one of the most common triggers for being admitted to a LTC home in Canada.
June 15, 2023 — Media Release
Despite the fact that older Canadians are more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes, and more likely to experience severe complications, health care and supports that account for their particular needs are sorely lacking in Canada. The National Institute on Ageing’s (NIA) report, calls for Canadian health care systems to adopt specialized strategies and supports to ensure that older Canadians living with diabetes, and their unpaid caregivers, don’t slip through the cracks.
May 25, 2023 — Media Release
More Canadians than ever are approaching traditional retirement ages in the coming years. However, without an adequate, stable and secure income in later life, many of them may not be able to Age in the Right place in good health and well-being. A new report from the National Institute on Ageing, completed with support from OMERS, sheds light on this critical issue and offers recommendations for how best to address it.
May 17, 2023 — Media Release
A new report by the National Institute on Ageing (NIA) in collaboration with RBC Royal Trust finds that only 48 per cent of Canadians have a will; that number drops to 34 per cent for those aged 35-54. The report, titled Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way: Exploring Canadian Perspectives on Estate Planning, looks at how well Canadians understand the importance of estate planning, whether they have taken steps to create an estate plan, and what’s stopping them from doing so if they haven’t already. It is based on a survey of 2,001 Canadians conducted by Ipsos in April 2022.
May 4, 2023 — Media Release
Could a national Long-Term Care (LTC) insurance program be a feasible solution to address Canada’s growing long-term care crisis? This National Institute on Ageing (NIA) report looks at lessons from six jurisdictions worldwide that have established public LTC insurance programs: Japan, Germany, South Korea, Taiwan, the Netherlands and Washington State.
April 25, 2023 — Media Release
Canada continues to fall short of its targets for vaccinating older adults against pneumonia, even though they are at higher risk of contracting this lung infection — and far more likely to die from it. In the updated version of its 2019 report: As One of Canada’s Top Killers, Why Isn’t Pneumonia Taken More Seriously? the National Institute on Ageing (NIA) finds that, unfortunately, pneumococcal vaccination rates among Canadians aged 65 years and older continue to lag at around 55 per cent — nowhere near the target of 80 per cent set by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
April 13, 2023 — Media Release
What can Canada learn from Australia about supporting its ageing population? To answer this question, the National Institute on Ageing (NIA) has published a new report called Caring for an Ageing Australia that explores the structural, logistical and financial aspects of Australia’s LTC and home-care systems, and how they relate to the country’s broader health-care and social security supports. This is the first in a series of reports looking at how other countries are trying to meet the needs of their ageing populations, as part of the NIA’s Ageing in the Right Place research series.
January 27, 2023 — Media Release
Supporting Canada’s growing population of older adults looking to live in their own homes and communities for as long as possible will require new ways of thinking about how to efficiently deliver home and community care services. One option Canada should further consider is turning to an organization that already knows a thing or two about making home visits: Canada Post.
Today the National Institute on Ageing (NIA) releases Special Delivery: How Canadian Postal Workers Could Better Enable Ageing in the Right Place, a new policy report in its groundbreaking Ageing in the Right Place research series. The report looks to other jurisdictions where postal workers have been offering home supports for older adults for close to a decade — including Japan, France and the UK Channel Island of Jersey — to consider why and how this kind of service could be implemented in Canada.
December 20, 2022 — Media Release
Most Canadians aged 50 years and older express a positive outlook about their experiences and expectations of growing older in Canada, but those who have health or financial challenges have more concerns about their future, a new survey from the National Institute on Ageing has found.
The NIA and the Environics Institute for Survey Research are partnering on an annual survey that, over the next decade, will track older Canadians’ perspectives on their physical, social and financial well-being. The findings of the inaugural survey are detailed in a new report, Perspectives on Growing Older in Canada: The 2022 NIA Ageing in Canada Survey.
November 29, 2022 — Media Release
Canada has already entered what could be one of its worst flu seasons in recent years. Since 2020, public health measures designed to stop the spread of COVID-19 — such as masking requirements and restrictions on indoor gatherings — have also helped limit influenza infections, but most of those measures are no longer in place. At the same time, COVID-19 is still infecting thousands of Canadians every week, and the country is in the middle of a devastating surge in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections. All of this is converging to put the country at risk of a “tripledemic” that could be especially dangerous to older adults.
