A different model of long-term care for a more personalized experience.

Long-term care in Canada is mostly made up of large, institutional facilities. They aren’t known as warm and inviting places to call home. But there is a growing movement for a culture change pushing for alternatives. In this episode of The Future Age podcast, host Zannat Reza explores a different model of long-term care, based on smaller homes with a more personalized experience.

Dawn Harsch, founder of ExquisiCare, joins Zannat to talk about why she decided to build small care homes, the benefits those homes offer, and the future of this model of care.

For more information and a list of resources go to TheFutureAge.ca.

Resources:

• ExquisiCare
• National Institute on Ageing: There’s No Place Like Home: Why Canada Must Priortize Small Care Home Models in its Provision of Long-Term Care
• The Green House Project
• Maisons des aînés
• Dawn Harsch | LinkedIn

Connect:

• Learn More: The Future Age
• LinkedIn: SE Health
• YouTube: SE Health
• Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter / X
• Connect w/ Zannat: LinkedIn

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (01:02) - Conception of ExquisiCare
• (02:44) - What Makes Small Care Homes Unique?
• (05:10) - Inside ExquisiCare’s Design
• (06:34) - Staffing Small Care Homes
• (07:16) - Innovations at ExquisiCare
• (09:48) - ExquisiCare Success Story
• (11:17) - Barriers to Small Care Homes
• (12:45) - Changing Government Mindsets
• (14:12) - Challenges in Neighborhood Integration
• (15:35) - Building and Expanding Small Care Homes
• (17:28) - Vision for the Future
• (18:23) - The Final Question
• (19:16) - Conclusion

How we can maintain financial security as we get older.

As life expectancies go up, we need to think about how to fund our longer lives. The idea of retiring at the age of 65 and living off a pension isn’t realistic anymore. In this episode of The Future Age, host Zannat Reza looks into how we can maintain financial security as we get older.

Dr. Theo Kocken is a Professor of Pension and Risk Management at Vrije University Amsterdam and the director of the documentary “Your 100 Year Life.” He talks to Zannat about the different approaches societies around the world are taking to reduce old age poverty, and which ones are working best. Then, Scotiabank economist Rebekah Young talks about how Canadians as well our government can make changes to ensure better economic resilience for older adults.

This episode is sponsored by Scotia Wealth Management.

For more information and a list of resources go to TheFutureAge.ca.

Resources:

• Theo Kocken
• Rebekah Young
• Scotia Wealth Management
• National Institute on Ageing

Connect:

• Learn More: The Future Age
• LinkedIn: SE Health
• YouTube: SE Health
• Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter / X
• Connect w/ Zannat: LinkedIn

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (02:01) - Preventing Old Age Poverty with Theo Kocken
• (03:53) - Global Approaches to Aging Challenges
• (06:48) - Rethinking Retirement and Resilience
• (09:10) - Saving for the Future
• (10:13) - Reskilling and Career Transitions
• (11:41) - Canada’s Pension System with Rebekah Young
• (13:01) - Sustainable Aging Paths
• (15:37) - Financial Literacy and Saving Tools
• (18:26) - Policies for an Aging Workforce
• (19:52) - The Final Question
• (21:57) - Conclusion

Host Zannat Reza shares a quick update for The Future Age podcast.
While we take a short break to recharge and prepare the final episodes of the season, here’s a glimpse of what’s coming in the new year:

• Fresh insights into financial wellness for longer lives.
• A reimagined approach to long-term care with small care homes transforming caregiving and community.

Catch up on past episodes, stay inspired, and get ready to explore bold ideas for aging well. See you in the new year.

Bridging generational divides.

In this episode of The Future Age podcast, host Zannat Reza explores how we can tackle some of society’s biggest problems, from climate change to the housing crisis, through bridging generational divides. It's not just about mentorship or passing the baton but the power of different age groups working together to build a better future.
Eunice Lin Nichols, co-CEO of CoGenerate, discusses how the three P’s (proximity, place and problem solving) can create strong bonds across generations.
Akaya Windwood, lead advisor at Third Act, talks about what older and younger adults can learn from each other when engaging in advocacy.
For more information and a list of resources go to TheFutureAge.ca.

