Executive summary

This report shares the findings of a research study conducted in 2023 among older adults residing in Ontario. The main goal of this qualitative study was to gather insights from a varied demographic of older adults, exploring the serious problems they have encountered over the past three to five years, the strategies they took to address these issues, and the outcomes and effects on their lives.

The study consisted of 51 participants – including both older adults (aged 55 and above) and advocates for older individuals – engaged through 25 individual interviews and four focus groups.

The group discussions included one session with older adults and three sessions with advocates, some of whom were older adults themselves.

Efforts were made to include a diverse group of participants. This included women, men, and transgender persons; people of different ages (55 and up); as well as those from different backgrounds including racialized, immigrant, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQ+, older adults living with disabilities, and older adults living in urban or rural communities; and persons from all income groups including those with upper, lower, and middle incomes.

The results demonstrate that poverty and reduced income cause many problems for older adults. Those with lower incomes have a hard time getting the basics they need for a safe and meaningful life, such as living in a safe place, getting good healthcare in their community, and being protected from discrimination and abuse.

Problems experienced were categorized as follows:

No matter the issue, it is evident that serious problems for older adults are intertwined with other societal barriers. While this research primarily looks at the last three to five years, many people discussed serious problems from their past that still affect them today.

Participants described facing discriminatory, embarrassing, and dismissive treatment in respect of these issues, while the available avenues for resolving these issues often involved complex and dehumanizing systems.

Research participants attempted to resolve their problems by:

The research results indicated that outcomes were often unsatisfactory, sometimes offering no resolution, and that the process is so challenging and stressful that many individuals simply abandoned it. There is a sentiment that systems are corrupt and that the system was intentionally confusing, to ensure failure in achieving justice. Every interview and focus group emphasized that automated services required to navigate everything online or even on the phone, which is very frustrating for older adults.

In exploring the collective wisdom of our research participants, a comprehensive understanding of their perspectives on improving the systems and services that shape their lives has emerged. These individuals who were navigating the complexities of aging amid numerous challenges, provided nuanced reflections on fostering a more inclusive and supportive societal framework.

Noteworthy insights advocate for enhanced legal clinic support, emphasizing the need for specialized personnel for seniors, comprehensive service provider training programs, and the pivotal role that legal clinics serve in providing accurate information and representation.

Best practices for services underscore the importance of frontline workers, personalized assistance, and cultural sensitivity.

Informal supports, particularly advocates in community networks, prove vital for seniors and their families dealing with unique circumstances, highlighting the need for ongoing efforts to strengthen these networks.

The call for de-institutionalization echoes strongly, emphasizing the desire for seniors to age in their own homes and communities. A streamlined, one-stop support approach is advocated, aiming to simplify services and provide comprehensive assistance. Prioritizing funding for senior care, including non-institutional options, is underscored to create a more supportive care landscape.

Education and awareness-raising activities are crucial to address the lack of information among seniors, emphasizing the need for workshops, training for service providers, and standardized resources. Improvement to systems involves enhancing communication processes and implementing disability-friendly policies, ultimately fostering responsive and inclusive environments for seniors.

Listening to the experiences of seniors in this study reveals a poignant narrative of individuals often feeling overlooked and unheard, their cumulative life experiences significantly impacting their old age. Deep-rooted discrimination compounds challenges, with poverty identified as a pervasive issue affecting seniors' post-retirement, shaping their available options. Navigating dehumanizing systems exacerbates difficulties, especially given the pandemic's impact on well-being.

Seniors face prejudice in digital-only platforms, assumption of cognitive decline, and enduring systemic segregation. The study emphasizes the vulnerability of seniors, particularly those who are Indigenous, female, racialized, immigrants or part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Seeking resolutions unveils a lack of awareness of rights, denial of support, and discriminatory treatment.

Intertwining issues like evictions, violence, and exploitation often offer unfavourable legal outcomes, stressful processes, and system complexities leading to unsatisfactory results, forcing seniors to prioritize other concerns over resolution. Navigating systems proves dehumanizing, due to rigid rules, lengthy court wait times, and fear of proceedings.

Comprehensive reforms are imperative to make systems accessible, transparent, and supportive. Increased investment in community services stands out as crucial for seniors facing multifaceted challenges, as does providing emotional support beyond practical assistance. Some seniors live with great trauma, exacerbated by poverty, barriers, and a legal system that requires them to recount their traumatic experiences in stressful and emotionally fraught circumstances. The process of recounting evidence reinforces trauma, creating a disheartening reality where seniors navigate a system that fails to acknowledge the profound impact of their experiences.