Survey finds income gaps widen social isolation, health and ageism risks for women 50 and older
Older women in Canada continue to face compounding financial and social disadvantages compared to men, with the gap even more pronounced among racialized women and those with inadequate incomes, according to new research.
Among the report's core findings: 24% of women self-reported inadequate income, compared to 19% of men, and just 25% of women said they could afford to retire when they wanted to, versus 33% of men.
Women were also more likely to have less than $5,000 saved for retirement (26% versus 19%) and to experience material deprivation, defined as being unable to afford at least two of eleven essential items (23% versus 16%).
The new report from the National Institute on Ageing was produced in partnership with the International Longevity Centre Canada and supported by Women and Gender Equality Canada, with additional funding from Manulife and the Waltons Trust. It is the first in a planned three-part series examining how gender shapes the ageing experience in Canada.
"Gender profoundly impacts the experience of ageing," said Talia Bronstein, director of policy at the National Institute on Ageing. "Older Canadian women, especially those with inadequate incomes and those who are racialized, face systemic barriers that demand targeted, cross-cutting and evidence-based policy responses."
Women with inadequate income were far more likely to report loneliness (76%) than those with adequate income (55%), and 53% of lower-income women were classified as at high risk of social isolation, compared to 37% of those with adequate income. Cost was cited as the top barrier to social participation across the board, but the gap was stark by income group: 67% of women with inadequate income named cost as a barrier, against 27% of those with adequate income.
Health outcomes followed a similar pattern. Women reporting inadequate income were roughly twice as likely to describe their physical health as fair or poor (49% versus 21% for those with adequate income) and far more likely to report poor mental health (41% versus 13%).
Racialized older women reported distinct access challenges. Just 57% said they were able to access health care services when needed, compared to 70% of non-racialized women, and 64% had a regular primary care provider versus 71% of non-racialized women. Racialized women were also nearly twice as likely to be currently employed (46% versus 28%), a pattern the report links to income adequacy rather than choice, noting that 18% of employed racialized women still reported inadequate income.
The report also flagged everyday ageism as a growing concern, with 70% of Canadians 50 and older reporting at least one form of it in the past year, and women more likely than men to report experiencing three or more forms within a 12-month span (33% versus 28%).
The NIA's authors called for governments to prioritize income security across the life course and pointed to the absence of a legally binding international instrument protecting the rights of older adults as a policy gap worth addressing.