November 17, 2022 — Media Release
Negotiating care and support later in life can present unique challenges for 2SLGBTQI older adults and their caregivers, for myriad social and structural reasons. To help address these challenges, Egale Canada and the National Institute on Ageing, with support from the Slaight Family Foundation, are pleased to launch The National Resource Centre on 2SLGBTQI Aging (NRCA).
November 4, 2022 — Media Release
Most older Canadians would rather age in their homes and communities than in long-term care (LTC) or retirement homes, but several obstacles can stand in their way — from unmet health care and social needs to a lack of housing options. One of the most promising opportunities is a model that leverages the high density of older adults living within a community by delivering programming that integrates the provision of health services and social engagement while fostering independence.
November 4, 2022 — Media Release
Last week, the NIA launched a ground-breaking research series on Ageing in the Right Place: “The process of enabling healthy ageing in the most appropriate setting based on an older person’s personal preferences, circumstances and care needs.” This week, we are pleased to announce a new partnership with the Toronto Star to help share the findings of this and other NIA research with the Star’s national audience of more than 4.8 million weekly readers.
October 27, 2022 — Media Release
In less than 10 years, one-quarter of Canada’s population will be 65 years of age or older, and many of them will need additional care and support to ensure their health and safety. Canada’s current approach to delivering long-term care (LTC) is heavily weighted toward LTC homes, which are already facing major staffing and infrastructure challenges. By contrast, home and community based care is less expensive and more adaptable, and nearly all older Canadians say it’s their preferred option — but investments in delivering this kind of care have not kept pace with the overwhelming demand for it.
October 5, 2022 — Media Release
The National Institute on Ageing is proud to be the lead partner for the 2022 AGELESS International Film Festival. AGELESS returns this month for its third season, featuring a masterfully curated lineup of narrative and documentary films celebrating older adults both behind the camera and on the screen. As a hybrid festival with screenings both online and in-person, AGELESS draws a diverse, all-ages audience from across Canada. This year’s festival highlights themes such as Community Housing, Intergenerational Collaboration and Ageing Queers, and features a tribute to Salman Rushdie in partnership with PEN Canada and Hot Docs.
September 29, 2022 — Media Release
The National Institute on Ageing is pleased to announce that the Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson, the 26th Governor General of Canada, will be the new Honorary Chair of the NIA. In this role at the helm of the NIA Advisory Board, Madame Clarkson will provide valuable counsel, advice and direction to support the NIA’s mission to improve the health, well-being and financial security of older Canadians. She will officially take the position on Oct. 1, the UN International Day of Older Persons.
August 8, 2022 — Media Release
The National Institute on Ageing is pleased to welcome Alyssa Brierley as its new Executive Director. Brierley is a lawyer and public policy professional with more than a decade of experience in organizational and operational leadership, public policy, research, governance and law.
“The NIA does ground-breaking work on a crucial policy issue that touches all Canadians’ lives, and I am excited to be part of it,” Brierley said. “I look forward to helping advance the NIA’s research and leadership on ageing in Canada.”
August 3, 2022 — Media Release
With COVID-19 restrictions being lifted across much of the country, and summer events and gatherings back in full swing, it might be tempting to think the pandemic is over. But the SARs-CoV-2 virus continues to circulate widely across Canada, with a high prevalence of the Omicron variant and rising rates of its subvariants (such as BA.3, BA.4 and BA.5). For these reasons, personal risk assessment has become even more important. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) cautions that in the absence of official regulations, Canadians should make their own decisions about which individual public health measures to take to reduce their risks.
July 28, 2022 — Media Release
The National Institute on Ageing has made the difficult decision to pause its innovative NIA Long-Term Care COVID-19 Tracker Project, even though Canada and its long-term care and retirement homes have now entered their seventh wave of the pandemic. We are pausing this project not because the threat to LTC and retirement homes has abated — in fact, case numbers are surging at LTC homes in several provinces. It’s because many of Canada’s provincial and territorial governments and public health authorities are no longer providing enough consistent, accurate and timely data on COVID-19 in LTC and retirement homes. Without this, we can no longer ensure our tracker remains a reliable source of information.
