Today, the National Institute on Ageing (NIA) released findings from Perspectives on Growing Older in Canada: The 2025 NIA Ageing in Canada Survey, revealing a growing disconnect between how older Canadians want to age and the supports available to them.
Now in its fourth year, the Ageing in Canada Survey, one of Canada’s most comprehensive annual snapshots of the experiences, perspectives and expectations of Canadians aged 50 and older, is conducted by the NIA with support from Manulife.
This year’s results show that positive feelings toward ageing fell sharply from 62% in 2024 to 57% in 2025 — the steepest decline since the survey began. Social isolation and loneliness rates remain high and have shown no improvement since 2022, further underscoring the emotional and social strain many older adults continue to face.
At the same time, the 2025 survey highlights several promising areas for improvement. Fewer older adults report being unable to afford dental care — suggesting that the Canadian Dental Care Program may already be easing financial pressure for some. Although challenges in primary care persist, more older adults now report having a regular primary care provider than in 2022, indicating modest progress in access.