Research summary
Adults need social connections and supportive environments to age well. Yet, older women are more likely than older men to experience loneliness and lack the supports they need to age at home—factors that increase their risk of earlier death. As Canada Research Chair in Sex, Gender, and Loneliness in Aging, Dr. Rachel Savage aims to reduce loneliness in older adults by bringing equity and diversity to the forefront.
She and her research team are applying an intersectional lens to multi-method health research on loneliness to support more equitable and effective interventions that strengthen social connections. They are also using novel linked data to plan, evaluate and share interventions that reduce loneliness and build supportive environments in retirement communities. Their research will ultimately provide evidence to help all older adults age well, especially older women.