CARP

CARP: Advocating for the Rights of Older Canadians

CARP is a Canadian organization whose stated mission is to improve the quality of life of older adults by promoting social participation and influencing public policy to combat ageism. Its activities revolve around policy advocacy, information, and member benefits.

Advocacy and Defense Areas

The organization focuses its advocacy work on two main areas: health and financial security. In health, its priorities include reducing wait times, home and community care, long-term care, caregiver support, pharmacare, mental health, cancer, dementia, dental care, diabetes, eye, kidney and lung health, post-stroke spasticity, and vaccination and immunization. In the financial area, it works on pension protection, investor protection, the banking ombudsman, mandatory RRIFs, and adequate financial supports. It also addresses issues such as freedom from ageism, elder abuse, fraud and scams, older workers and retirement, driving, healthy aging, affordable housing, fall prevention, and physical activity.

Research and Collaborations

CARP participates in a wide variety of research projects on issues affecting older adults. These include studies on gait in Parkinson's disease, arthritis, at-home brain health tracking, baby boomer women with disabilities in retirement, brain stimulation for depression and cognition, caregivers from minority groups, dementia, digital technology and harm in Canada, early Alzheimer's diagnosis, frailty and dementia, how behavior affects diet and physical activity, improving the use of acute care hospitals for seniors in retirement homes, measuring muscle strength in older adults, memory during virtual socialization, mobility disabilities, older adults' experiences with remote blood pressure monitoring, sexual health, supporting older adults with hearing loss, technology and dementia management, the impact of technology on seniors, risk of bias in vaccine effectiveness, the wellbeing of solo retirees, toolkits related to older adult volunteering, supporting dementia caregivers, supporting older adults with low vision, understanding the experiences of rural and northern communities across Ontario, and improving air travel for older adults. The organization collaborates with entities such as Fighting Blindness Canada and LifeLabs.

News and Recent Activity

CARP's website features news and communications about its work. Featured topics include the passing of Bill VanGorder, an advocate for the rights of older people in Halifax, Nova Scotia; the call for the Annual General Meeting for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, scheduled for October 15, 2026, via Zoom; local chapter meetings such as the Toronto chapter on fire safety; campaigns on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and its impact on older Canadians; CARP's participation in the premiers' meeting in Charlottetown to put health care at the center of the national agenda; warnings about scams through ads in mobile games and social media; cases of financial fraud affecting members; calls to premiers to address the health care crisis; the Toronto electoral debate; requests for greater support for older adults in British Columbia in the 2027 provincial budget; tributes to volunteers such as Kathy Wright; Seniors Loneliness Awareness Week; the link between hearing loss and dementia; the expansion of access to over-the-counter hearing aids in British Columbia; and an open letter to Meta to protect older adults from fraud on Facebook.

Structure and Chapters

CARP has a national structure and local chapters in various regions of Canada. The organization is led by a board of directors and a national team, and publishes information about its finances and bylaws. Local chapters carry out activities and meetings, such as the Toronto chapter or the Greater Bay of Quinte Area chapter. The organization also maintains an FAQ section and offers its members benefits in insurance, travel, finance, health, entertainment, and lifestyle, as well as games and an A-Z benefits list.

Member Participation

CARP offers its members tools to get involved in advocacy, such as an advocacy toolkit, surveys and polls, and the ability to find their elected officials. The organization also holds webinars and maintains a news and media section. Members can access benefits and participate in local chapter activities.