Resources:

• COURAGE: Action for Better Aging
• CoGenerate
• Third Act
• Eunice Nichols
• Akaya Windwood
• Canada HomeShare
• Canadian Alliance for Intergenerational Living
• SpacesShared
• Age-Friendly Institute
  
  

Connect:

• Learn More:The Future Age
• LinkedIn: SE Health
• YouTube: SE Health
• Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter / X
• Connect w/ Zannat: LinkedIn

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (01:37) - Generational Collaboration with Eunice
• (03:21) - Creating Spaces for Intergenerational Interaction
• (04:47) - Building Meaningful Connections
• (06:55) - Real-World Issues for Generational Collaboration
• (08:32) - Workplace Generational Cooperation
• (10:12) - Advice for Young Leaders and Older Allies
• (12:41) - Overcoming Obstacles to Co-Generation
• (14:08) - Bridging Generational Divides with Storytelling
• (15:35) - Akaya’s Activist Journey
• (17:25) - Fostering Joy and Collaboration Across Generations
• (20:03) - Elders as Allies: Supporting Younger Generations
• (22:25) - Humility in Generational Conversations
• (23:02) - Generational Activism through Storytelling
• (23:57) - Mobilizing Older Adults with Third Act
• (25:53) - Third Act’s Success and Climate Change Advocacy
• (26:38) - Addressing Ageism and Building Effective Elders
• (28:26) - The Final Question
• (30:08) - Conclusion

Innovations shaping the future of health care.

In this episode of The Future Age podcast, host Zannat Reza explores what the future of health care could look like with guests Dr. Bertalan Meskó, Director of The Medical Futurist Institute, and Dr. Zayna Khayat, the health futurist in residence at Deloitte Canada.
They discuss major trends and innovations shaping the future of health care, including globalization, digital therapeutics, and bringing care to a patient’s home. And while there's a lot to be excited about when it comes to emerging health technologies, those innovations alone won't solve our problems. For more information and a list of resources go to TheFutureAge.ca.

Resources:

• The Medical Futurist Institute
• The Commonwealth Fund International Health Care System Profiles: Netherlands
• Fraser Health, in British Columbia, aims to become an AI leader
• Humber River Hospital: Transforming Emergency Care Through AI
• Bertalan Meskó | LinkedIn
• Zayna Khayat | LinkedIn
  
  

Connect:

• Learn More:The Future Age
• LinkedIn: SE Health
• YouTube: SE Health
• Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter / X
• Connect w/ Zannat: LinkedIn

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (01:18) - Bertalan’s Vision for Healthcare
• (02:02) - Bringing Healthcare to the Patient
• (03:10) - Globalized Healthcare
• (03:38) - Digital Therapeutics
• (06:16) - Virtual Reality in Pain Management
• (06:48) - Multiple Healthcare Futures
• (07:43) - Health Data Across Borders
• (09:16) - Care Anywhere
• (12:25) - Global Models of Care
• (13:55) - Canadian Healthcare Innovation
• (14:33) - Digital Twins in Healthcare
• (16:47) - Mobile Clinics and Rural Access
• (18:16) - The Future of Wearable Technology
• (19:53) - AI-Guided Diagnostic Tools
• (21:40) - Health Technology Access
• (24:21) - The Final Question
• (27:03) - Conclusion

The true value of care work in the economy.

In this episode of The Future Age podcast, host Zannat Reza explores the hidden economic value of caregiving with guest Diana Rodríguez Franco, Special Advisor on Gender and Diversity to the president of the Inter-American Development Bank. Diana talks about the true value of care work in the economy, how failing to recognize its worth disproportionately affects women, and the impact “time poverty” has on women’s economic and social opportunities. We’ll discuss how the care economy plays a fundamental role in sustaining global economic activity, and how governments around the world are finding new and innovative ways to support caregivers. For more information and a list of resources go to TheFutureAge.ca.

Resources:

• The WEF’s Global Future Council on The Future of the Care Economy
• Observatory of the Public Sector Innovation Case Study Library: Bogota Care Blocks
• The Care Economy Statement
• Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence
• Tuktu Care
• Caregiver Exchange | Share The Care
• Barcelona Caring City
• Government of Canada | Core Community Supports to Age in Community
• Aging at Home: Cash-for-Care Models Reduce Institutionalization

Connect:

• Learn More:The Future Age
• LinkedIn: SE Health
• YouTube: SE Health
• Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter / X
• Connect w/ Zannat: LinkedIn

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (01:09) - Defining the Care Economy
• (02:29) - The Role of Caregiving in the Global Economy
• (04:18) - Women and Care Work
• (06:11) - Time Poverty and Inequality
• (08:08) - What is a Well-Designed Care Economy?
• (11:24) - Care Blocks Initiative in Bogotá
• (12:46) - Government's Role in Care
• (16:15) - Corporate Responsibility and Care Infrastructure
• (17:11) - The Final Question
• (18:11) - Conclusion

The role of community design in promoting wellness at every age.

