Transforming care for older women

Older women make up one of this country’s largest demographics – but they’re also one of the most poorly understood and underserved populations when it comes to care and research. 

Enter Women’s Age Lab. Launched in January with the support of major investments from the Naraine Family Foundation, Women’s College Health Research, and RBC Wealth Management, Women’s Age Lab is the first program in the world focused on research and advocacy to advance the needs of older women.

Founded by Dr. Paula Rochon, a renowned geriatrician and senior scientist at Women’s College Research Institute, the Women’s Age Lab team is now leading global efforts to fill critical gaps in research and care for this historically overlooked population.

Through the four key pillars of Women’s Age Lab – reimagining aging in place and congregate care, optimizing medication therapies, promoting social connectedness and tackling gendered ageism – the team is committed to research that can be translated into action. 

“While we knew we wanted to focus on research on older women, we also realized that publishing studies is not enough,” says Dr. Rochon. “We needed to find ways to take the science and put it into practice, and we want to make sure that we advocate for the changes that are needed.”

The team is doing just that through targeted advocacy and awareness efforts, including a focus on public relations and communication strategies. The lab has already been featured by major media outlets like Forbes and the Toronto Star, and has published research findings and advocacy pieces in leading publications like The Lancet. 

Chameli Naraine, whose family foundation made a significant gift to help launch the lab, says she was inspired by the initiative’s mission to transform health and social care for older women through actionable research. 

“Women’s Age Lab is really exciting because it’s not just a place of research – it’s driving systemic change through advocacy and awareness,” says Naraine. “We’re proud to support a world-first initiative that’s putting older women front and centre and creating a stronger, healthier future for women across Canada and globally.” 

Learn more about Women’s Age Lab and the team’s progress at: 
womensresearch.ca/womens-age-lab.