b'SENIORS CAREThis indicates a potential reliance oncaregiver to manage. With peopleThe government has invested social systems as they age and beginlikely to live longer on average thansignificantly in Ontario in recent years to face health complications. ever before, we need to plan.to try to improve senior care. For example, Ontario has committed to Research has shown that 20% ofStrong collaborations have emergedexpanding home care and to creating people over 80 will have complexin recent years among leaders in30,000 new long-term care spaces. care needs requiring the high levelsseniors care, health care, educationThese steps are in the right direction of care currently provided in long- and government. These are welcomeand we should applaud such efforts. term care homes. While the goal isdevelopments as these spheresThat said, our research shows that to help people stay at home for asintersect. Still, the survey data suggestbaby boomers expect to play an long as possible, some individuals willthat there continues to be much workactive role in their own aging process, eventually have serious conditions,to do, especially when it comes tobut, as mentioned above, have limited such as severe stroke or later stagecollaboration, coordination and publicknowledge about what that could dementia, with needs too high toeducation to help us best prepare forentail or what the costs may be. live independently, or for their familythe future.So what needs to happen? For starters, we need to continue to work together to provide more information about aging and encourage boomers to think and plan ahead. We also need to meet boomers where they are at by respecting their desire for autonomy and providing supports that enable their active engagement in their aging process as they seem to desire a very different approach to care and services than their parents generation.Such efforts will require multi-sector planning and collaborationacross local infrastructure, transportation, housing, health care and social services, education and moreto develop and implement innovative and aligned solutions. Nobody can address these problems alone, and it must happen in consultation with the people we are serving.While some of this important work is underway, we must not stop. We need to work collectively to address our demographic challenges and to ensure a brighter future for all our seniors, including our agingbaby boomers.LTCTDonna Duncan is the CEO of the Ontario Long Term Care Association. David Coletto is the Founder, Chair and CEO of Abacus Data. He is also an expert on the intersection of public opinion and public policy. Original article published in Longwoods Insights, shared with permission.32 LONG TERM CARE TODAY Spring/Summer 2024'