July 11, 2022 — Media Release
Today, TELUS Health, together with the National Institute on Ageing (NIA), released the findings from a new survey that sheds light on how older Canadians can be better supported to age well, safely and independently. The 2022 survey of Canadian healthcare practitioners (HCPs) demonstrates the need to prioritize conversations surrounding innovative solutions to enable ageing-in-place: 95 per cent of HCPs surveyed discussed emergency situations with patients at least once in a month; however only 11 per cent of those discussions included the use of Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) technology, which is known to provide added safety and support.
June 20, 2022 — Media Release
A new report from the National Institute on Ageing (NIA), funded by the RTOERO Foundation, warns that swelling numbers of older adults experiencing social isolation and loneliness could have widespread social and economic costs for Canada if nothing is done to address it. While Canadians of all ages report feeling lonely or socially isolated, the effects can be devastating for older adults.
May 16, 2022 — Media Release
Dementia is a life-changing illness, both for those who receive a diagnosis and those who take on the duty of caring for them. But not everyone is affected the same way. New research from Egale Canada and the National Institute on Ageing (NIA) shows there is a pressing need to tailor support and resources to better address the distinct needs of 2SLGBTQI people living with dementia and those who provide unpaid care for them.
March 21, 2022 — Media Release
With COVID-19 restrictions lifting across Canada, Canadians are now left to evaluate their own risk of gathering with others as the pandemic continues. Yet, evaluating one’s personal risk is not so simple. There are many factors to consider when assessing personal risks. It’s not a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’, ‘safe’ or ‘unsafe’ answer. Factors include one’s personal health status, vaccination status, where and how they plan to visit, and more.
le 21 mars 2022 - Communiqué
Avec la levée des restrictions liées à la COVID-19 dans tout le Canada, les Canadiens doivent maintenant évaluer eux-mêmes le risque qu’ils prennent lorsqu’ils se réunissent avec d’autres personnes, car la pandémie est toujours là. Mais évaluer soi-même le risque n’est pas si simple. De nombreux facteurs doivent être pris en compte lors de cette évaluation. Il ne suffit pas de répondre par un simple « oui » ou « non », « sûr » ou « dangereux ». Les facteurs englobent l’état de santé de la personne, le statut vaccinal, le lieu de la visite et la manière dont elle doit se dérouler, etc.
March 1, 2022 — Media Release
Shingles infections affect an estimated 90,000 Canadians aged 50 years and over each year, and cost the health care system approximately $67-82 million. Despite its prevalence—particularly among older adults—and the risk of serious health complications, only 27% of Canadians aged 50 years and over report having a shingles vaccine, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. The following report reveals a patchwork approach to shingles vaccination across the country, which does not adequately address the prevalence, seriousness or costs of the disease, and outlines eight evidence-informed policy recommendations.
le 9 février 2022 - Communiqué
Un nouveau rapport publié par le National Institute on Ageing (NIA) et le Global Risk Institute (GRI), Un revenu de retraite viager abordable pour un avenir meilleur : comment des Fonds de Rente Dynamique pourraient-ils contribuer à relever le défi du décaissement dans le système canadien de revenu de retraite, un marché de plus de 1,5 billion de dollars ?, explique pourquoi il est urgent de disposer de Fonds de Rente Dynamique (RD) pour sécuriser le revenu de retraite de millions de personnes âgées.
December 9, 2021 — Announcement
The tragic loss of life that occurred in Canada’s long-term care (LTC) homes during the COVID-19 pandemic—LTC residents accounted for 3% of all COVID-19 cases and a staggering 43% of COVID-19 deaths—led to a concerted early national effort to vaccinate residents and workers in this sector first. In a report released today, called Impact of COVID-19 on Canada’s Health Care Systems, the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) shows that this proactive vaccination program was highly effective. The report analyzes health systems data from the first three waves of the pandemic, including the National Institute on Ageing’s Long-Term Care COVID-19 Tracker.
le 1er décembre 2021 — Communiqué
À l’approche de la période des fêtes, de nombreux Canadiens ont prévu de se réunir en famille et entre amis. Mon calculateur du risque d’exposition à la COVID-19 lors de visites est un outil en ligne gratuit qui peut aider les personnes et les familles à évaluer rapidement leur risque de contracter la COVID-19 lors des visites, des fêtes et des réunions, en seulement trois minutes. L’outil, créé par le National Institute on Ageing (NIA) en collaboration avec d’éminents experts en santé publique et en maladies infectieuses, a été financé en partie par le gouvernement du Canada.
