CCA to examine how to support the use of new technologies to help people age at home

By 2036, approximately 25% of people in Canada will be aged 65 or older—intensifying pressures on healthcare systems that are already challenged by capacity limits, workforce shortages, and disease burden. As the population ages, existing approaches to help older adults remain at home and in their community are falling short. Despite a preference to age in place, many older adults spend time in long-term, critical, or palliative care. An increasing number of people in Canada are also providing care to older relatives and friends, with significant impacts on their well-being, participation in the workforce, and financial security.

Evidence-based approaches to support the adoption and use of promising and existing technologies could significantly improve quality of life for older adults and enable them to remain in their homes, while easing demands on caregivers and the healthcare system. But despite their promise, uptake remains limited. Fragmented regulation, slow and resource‑constrained health systems, the enduring digital divide, and persistent access inequities continue to hinder widespread adoption.

At the request of the National Research Council of Canada, the CCA will assess effective ways to increase the adoption and use of technologies that support aging in place.

An expert panel will be appointed in the coming weeks, with the final report expected to be published in spring 2027.