As part of the Wellesley Institute Thriving in the City suite of work, A Framework for Income and Health in Retirement highlighted the many facets of good health for older adults: eating healthy foods and staying physically active, connecting with family and friends, continuing to learn new skills, contributing to ones’ community, and managing emerging health care needs throughout the aging process. It describes an evidence-based framework of eight domains required to support an individual’s physical, mental, and social health and well-being.
This report builds on the framework by exploring the cost of thriving in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) after retirement. The domains included in the initial framework have been further developed to include an itemized list of resources, goods, and services with corresponding estimated costs. Together the framework and the corresponding costs inform what it means, and how much it costs, to thrive during retirement.
This work offers a foundation for understanding the health needs of older adults, and provides a starting point for a broader conversation about policies, programs, and supports that older adults in the GTA need to thrive.