December 1, 2021 — Media Release
With the holiday season fast approaching, many Canadians will be gathering to celebrate in person with family and friends. My COVID-19 Visit Risk Calculator, a free online tool, can help individuals and families quickly assess their risk of exposure to COVID-19 during visits, parties and meetings—in only three minutes. The tool, created by the National Institute on Ageing (NIA) in collaboration with leading public health and infectious disease experts, was funded in part by the Government of Canada.
November 18, 2021 — Media Release
Each year, preventable illnesses like influenza, shingles and pneumococcal disease (a common cause of pneumonia), cause thousands of avoidable and unnecessary deaths across Canada, particularly among older adults. Known as the “Big 3,” these illnesses pose acute risks for older Canadians, who are at a higher risk of serious health outcomes. The good news is, there is a solution. In a new report, entitled Lessons Learned: What Successful COVID-19 Immunization Efforts Taught Us About Improving Vaccine Coverage Among Older Canadians for Other Vaccine-Preventable Diseases, the National Institute on Ageing shows how best practices developed for COVID-19 immunization efforts can be applied to increase vaccine uptake among older adults for influenza, shingles and pneumococcal disease.
November 16, 2021 — Media Release
A new report published by the National Institute on Ageing (NIA) and the Global Risk Institute (GRI), Affordable Lifetime Pension Income for a Better Tomorrow: How We Can Address the $1.5-trillion Decumulation Disconnect in the Canadian Retirement Income System with Dynamic Pension Pools, explains why Dynamic Pension (DP) pools are urgently needed to make retirement income security possible for millions of Canadian seniors.
October 18, 2021 — Media Release
75% of Older Canadians Are Worried About Their Financial Security in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Majority Want to Age at Home and May Be Unable to Cover the Costs
The COVID-19 pandemic has left most Canadians feeling concerned about the financial security and well-being of their families today and in the future. The level of worry is particularly acute for Canadians close to retiring or in early retirement. In collaboration with HomeEquity Bank, a new report released by the National Institute on Ageing (NIA), shows that 75% of adults say the pandemic has made them more concerned about their family’s financial security and well-being, at a time when an increasing number of older Canadians say they intend to age at home for as long as possible.
October 14, 2021 - Announcement
The National Institute on Ageing and The LIFE Institute Launch Research Program to Help Prepare the Next Generation of Experts to Address Canada’s Ageing Population
The National Institute on Ageing (NIA) and The LIFE Institute are proud to announce a new research program at Ryerson University, which will enable current Ryerson students to help contribute new ideas and approaches to the most pressing issues facing older Canadians today, and in the years ahead. Through the NIA Healthy Ageing Scholars Program, two exceptional Ryerson University students will participate in research projects to support the health, well-being and financial security of Canadians for generations to come. Developed with The LIFE Institute’s contribution of $72,000 over the next three years, the program will prepare student researchers at Ryerson University to become the next generation of experts to help address the challenges and harness the opportunities of Canada’s ageing population.
