Across the province, hospitals are developing innovative approaches that recognize the unique needs of older adults — from frailty and dementia to safe transitions back into the community. 

At University Health Network (UHN), this has meant creating an Older Adults Action Plan that identifies best practices and integrates them across programs, from safer prescribing initiatives to designing age-friendly spaces in new hospital infrastructure. With 25 projects already underway, the plan ensures older adults and their caregivers are at the centre of care planning, helping to improve outcomes while supporting independence. 

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre​ is making a similar commitment through the new Peter Cipriano Centre for Seniors Health — a one-stop hub that integrates specialized geriatric clinics, community supports and outreach services. By coordinating care under one roof and extending support directly into seniors’ homes through its Geriatric Outreach Team, Sunnybrook is ensuring older adults can access the right care at the right time, while avoiding unnecessary hospital visits. 

Preventing avoidable transfers is also the focus of Women’s College Hospital’s LTC+ program, which virtually connects long-term care homes with hospital expertise. This model strengthens the ability of nursing staff in LTC to manage complex cases on-site, reducing emergency department visits while improving safety and quality of life for residents. Meanwhile, Partners Community Health (PCH) in Mississauga and West Toronto is reimagining seniors’ care through an Integrated Aging Campus of Care. From on-site dialysis for LTC residents to a Behavioural Support Unit for dementia care, PCH is demonstrating how community-based innovation can ease hospital pressures.

Hospitals are also looking ahead to the future by investing in the next generation of caregivers. At Unity Health Toronto’s Providence Healthcare, youth co-op placements and volunteer programs are creating meaningful opportunities for high school students to support older adults in long-term care. These intergenerational relationships reduce loneliness for residents, foster compassion in students, and spark an early interest in health care careers — a powerful reminder that today’s youth will help carry forward tomorrow’s system of care.

For patients living with dementia, hospitals are advancing tailored approaches to improve both safety and experience. The Ottawa Hospital​’s Dementia Decoded strategy introduces person-centred care tools into the acute care setting, including improved electronic records, proactive care planning and enhanced staff training. By focusing on the individual behind the diagnosis, this initiative is reducing risks such as delirium and falls while providing caregivers with greater support — and it is already being recognized as a model for hospitals across the province.

These stories represent just some of the ways Ontario hospitals are adapting to serve an aging population. They underscore a broader narrative: that caring for older adults requires innovation, collaboration and a willingness to share solutions across institutions. As Ontario faces the unprecedented challenges of a rapidly aging society, hospitals are not only responding — they are leading. 

By weaving patient safety improvements into every aspect of care, by fostering intergenerational connections, and by reimagining how services are delivered, Ontario hospitals are building the foundation for a health system that is both resilient and compassionate. In doing so, they are ensuring that every Ontarian — at every age — can trust that the care they need will be there when it matters most.