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Our strategy is grounded in a set of core values to ensure older adults can age with dignity, independence, and respect. Research shows that programs that follow these principles boast better outcomes in health, stability and overall well-being.

1. Respect, compassion and dignity  

2. Inclusivity, equity and cultural competence  

3. Empowerment and independence  

4. Holistic well-being  

5. Intergenerational solidarity  

6. Safety and security

The COURAGE National Aging Strategy is underpinned by three pillars to empower older adults to live healthy, full lives.

Integrated services and multidisciplinary care
Keeping older adults independent for as long as possible through integrated health, housing and social services is key to aging well. This includes multidisciplinary care that evolves along with individual needs, from early adulthood to older age.

Address system gaps
Improving care for all Canadians means closing gaps in healthcare and social services access. Older adults, regardless of their financial status, background or location, should have equitable access to care.

Addressing ageism and prejudice and recognizing the racial and sexual diversity of older adults is essential to equitable, personalized care.

Foster community and social support networks
Strong community networks are a cornerstone of aging in place. They improve health outcomes and allow older adults to maintain dignity and independence within their own homes.

By providing essential services such as health monitoring, mental health support and caregiving, community-based organizations help older adults stay healthy and connected.

Canada needs a federal mandate that requires provinces to use integrated care approaches to receiving federal funding. Our policy statement recommends key actions of the federal government for a new era of aging.

Legislative framework
Engagement with provincial governments, healthcare providers, housing authorities, social service organizations and seniors-focused organizations is critical to develop comprehensive legislation that outlines integrated care. The legislation should define integrated care, set compliance criteria and outline accountability mechanisms.

Funding allocation criteria
Funding programs need to be amended with conditions that require provinces to install integrated care approaches. Federal transfers, such as the Canada Health Transfer (CHT) and the Canada Social Transfer (CST), should be tied to these conditions.

This step includes identifying performance metrics and indicators that provinces must meet to qualify for funding. Metrics should reflect outcomes in health, housing stability and social well-being.

Implementation and monitoring
Provinces should be required to submit detailed plans outlining how they will achieve and maintain integrated approaches across health, housing and social services. Regular reporting should include data that illustrates how each province is progressing.

Additionally, a centralized office should be created to track and report on integrated services outcomes, akin to the Chief Accessibility Officer’s mandate to improve disability accessibility outcomes.

Support and capacity building
Canada needs federal support programs to help provinces develop and implement integrated care approaches. This could include project funding, technical assistance and capacity-building.

A national forum for sharing best practices and successful case studies among provinces should also be established to facilitate collaboration and knowledge exchange. And ongoing federal support should be available to organizations that promote, develop and share innovations.

Funding programs to support integrated care
In addition to sustaining financial benefits for seniors—including Canadian Pension Plan, Guaranteed Income Supplement and Old Age Security—we propose further leveraging the following programs to support integrated care approaches:

• Employment and Social Development Canada

• Canada Health Transfer

• National Housing Strategy

• Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy

• Aging with Dignity

• Safe Long-Term Care Act

• Statistics Canada

It is our pleasure to share findings from the recent Ipsos survey conducted on behalf of COURAGE: Action for Better Aging between March 28 and April 1, 2025.

The findings clearly demonstrate alignment among Canadians in their support for action to address and support aging in the community. Key highlights include that 95 per cent of Canadians agree on the importance of federal government policies that enable aging in place. This figure reflects national unity on this important issue following the recent federal election.

As well, 93 per cent Canadians across all provinces agree that integrating health, housing and social services is important to support aging well, increasing to 96 per cent for those aged 55 and older. These statistics support key themes from the election campaign, including affordability and the housing crisis.

The survey also highlights that Canadians identify gaps in access to healthcare, housing and social services and emphasize the importance of federal government policies that support older workers, caregivers and intergenerational initiatives.

These findings provide a powerful quantitative basis of support for our ongoing advocacy efforts for a national aging strategy that allows all Canadians to age well, on their own terms with choice and dignity in the places we call home and in the communities we love.

Watch the COURAGE survey results video for more details or visit the Ipsos website for full survey findings.