September 22, 2021 - Media Release
The National Institute on Ageing Announces New Collaboration with TELUS Health to Support Independent Living for Older Adults
Today, the National Institute on Ageing (NIA) announced a collaboration with TELUS Health to help raise public awareness about assistive technologies that can support older adults maintain active and independent lives. With a contribution of $100,000 from TELUS Health, the NIA is publishing print and online resources to inform older adults and their caregivers on how technology can enhance social inclusion, functional ability, health, well-being and safety.
le 22 septembre 2021 - Communiqué
Le National Institute on Ageing annonce une nouvelle collaboration avec TELUS Santé dans le but de favoriser l’autonomie des personnes âgées
Le National Institute on Ageing (NIA) annonce aujourd’hui une collaboration avec TELUS Santé visant à faire connaître au public les technologies d’assistance ayant pour objectif de permettre aux personnes âgées de maintenir un mode de vie actif et indépendant. Grâce à une contribution de 100 000 $ de la part de TELUS Santé, le NIA sera en mesure de mettre à disposition des documents imprimés et des ressources en ligne dans le but d’informer les personnes âgées et leurs aidants sur la façon dont la technologie peut favoriser l’inclusion sociale, les capacités fonctionnelles, la santé, le mieux-être et la sécurité.
September 14, 2021 - Media Release
Online COVID-19 Visit Risk Calculator Can Help Kids & Adults Stay Safe this Back-to-School and Upcoming Holiday Season
As schools across the country open their doors to students, many children and adults will face new potential exposures to COVID-19. A free online risk calculator, called My COVID-19 Visit Risk Calculator, can help individuals and families to quickly assess their risk of exposure to COVID-19 when meeting or gathering with others. This tool, created by the NIA in collaboration with leading public health and infectious disease experts, was funded in part by the Government of Canada.
le 14 septembre 2021 - Communiqué
Le calculateur en ligne de risque d’exposition à la COVID-19 lors de visites peut aider les enfants et les adultes à éviter les risques lors de la rentrée des classes et de la saison des fêtes à venir
Les écoles dans tout le pays rouvrant leurs portes pour accueillir les élèves, de nombreux enfants et adultes seront confrontés de nouveau à une éventuelle exposition à la COVID-19. Un calculateur de risque en ligne gratuit : Mon calculateur de risque d’exposition à la COVID-19 lors de visites, peut aider les personnes et les familles à évaluer rapidement leur risque d’exposition à la COVID-19 lors de réunions ou de rassemblements avec d’autres personnes. Cet outil, créé par le National Institute on Ageing (NIA) en collaboration avec d’éminents experts en santé publique et en maladies infectieuses, a été financé en partie par le gouvernement du Canada.
August 12, 2021 - Media Release
Canada’s Patchwork Approach to COVID-19 Vaccination Led to Hundreds of Preventable Deaths Among Older Adults
Canada's lack of national coordination, inconsistent prioritization of older Canadians, and failure to focus on speed in its provincial COVID-19 vaccine rollouts, cost potentially hundreds of older lives across the country. Between April and June 2021 alone, the deaths of more than 350 older adults in Ontario could have been prevented with earlier administration of second doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
August 9, 2021 - Statement
NIA Statement on the Death of Honorary Advisory Board Chair the Honourable William Davis
It was with great sadness that our Advisory Board and staff learned about the recent death of the Honourable William Davis, former Premier of Ontario (1971-1985) and Honorary Chair of the NIA.
As Honorary Chair of the NIA, Mr. Davis provided valued counsel, advice and direction to support our mission to improve the health, well-being and financial security of older Canadians.
July 22, 2021 - Media Release
New Report Shows that Reforming Long-term Care Could Be Hampered by Lack of Data on Vulnerable Residents and Workers
A new report from the National Institute on Ageing and Wellesley Institute — Leaving No One Behind in Long-term Care: Enhancing Socio-demographic Data Collection in Long-term Care Settings — shows that, due to a lack of data, we still do not have a full picture of the impacts of the pandemic in Canada’s long-term care homes.
June 25, 2021 - Media Release
Easy Online Tool Provides Expert Advice on COVID-19 Risk When Gathering with Others
As Canada takes steps to safely reopen, a new online tool can help individuals and families to quickly assess their risk of exposure to COVID-19 when meeting or gathering with others. This new tool, created by the National Institute on Ageing (NIA) in collaboration with leading public health and infectious disease experts, was funded in part by the Government of Canada.
