The reality of aging, particularly for older women, is emerging as one of the most significant societal challenges of our time. With the country’s fastest-growing demographic being those aged 85 and older, the majority of whom are women, the question of how we care for this population is not just about healthcare—it is about social justice, equity, and reimagining how we think about aging itself.
The Women’s Age Lab, founded in 2021 at Women’s College Hospital, is at the forefront of this movement. It is the first research centre dedicated specifically to addressing the health and social needs of older women, aiming to transform their lives through research, advocacy, and a concerted effort to reshape public perception and policy. Building on Women’s Age Lab’s research and notable initiatives in Canada, a new report, Women at The Forefront of Aging in Canada: Challenging the Status Quo for Older Women, highlights the health and well-being challenges that older women face daily and on a systemic level.
Gendered ageism happens in Canada
Older women are often invisible within the larger framework of health research, policy, and care systems. Much of the public discourse around women’s health still centers around reproductive issues, while older adults are frequently seen as a homogenous group, regardless of age, gender, or life experiences. This approach fails to account for the unique challenges that older women face, from navigating health systems designed without them in mind, to combating the deeply entrenched gendered ageism that leaves them economically and socially vulnerable.
Gendered ageism, a central focus of the Women’s Age Lab’s work and reporting is at the intersection of sexism and ageism—where older women are doubly marginalized. Many older women report feeling invisible, underrepresented, and underserved. They live longer than men, often outliving their spouses, and frequently face the harsh reality of living alone with lower incomes due to the gender pension gap. The consequences of these realities go far beyond individual well-being and have far-reaching implications for caregivers and the broader health and social care system.
Caregivers as the backbone of aging in place
The notion of older adults aging in place – in their own homes and communities rather than in long-term care (LTC) facilities as they grow older – does immense wonders for improving quality of life and reducing strain on the healthcare system. Yet, the success of this model hinges on caregivers, whose role is vital but so very often undervalued.
The pandemic highlighted women’s vulnerabilities within LTC homes, where women make up both the majority of residents and the workforce. Over 90% of LTC staff are women, often working under exhausting conditions for low pay, while women account for more than 60% of residents. The COVID-19 crisis revealed systemic issues, from overcrowded conditions to insufficient staff support, exacerbating the already precarious situation for both residents and caregivers.
For caregivers, the lack of systemic support has long been an issue. The Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence has estimated that if caregivers stopped working for just one day, the entire care system would collapse before noon. This staggering reality stresses the urgent need to invest in caregiving as a critical part of the healthcare infrastructure, not as an afterthought. Case in point: Women’s Age Lab’s research consistently calls for better support for caregivers, advocating for paid leave, access to respite services, and increased financial compensation for their invaluable work.
Addressing the gendered data gap in health research
Another key issue that disproportionately affects older women that highlighted in new report is the glaring gap in sex, gender, and age-disaggregated data in health research. Historically, women were often excluded from clinical trials, with even older adults in general not being mandated for inclusion until 2019 by institutions such as the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). This lack of data means that we know far less than we should about how different health conditions and treatments affect older women, leading to inadequate care.
For example, older women tend to have more chronic conditions and take more medications than men, but they are also more likely to experience adverse drug events due to a lack of research tailored to their needs. The Women’s Age Lab is actively working to change this by promoting the inclusion of older women in health research and ensuring that the unique biological and sociocultural factors affecting their health are taken into account. This is particularly important for chronic conditions like dementia, which disproportionately affect women, and for understanding the impacts of polypharmacy—the use of multiple medications—among this population.
Combatting loneliness and social isolation
Loneliness, however, is a silent epidemic that even the best medicine cannot cure. For older women, this pervasive feeling often intensifies with age, leading many to live alone; in fact, 40% of women in this situation report feeling lonely. More than a mere social issue, loneliness represents a public health crisis, with connections to increased risks of heart disease, stroke, dementia, depression, and premature death. For caregivers—often the only social contact for these older adults—the emotional burden of witnessing and striving to alleviate this loneliness can be immense.
The Women’s Age Lab’s efforts and suggestions include creating age-friendly communities where older adults can maintain social connections, as well as supporting caregivers in their vital role as companions and advocates for the well-being of those living with frailty.
A Call to Action
The Lab and their report recommends several key action areas including reducing drug harm, supporting caregivers, improving the quality of care in LTC homes, and combating gendered ageism. What’s clear is that we must shift the narrative surrounding older women from one of invisibility to one of empowerment, as the stakes are particularly high for older women. What is needed now, says the report, is a comprehensive national strategy on aging; one that places older women at its center and takes into account the interconnected challenges they face.
Elevating older women’s voices, addressing systemic challenges, and ensuring they are seen and heard in every aspect of society is not just a matter of social justice — it is a collective responsibility.
Kaylie Dolan is a graduate student in International Migration and Public Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a freelance writer for the Canadian Abilities Foundation.
Source: Women’s Age Lab, Women’s College Hospital. To download a PDF, click the link below.
