Presenter(s):

Mark Hazelden, National Institute on Ageing, Canada

Abstract

As Canada’s population continues to age, evidence-informed policy and programming are critical to ensuring the conditions that enable healthy ageing for all. In 2022, the National Institute on Ageing (NIA) launched the Ageing in Canada Survey—a national, annual public survey designed to generate rich, timely, and reliable data on the realities of growing older in Canada. Developed in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of researchers and policy experts, this 10-year research initiative aligns with the goals of the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing, contributing to a global movement of action, research, and advocacy to improve the lives of older people.

The Ageing in Canada Survey provides critical insights into how older Canadians are experiencing ageing across three key dimensions: social well-being, financial security, and health and independence. By identifying and tracking key indicators—such as social participation, ageism, access to healthcare, financial well-being, and material deprivation—the survey helps reveal both the enablers and barriers to healthy ageing. With three years of data collection completed, each from a nationally representative sample of nearly 6,000 Canadians aged 50 and older, the survey offers a robust foundation for monitoring trends over time, making it possible to assess progress or setbacks in how older adults are being supported in Canada.

Findings from the 2024 survey, featured in the NIA’s most recent Perspectives on Growing Older in Canada report, highlight both stability and change in key ageing indicators. The 2024 survey revealed that while many Canadians aged 50 and older have strong social networks, more than one in three continue to face challenges in maintaining meaningful social connections. Daily experiences of ageism also remain commonplace for Canadians aged 50 and older, and nearly half express a desire for greater social engagement. Access to healthcare also remains a concern: only two-thirds of Canadians aged 50 and older who needed health care services in 2024 were able to access them all or most of the time—a rate unchanged since 2022.

This presentation will explore the survey’s framework, highlight key 2024 findings, and discuss how this research initiative can guide evidence-based policies and programs to promote healthy ageing. The findings serve as a call to action for policymakers, organizations, and stakeholders to prioritize initiatives that address social isolation, financial insecurity, and healthcare access gaps—all critical to fostering age-inclusive communities. As the global policy landscape increasingly prioritizes healthy ageing, the Ageing in Canada Survey offers a powerful model for tracking progress, identifying emerging issues, and driving targeted interventions. By leveraging insights from this survey, decision-makers can design and implement programs and services where older adults feel supported and better prepared to age with confidence, helping to build a more inclusive and equitable future for older persons.

Beyond informing national policy, the Ageing in Canada Survey also serves as a critical resource for international comparisons and cross-sector collaboration. By aligning with global initiatives such as the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing and leveraging best practices from other ageing-related research worldwide, this survey contributes to a broader understanding of how different social, economic, and healthcare policies shape ageing experiences. As governments and organizations worldwide seek effective strategies to support ageing populations, the NIA’s research provides a valuable evidence base for both domestic and global policymaking, fostering a more comprehensive, data-driven approach to healthy ageing.

Bio(s):

Mark Hazelden (he/him) is a highly regarded leader in Canadian public policy having spent the past two decades working across the private, not-for-profit, and public sectors to develop and implement future-oriented solutions designed to enhance shared prosperity for all Canadians.

For the past nine years at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), Mark has been instrumental in building strong partnerships and driving consequential policy initiatives that have left a lasting mark on the university community and Canada’s innovation ecosystem, first as the co-founder of the Brookfield Institute for Innovation + Entrepreneurship, and then with the founding team at the Dais. Mark is currently serving as Interim Executive Director of the National Institute on Ageing.

Prior to joining TMU, Mark spent a decade with the Government of Ontario, including serving as the Director of Economic Policy for the Premier of Ontario.

Mark holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from McMaster University. He lives with his wife and high-spirited children in the west end of Toronto