In this episode of The Future Age podcast, we explore the concept of designing longevity communities with guests Dr. Katharine Smart, a pediatrician and former President of the Canadian Medical Association, and Nick Buettner, VP of Community Engagement at Blue Zones.
Katharine talks about how childhood experiences shape lifelong health, emphasizing the need for a shift in how we think about aging and its connection to early life. Key insights include the role of community design in promoting wellness at every age and how better support for young families can dramatically improve long-term health outcomes. Nick shares real-world examples of how policy, urban planning, and collaboration between sectors can create environments conducive to healthy, long-lived lives. For more information and a list of resources go to TheFutureAge.ca.

Resources:

• The Future Age Podcast: Episode 5: Impact Networks
• A Measure Of Child And Youth Well-Being In Wealthy Countries: UNICEF Report Card16
• The Martin Family Initiative: The Early Years
• The Secrets of Long Life by Dan Buettner: National Geographic
• Blue Zones: Partners With Public And Private Sector Leaders To Increase The Well-Being Of Communities.
• Nick Buettner | Blue Zones
• Dr. Katharine Smart | LinkedIn

Connect:

• Learn More:The Future Age
• LinkedIn: SE Health
• YouTube: SE Health
• Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter / X
• Connect w/ Zannat: LinkedIn

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (01:02) - Health Across All Ages
• (02:49) - Relational Health Initiatives
• (04:01) - Advocating for Relational Health Programs
• (05:08) - Funding for Child Well-being Programs
• (06:09) - Canada and Children’s Well-being
• (07:33) - Countries Excelling in Child Well-being
• (08:34) - Creating Supportive Environments
• (09:55) - The Final Question: Katharine Smart
• (11:04) - Lessons from Blue Zones
• (13:37) - Creating Longevity Hotspots
• (15:14) - Policies for Promoting Health and Wellness
• (16:44) - Successful Marquee Projects
• (17:36) - Obstacles to Implementing Longevity Initiatives
• (18:28) - Steps for Designing Longevity Communities
• (19:25) - Ingredients for Successful Blue Zone Projects
• (21:38) - Challenges and Lessons Learned
• (22:40) - The Final Question: Nick Buettner
• (23:12) - Conclusion

Reimagining Women's Health.

In the first episode of season 2 of The Future Age podcast, host Zannat Reza explores the innovations and challenges in women's health with guests Rachel Bartholomew, founder at Femtech Canada, Femtech Across Borders and Hyivy Health, and Deborah Garlick, Director, Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace (Menopause Friendly U.K.). Rachel spotlights the critical gaps in women’s healthcare, the rise of femtech, and her drive to revolutionize outdated medical devices. Deborah discusses her mission to demystify menopause and create supportive workplace environments in the U.K., underscoring the importance of normalizing conversations around menopause to retain and empower women in their careers. Together, they shed light on the urgent need for bold ideas and systemic change to advance women's health on a global scale. For more information and a list of resources go to TheFutureAge.ca.

Resources:

• Rachel Bartholomew: LinkedIn
• Femtech: Connects Canadian companies in women’s health with the resources they need.
• Hyivy Health: A femtech company developing the first smart pelvic health rehabilitation system
• Deborah Garlick: LinkedIn
• Menopause Friendly U.K.: Provides the Menopause Friendly Accreditation, an industry-recognized mark of excellence for menopause at work for U.K. employers.
• Menopause Foundation: A non-profit organization that advocates for the support women need in their menopausal years.
• Women’s Age Lab: A dedicated research centre at Women’s College Hospital focused on addressing the unique health and wellbeing needs of older women.

Connect:

• Learn More:The Future Age
• LinkedIn: SE Health
• YouTube: SE Health
• Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter / X
• Connect w/ Zannat: LinkedIn

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (01:06) - What is Femtech with Rachel Bartholomew
• (01:39) - Innovation in Women's Healthcare
• (02:54) - Hyivy Health
• (04:08) - Founding Femtech Canada
• (05:58) - Global Expansion of Femtech
• (06:21) - Advocacy in Women's Health
• (07:42) - Opportunities in Femtech
• (08:52) - Menopause Awareness with Deborah Garlick
• (10:39) - Henpicked in the Workplace
• (11:51) - Employee Advocacy for Menopause Support
• (13:04) - Impact of Menopause on Women's Careers
• (14:38) - Success Stories of Menopause-Friendly Workplaces
• (17:07) - Menopause Friendly Accreditation
• (18:02) - The Final Question
• (19:07) - Conclusion