This free online risk calculator, called My COVID-19 Visit Risk Calculator, takes approximately three minutes to complete.
le 25 juin 2021 - Communiqué
Un outil en ligne facile fournit des conseils d’experts sur le risque d’exposition à la COVID-19 lors de rassemblements
Alors que le Canada prend des mesures pour rouvrir en toute sécurité, un nouvel outil en ligne peut aider les personnes et les familles à évaluer rapidement leur risque d’exposition à la COVID-19 lors de réunions ou de rassemblements avec d’autres personnes. Ce nouvel outil, créé par le National Institute on Ageing (NIA) en collaboration avec d’éminents experts en santé publique et en maladies infectieuses, a été financé en partie par le gouvernement du Canada.
La réponse au questionnaire du calculateur de risque en ligne gratuit, appelé Mon calculateur de risque d’exposition à la COVID-19 lors de visites, prend environ trois minutes.
June 25, 2021 - Announcement
The National Institute on Ageing Releases Guidance to Support the Safe Re-opening of Canada’s Long-term Care Homes
During the COVID-19 pandemic’s first and second waves, restrictions were implemented in long-term care (LTC) homes to protect residents and staff. Today, however, the landscape has changed. Comprehensive vaccination coverage has been achieved in the LTC sector and it is time to reassess restrictions. To support the safe re-opening of LTC homes across Canada, the National Institute on Ageing has released a new guidance document — After the Shot: Guidance Supporting the Re-opening of Canada’s LTC Homes Following COVID-19.
June 16, 2021 - Announcement
The National Institute on Ageing and RTOERO Partner to Support Student Research on Healthy Ageing
The National Institute on Ageing (NIA) and RTOERO have partnered to launch a new summer research program that will support the next generation of researchers to tackle pressing issues affecting older Canadians.
Through the Summer Scholars Program — developed with a contribution from RTOERO of $100,000 over the next five years — two promising students will be selected each summer to lead research projects that will contribute to better understanding the health and well-being of older Canadians.
April 15, 2021 - Media Release
Older Canadians’ Lack of Access to COVID-19 Vaccines is Creating a Deadly Gap New Report Provides Recommendations to Increase Vaccination Access for Older Adults
Older Canadians continue to experience the highest risk of serious illness and death as a result of COVID-19. They are also the most willing to be vaccinated. However, reports across the country reveal growing, and potentially deadly, gaps between the number of older adults who want the vaccine and those who have been vaccinated.
December 15, 2020 - Media Release
New Report Outlines Path to Improving Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery for Older Canadians
Today, the National Institute on Ageing (NIA), Closing the Gaps: Advancing Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery for Older Adults, authored by Dr. Samir Sinha, Director of Health Policy Research at the NIA, showing that older Canadians consistently experience the greatest proportion of casualties during and after disasters in Canada.
December 8, 2020 - Media Release
Delaying Canada and Quebec Pension Plan Benefits Can be the Most Cost-Effective Approach to Securing Retirement income for Life
Today, the National institute on Ageing (NIA) and the FP Canada Research Foundation released Get the Most from the Canada & Quebec Pension Plans by Delaying Benefits, a research paper authored by Dr. Bonnie-Jeanne MacDonald, outlining the significant benefits of delaying pension benefits up to age 70.
November 23, 2020 - Media Release
New Expert-Developed Tool Helps Individuals Assess Their Risks Associated with Visiting with Others During COVID-19 Pandemic
Today, the National Institute on Ageing released myCOVIDVisitRisk, an online decision aid designed by Dr. Samir Sinha and a team of experts to assist individuals, families, and friends in considering the risks associated with visiting with others during the COVID-19 pandemic.
October 14, 2020 - Media Release
COVID-19 Has Shifted Canadians' Views on Living in a Long-Term Care Setting, Survey Shows
Today, the National Institute on Ageing (NIA) and TELUS Health together released the findings of an online national survey gauging the perspectives of 1,571 Canadians during the pandemic on where they want to live as they age, concerns about living independently, caregiving, and social isolation.
October 1, 2020 - Media Release
COVID-19 Highlights Need for National Seniors Strategy
Today, the National Institute on Ageing (NIA) at Ryerson University’s Ted Rogers School of Management released its National Seniors Strategy (NSS), an evidenced based blueprint for federal leadership and policy recommendations for coordinated action to address the needs of an ageing population, in light of the effects of COVID-19 on the older population.
