Canada’s aging population is growing rapidly, and with it, a decisive shift in how we understand retirement, housing, and purpose. By 2030, nearly one in four Canadians will be over 65. These older adults are living longer, healthier lives, and many are challenging outdated assumptions about aging. Retirement is no longer a quiet exit from public life. It’s a dynamic stage of contribution, caregiving, and community engagement. The future of aging is here, as seniors redefine what it means to age well; they’re also facing a housing crisis and systemic gaps that threaten their autonomy and well-being.
Retirement Reimagined
Today’s seniors are not simply retiring—they’re reinventing. Many continue to work, volunteer, care for loved ones, and participate in civic life. In Toronto alone, over 62,000 seniors were still in the labour force as of 2016, and that number is expected to grow. Seniors are also leading community initiatives, serving on advisory boards, and shaping policies that affect their lives. Organizations like ESS Support Services reflect this shift, offering programs that centre dignity, purpose, and connection. From respite care to caregiver support groups to volunteer-led outreach, the programs give tailored support to seniors.
Yet, this reimagined retirement is not without barriers. Ageism, inaccessible services, and financial insecurity can limit seniors’ opportunities to thrive. The Toronto Seniors Strategy 2.0, developed with input from over 10,000 residents, highlights the need to combat ageism, expand employment supports, and promote digital literacy to ensure older adults remain active and engaged.
Housing: A Crisis in the Making
While seniors are redefining retirement, many are struggling to find safe, affordable housing. Nearly 70,000 seniors in Toronto live on a low income, and 18% report difficulty paying rent, mortgages, or utilities. The waitlists for rent-geared-to-income housing are long, and seniors often face unresponsive landlords, unsafe living conditions, or pressure to vacate. For senior women—especially those who’ve experienced violence—the risk of homelessness is rising.
The National Housing Strategy identifies seniors as a priority population, but implementation remains uneven. The lack of affordable, accessible housing undermines seniors’ ability to age in place, maintain independence, and stay connected to their communities. The Toronto Seniors Strategy calls for new shelters with specialized services for older adults, pilot HomeShare programs, and amendments to the Official Plan to reflect age-friendly principles. These are critical steps, but more must be done to ensure housing is treated as a human right, not a privilege.
Purpose and Connection
Social isolation is one of the most pressing issues facing older adults. Many seniors live alone, and when housing is unstable or transportation is inaccessible, they’re more likely to stay home, leading to loneliness, depression, and deteriorating health.
ESS Support Services addresses this through programs such as the Friendly Caller Program, which offers social check-ins, and the Seniors’ Lunch Program, which combines nutrition, recreation, and community.
The Toronto Seniors Strategy emphasizes that aging should be seen as a triumph, not a crisis. It promotes age-friendly street furniture, pedestrian safety, and inclusive public spaces that allow seniors to remain visible and valued. Seniors want to feel anchored in their communities, and when they have strong social connections and appropriate supports, they thrive.
What’s Missing: The Lacks That Threaten the Future of Aging
Despite promising strategies and community efforts, several gaps persist:
- Fragmented care systems: Seniors often navigate disconnected health, housing, and social services.
- Underfunded caregiver supports: Many caregivers are seniors themselves and lack financial, emotional, and respite resources.
- Inaccessible infrastructure: Uneven sidewalks, limited transit options, and poor snow removal can trap seniors in their homes.
- Cultural and linguistic barriers: 15% of Toronto seniors cannot speak English, making service navigation difficult.
These gaps are not just logistical; they’re systemic. They reflect a failure to integrate aging into our social policy frameworks fully. The Age-Friendly and Healthy Aging Lens, developed by the National Seniors Council, provides a tool for evaluating policies through the lens of dignity, inclusion, and equity. It urges governments and organizations to ask: Are we designing for the realities of aging? Are we treating interdependence as a strength, not a deficit?
Toward a More Just Future
The future of aging depends on our willingness to listen, adapt, and invest. Seniors are leaders, caregivers, and community builders. Moreover, to support their evolving needs, we must address the housing crisis, dismantle ageist systems, and co-create programs with those most affected.
Organizations like ESS Support Services are already doing this work: providing wraparound care, advocating for inclusive policies, and centering the voices of older adults. With the proper support, today’s seniors can continue to redefine what it means to live well, age well, and belong. Let’s build a future where aging is celebrated, not feared—and where every senior has a place to call home.
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References
CBC News. (2024, May 14). Seniors face sky-high rents as affordable housing options dwindle. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/seniors-rent-canada-1.7257034
City of Toronto. (2018). Toronto Seniors Strategy 2.0: Towards an age-friendly city. https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/93cd-CoT-seniors-strategy2.pdf
ESS Support Services. (2025, January). ESS Support Services brochure. https://www.esssupportservices.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ESS-Support-Services-Brochure-Jan-2025.pdf
ESS Support Services. (2025). Volunteer services handbook. https://www.esssupportservices.ca
Government of Canada. (2021). Age-friendly and healthy aging lens: A policy and program analysis tool. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/reports/seniors-aging/support-healthy-aging.html
National Association of Federal Retirees. (2020, March). National seniors strategy overview. https://www.federalretirees.ca
Author:
Courtney Gharakhan is a placement student at ESS Support Services, currently completing her Master of Social Work (MSW) at the University of Windsor. She brings valuable experience from her role as an individual counsellor at Yellow Brick House, where she supports women impacted by abuse and violence with empathy and compassion.
Courtney is deeply passionate about empowering vulnerable populations and amplifying the voices of service users. Her approach is rooted in person-centered care, which meets the unique needs and values the experiences of those she serves. She appreciates learning directly from service users and sees their insights as essential to meaningful change. Outside of her professional work, Courtney enjoys spending time with family, connecting with nature, cooking, and exploring interior design.