Older Adults and Retirement Homes: Who Gets Left Behind?

Retirement homes play a big role in supporting older adults as they age. But not everyone can access them.

Barriers to Access

• Lower incomes or those from minority groups often face barriers.
• High out-of-pocket costs in some areas.
• Lack of options catering to different languages and cultures.

Most research on health inequalities in care facilities focuses on long-term care, leaving a gap in understanding the experiences and health outcomes of retirement home residents.

A New Project Aims to Change That

• Goal: Build a solid evidence base.
• Objective: Provide policy recommendations to improve equity in Ontario's retirement home sector.
• Focus Areas:
• Socioeconomic status
• Language
• Cultural background

The hope is to make retirement homes more accessible and fair for everyone.

Why This Project Matters

• Could shape policies that make a real difference.
• Ensure all older adults have access to the care they need.