Ontario at a Crossroads: Can Tech and Policy Avert a Seniors' Care Crisis?

TORONTO, ON – November 26, 2025 – As Ontario barrels toward a significant demographic tipping point, a prominent advocacy group is urging the provincial government to adopt a forward-thinking strategy that embraces innovative care models and systemic oversight. At its annual Queen’s Park advocacy event this week, RTOERO (soon to be Entente Education Canada) met with nearly 40 provincial lawmakers and policy staff to sound the alarm on the province's readiness for its rapidly aging population.

The organization, representing over 87,000 retired educators, presented a stark forecast: by 2030, seniors are projected to outnumber Ontarians 20 years their junior. This demographic shift is not a distant concern but an imminent reality that threatens to place unsustainable pressure on an already strained healthcare system. The group’s central message was a call for proactive, coordinated planning to avert a looming crisis in seniors' care.

The Oncoming Silver Tsunami

The data underpinning RTOERO's urgency is compelling. Ontario's senior population, currently at 3 million, is expected to swell to 4.6 million by 2051. More immediately, the cohort of those aged 75 and over is projected to double from 1.3 million to 2.6 million by 2046. This rapid aging brings profound economic and social consequences, particularly for healthcare.

The financial impact is already visible. While the average Ontarian under 65 costs the healthcare system approximately $5,000 annually, that figure jumps to $7,500 for those aged 65-69 and nearly $12,000 for the 75-79 age bracket. The system is showing signs of buckling under this pressure, with over 4,500 hospital patients currently designated as requiring an “Alternate Level of Care” (ALC), meaning they occupy acute care beds while waiting for more appropriate settings like home care or long-term care.

To simply maintain current service levels, the home care sector alone will need an estimated 7,000 additional staff members by 2028. This growing gap between need and capacity is the central challenge that RTOERO’s proposals aim to address.

“When care is planned, coordinated and accessible, everyone benefits and we relieve pressure on an already exhausted health system,” stated John Cappelletti, Chair of the RTOERO Board, in a press release. His comments reflect a broader consensus among health experts that the current hospital-centric model is unsustainable.

Innovating Care at the Community Level

Central to RTOERO’s vision is a shift away from reactive, institutional care and toward proactive, community-integrated solutions. The organization is championing the expansion of models like Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs). A NORC is a neighborhood or apartment complex that was not originally built for seniors but has, over time, become home to a high concentration of older residents.

The innovation lies in embedding supportive services directly within these communities. By establishing on-site clinics, wellness programs, and social support networks, NORCs can help seniors manage chronic conditions, prevent health crises, and reduce reliance on emergency room visits. This model facilitates “aging in place,” allowing older adults to remain in familiar surroundings with a strong social support system, which studies show positively impacts both mental and physical health.

While the concept is not new, its systematic implementation in Ontario remains limited. RTOERO argues that investing in NORC Supportive Service Programs (NORC-SSPs) could yield significant returns by improving health outcomes and creating efficiencies across the healthcare system. The goal is to build a more responsive and resilient infrastructure that meets seniors where they are, rather than forcing them into a one-size-fits-all institutional pipeline.

The Call for Independent Oversight

Beyond specific care models, RTOERO is forcefully advocating for the creation of an independent Seniors’ Advocate for Ontario. Such a non-partisan office would be tasked with identifying systemic gaps, investigating issues, and making public recommendations to the government, free from political influence.

“Independent seniors advocates are needed in Ontario to identify systemic gaps and address the broader challenges facing older adults,” Cappelletti noted, pointing to successful precedents. In Newfoundland and Labrador, for example, the Seniors' Advocate was instrumental in ensuring all older adults gained access to high-dose flu vaccines at no cost. In British Columbia, a report from the advocate’s office revealed that 91% of residential care facilities were failing to meet recommended direct care hours, which spurred a government review and a $500 million investment in home and community care.

Currently, four provinces have such advocates, and the idea is gaining traction in Ontario. Bill 101, the “Advocate for Older Adults Act, 2023,” has already been introduced in the legislature, signaling political recognition of the need for such a role. An independent advocate could provide the accountability and long-term vision necessary to ensure policies truly serve the interests of seniors.

During the Queen's Park event, Ontario’s Minister for Seniors, Raymond Cho, acknowledged RTOERO’s work, recognizing “the effort of all 87,000+ members of this organization for their dedication to helping create a more age-friendly province.” While this indicates a collaborative atmosphere, advocacy groups maintain that structural change and dedicated funding are essential.

As a non-profit with deep roots in the education sector, RTOERO, which will rebrand as Entente Education Canada in 2026, brings a unique, evidence-based perspective to the debate. With a history of funding geriatric research and community grants, the organization is leveraging the collective experience of its members to push for a future where aging in Ontario is met with dignity, support, and strategic foresight. The province's response to these calls for reform will ultimately determine the quality of life for millions of its citizens in the decades to come.