Mar. 16: BEST OF THE BLOGOSPHERE

March 16, 2026

We’re a “super-aged” country – are we ready for old age?

Writing for The Globe and Mail, Meera Raman sifts through some of the recent findings from the National Institute on Ageing’s annual survey – and ask if our aging population is ready, financially and health-wise, for a long tenure as seniors.

“Canadians are getting older, but they’re not necessarily preparing for it,” she begins.

She recently attended a presentation on NIA’s recent research, conducted with Manulife and Abacus Data, where the NIA’s policy director Talia Bronstein stated that Canada is now a “super-aged” country, “with 15.7 million Canadians aged 50 and older.”

Raman writes that while there is no doubt we are all living longer, “the bigger question is whether those extra years will be healthy and financially secure ones. Right now, the data suggests we’re not quite there.”

The article notes that the NIA study found that only 29 per cent of those surveyed feel they can “afford to retire when they want,” down from 35 per cent just four years ago.

“Nearly a quarter (22 per cent) have saved $5,000 or less for retirement,” the article reports.

“The survey also paints a worrying picture of how older Canadians are feeling,” Raman’s article continues. “Positive feelings about aging fell to 57 per cent last year from 62 per cent in 2024, the steepest drop since the survey began. More than half of respondents said they experience loneliness, and 43 per cent are at risk of social isolation. Those numbers haven’t budged since 2022,” she adds.

And, she adds, while 81 per cent of those surveyed want to age in place – or “move to a smaller (home) for as long as possible,” she notes that “62 per cent (say) they haven’t made any modifications or plans to prepare their home for aging in place.”

She reports that aging in place can lead to “financial and emotional strain.” We can add from personal experience that there is also financial and emotional strain when parents need to move to a long-term care facility.

One good bit of news, her article concludes, is that more seniors are able to afford dental care.

“The share of Canadians who say they can’t afford dental care dropped to 11 per cent in 2025 from 16 per cent a year earlier. The NIA pointed to the new Canadian Dental Care Plan as a likely reason – an example of how public policy can lead to real, measurable change,” she notes.

This is a great article. Those among us who are not yet retired need to consider how much income they’ll receive in the future, and as well, what things may cost. They also need to think about staying healthy – perhaps taking on new activities – and staying socially connected.

Workplace pension programs are becoming scarcer these days. If you have such a program through work, be sure to sign up and contribute as much as possible.

If you are saving on your own for the future, the Saskatchewan Pension Plan stands ready to partner with you. SPP offers you the retirement savings infrastructure you need – professional investing in a low-cost, pooled fund. And when it is time to turn those savings into income, SPP can provide you with a lifetime monthly annuity payment (it never runs out) or the more flexible Variable Benefit.

Check out SPP today!

Join the Wealthcare Revolution – follow SPP on Facebook!

The Globe and Mail

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