July 15, 2020 - Media Release
NIA Releases Guidance to Support a Risk-Balanced Reopening of Canadian Long-Term Care Homes for Visitors and Family Caregivers
Current LTC visitor policies remain overly restrictive, cause harm to well-being of residents led by by Dr. Nathan Stall, geriatrician and researcher at Sinai Health System and NIA associate fellow, Dr. Allison McGeer, infectious disease specialist at Sinai Health System, and Dr. Samir Sinha, director of health policy research at the NIA.
June 15, 2020 - Media Release
The National Institute on Ageing and RBC Wealth Management Partner to Serve Older Canadians
Partnership will raise awareness on the need to educate, assist and empower older Canadians with personal and financial planning for the future
April 29, 2020 - Media Release
NIA launches COVID-19 Long-Term Care Tracking Map and Resources
Dr. Samir Sinha along with a team of researchers and volunteers at the National Institute on Ageing (NIA) launched a COVID-19 tracking map and a compilation of expert resources specifically for the long-term care (LTC) sector in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
February 11, 2020 - Media Release
Canada Needs to Have a Serious Conversation on its Retirement Readiness
The National Institute on Ageing (NIA) released a report, Improving Canada's Retirement Income System: A Discussion Paper for Setting Priorities by Keith Ambachtsheer and Michael Nicin. The paper identifies the key challenges and opportunities to addressing and improving retirement prospects for Canadians. [English PDF]
October 8, 2019 - Media Release
Long-Term Care Costs in Canada Projected to Triple to $71B in Only 30 Years
The National Institute on Ageing (NIA) released a report projecting that long-term care costs will more than triple within 30 years, from $22B today to $71B by 2050. With baby boomers starting to turn 75 next year, time is running out to improve system sustainability and the availability and quality of long-term care options in Canada. [English PDF] [French PDF]
October 1, 2019 - Media Release
Slaight Family Foundation Announces $1 Million Donation to Ryerson’s NIA
On the UN International Day of Older Persons, The Slaight Family Foundation has announced a $1 million donation to the National Institute on Ageing (NIA) at Ryerson University to support research, education, and advocacy to help seniors stay in their homes and communities longer.
September 10, 2019 - Media Release
Canada is Not Keeping Pace with the Home and Community, and Nursing Home Care needs of its Rapidly Ageing Population
Canada’s provinces and territories are struggling now more than ever to meet the long-term care needs of our rapidly ageing population which includes care at home, in the community, or in designated buildings, such as nursing homes.
May 17, 2019 - Announcement
NIA Appoints Susan Eng as Senior Fellow in Advocacy
National Institute on Ageing Appoints New Senior Fellow,
Susan Eng
April 15, 2019 - Announcement
NIA Appoints Keith Ambachtsheer as Senior Fellow in Retirement Income Security
National Institute on Ageing Appoints New Senior Fellow, Keith Ambachtsheer
April 11, 2019 - Media Release
Free Dental Care Plugs Crucial Gap in Low-Income Seniors’ Health Care
National Institute on Ageing Applauds Ontario Government for Taking Important Step Forward
April 9, 2019 - Press Release
NIA Proposes Workplace Tax-Free Pension Plans to Fill the Cracks in Pension Coverage
Low- and Middle-Income Earners Especially Need Better Ways to Save for Retirement
March 21, 2019 – Media Release
Why are so many people dying of a preventable disease in Canada?
New NIA report shows action needed to increase pneumonia vaccination rates.
March 20, 2019 – Media Release
Federal Government Moves on NIA Recommendations in Budget 2019
The National Institute on Ageing (NIA) welcomes the measures announced in the 2019 budget targeting older Canadians. These investments will improve financial security, protect workplace pensions, and empower seniors to live independent, active and engaged lives, as detailed in the NIA’s National Seniors’ Strategy.
March 6, 2019 – Media Release
National Institute on Ageing applauds Advisory Council Report on Pharmacare as solid first step
The National Institute on Ageing welcomes the Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare’s recommendations that Canada create a drug agency to oversee national pharmacare, a national formulary to harmonize coverage across the country, and a national drug data system.