Longer lives are one of humanity’s greatest achievements. So why do we still talk about Canada’s aging population as a crisis?

In the Season 6 premiere, Donna Duncan speaks with Dr. Parminder Raina, Scientific Director of the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging and lead principal investigator of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

They explore what gets lost when aging is described as a “silver tsunami,” why there is no typical older person and what it will take to help more people live with independence, purpose and connection. Their conversation moves beyond health care to consider housing, transportation, caregiving, technology and the design of our communities, and how better data can help Canada plan for a future where longer lives are the norm.

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

• Canada is getting old—and that’s our biggest advantage for 2067 by Dr. Parminder Raina 
• Perspectives on Growing Older in Canada, the 2025 NIA Ageing in Canada Survey 
• Multisector Plans for Aging from The SCAN Foundation 
• National Seniors Council 

Research discussed

• McMaster Monitoring My Mobility 
• The EMBOLDEN trial 
• CLSA COVID-19 Questionnaire Study 
• A longitudinal analysis of the pandemic’s impact on the mental health of middle-aged and older adults 
• Factors associated with willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine among adults aged 50 and older

This episode is brought to you by our Sector Champion, StaffStat.