Grant: Summer Program in Aging

By 2030, the global population of older adults is projected to reach 1.4 billion, underscoring the urgent need to address the challenges of aging. In Canada, older adults currently make up 18.5% of the population (7.3 million), a figure expected to rise to 22.5% by 2030. Many face mobility limitations due to chronic conditions like arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and neurological disorders, which can lead to reduced activity and declining health in a vicious cycle. Encouraging active living-integrating physical and social activities into daily life-can help break this cycle and foster well-being. At the core of this effort is intrinsic capacity, a positive concept encompassing an individual's physical, cognitive, sensory, and psychological abilities. Unlike frailty, which focuses on deficits, intrinsic capacity emphasizes strengths and potential. My research examines how intrinsic capacity indicators influence active aging, using data from 1,612 participants in Canada, the USA, the UK, and the Netherlands. Grounded in the World Health Organization's Framework for Function (ICF) and Active Aging, the study aims to uncover strategies for achieving and sustaining active aging. The insights will inform the creation of inclusive programs that empower older adults, regardless of their abilities, to remain active, engaged, and enhance their quality of life.