Redefining the Economics of Aging in Cape Breton
The Challenge: Aging in the Right Place (AIRP)
In Nova Scotia, we are facing a demographic shift that our current systems aren’t built to handle. By 2030, more than one in four Nova Scotians will be over 65. In the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, we’ve already hit that mark.
For too long, the “solution” to aging has been institutionalization: moving seniors out of their homes and away from their gardens and their social networks. Homeward Bound is an initiative designed to disrupt that cycle. As a lead economics research on the project, my goal is to prove that Aging in the Right Place isn’t just a social ideal, it is an economic and ecological necessity.
Some of the Homeward Bound core team.
From top left to right:
Heidi (no longer with HB); Alison Grittner; Kate Linden; Johnie Han; Brooke Collicutt
Bottom left to right
Solange Ackrill; Anabella Smith; Rin; Sheryl Bougaize
A Holistic Ecosystem of Care
We don’t look at healthcare in a vacuum. We operate across pillars to ensure that home remains a viable, safe place to grow old:
- Healthcare (VC-RAM): We will leverage the PROTECT Lab model, using remote monitoring to track vital signs 24/7. This isn’t just tech for tech’s sake; it’s about providing a safety net that reduces ER visits and keeps clinical care where it belongs: in the community.
- Housing (The Community Carpenter): Through our partnerships, we work with local tradespeople to perform home modifications. A simple ramp or a bathroom retrofit can be the difference between staying home or being forced into long-term care.
- Social Support (The Navigators): Community Navigators will address the social determinants of health by bridging the gap between clinical needs and social connection, ensuring no senior is left to navigate the bureaucracy of aging alone. This is a critical element identified by community partners. In doing broader research on third spaces, I found that too often individuals start a small social gathering and soon after find themselves organizing events, applying for grants, and running committees.
My Lens: Economics Beyond the Ledger
My work as a researcher is centered on Ecological Economics and Social Return on Investment (SROI).
Traditional economic metrics are failing our seniors. If we only measure the cost of a hospital bed, we miss the true value of a senior staying in their community. My role is to co-lead the Economic Impact Assessments that capture the bottom line of well-being. This includes:
- Alternative Success Measures: We are moving beyond GDP to value social capital; the invisible but essential community cohesion that allows seniors to thrive.
- Investing in Prevention: We document how spending on housing and social connection today generates savings for the public healthcare system tomorrow by delaying entry into long-term care.
- Intersectional Analysis: We look at how income, geography, and gender shape the cost of care, ensuring our solutions work for all Nova Scotians, not just those in urban centers.
Homeward Bound is a massive, interdisciplinary effort involving Cape Breton University, McMaster, Dalhousie, and over 34 community partners. Together, we are building a future where aging in Cape Breton is defined by dignity, connection, and the right to stay home.
