New ‘Longevity Preparedness Index’ Reveals What It Takes to Age Well in Canada
First-of-its-kind research finds Canadians score 60 out of 100 on longevity preparedness, with care, housing and health emerging as key gaps
Manulife brings its Longevity Symposium series to Canada for the first time, convening leaders across health, finance and aging to advance longevity preparedness
Toronto, ON (Oct. 27, 2026) – Canadians are living longer,[1] but many are not fully prepared for the realities that accompany longer lives, according to the inaugural Longevity Preparedness Index (LPI) for Canada from Manulife and the MIT AgeLab.
The innovative new research[2] found Canadians are only modestly prepared for longer lives, scoring just 60 out of 100 on the LPI. The findings show that aging well depends on more than finances alone, with health, housing, care, social connection and community all playing critical roles.
“Canadians are entering a new era of longevity, and the findings reinforce what we’ve long believed at Manulife: living longer, healthier lives requires a holistic approach,” said Patrick Graham, President and Chief Executive Officer, Manulife Canada. “Our health, sense of community, financial security, and plans for care all play a role in how well we age. At Manulife, we’re committed to helping people navigate those important decisions to feel more prepared for whatever comes next.”
The results will be shared today at Beyond Age, Manulife’s Longevity Symposium, in Vancouver, the first Canadian event in Manulife’s international longevity symposium series. Additional events will take place in Montreal and Toronto next month.
Where Canadians Are Most and Least Prepared
The Longevity Preparedness Index measures preparedness across eight dimensions, each evaluated on a scale of 0 to 100, along with an overall score that represents the average of the domain scores.
- Community (75) – Access to services, healthcare, recreation and transportation
- Social connection (69) – Relationships with family, friends and community
- Finance (66) – Financial security and confidence
- Daily activities (60) – Purposeful and meaningful engagement
- Life transitions (60) – Ability to adapt to change
- Health (55) – Physical, mental and cognitive wellbeing
- Home (53) – Safe, accessible housing
- Care (40) – Planning for long-term care needs and caregiving responsibilities
Canadians scored highest in community and social connection, demonstrating the strength of the social and community infrastructure that supports wellbeing. However, care, home and health emerged as the areas requiring the greatest attention.
“We have never had this many people living this long within the social context we have today. Longevity is still a relatively new phenomenon,” said Dr. Joseph F. Coughlin, Founder and Director of MIT AgeLab. “Canadians are not unprepared because they are unwilling to plan. We are all learning how to navigate a future that previous generations never experienced. What makes the Longevity Preparedness Index so important is that it provides a roadmap. For the first time, Canadians can see the key dimensions that contribute to living 100 good years, from health and finances to caregiving, housing, social connection and purpose.”
Health and Finances Top Canadians’ Priorities
While the preparedness domains measure how ready Canadians are across key dimensions of longevity, Canadians were also asked to identify the aspects of life they consider most important today. The results reveal that what people prioritize and how prepared they are do not always align.
Nearly two-thirds of Canadians identify health (67 per cent) and finances (66 per cent) among their most important priorities today.
Notably, despite being Canadians’ top priority, health received a preparedness score of just 55, highlighting a gap between recognizing the importance of health and taking steps to support long-term wellbeing. By contrast, finance received a preparedness score of 66.
Care Is Canada’s Biggest Preparedness Gap
Among the domains measured, care received the lowest score at just 40 out of 100, making it the country’s most significant preparedness gap.
While only 11 per cent of Canadians identify future care needs and caregiving as a top priority today, more than twice as many (26 per cent) believe it will be important to their wellbeing later in life. The findings suggest Canadians recognize the importance of planning for care, but many are delaying conversations and planning until the need becomes more immediate.
Home (53) and health (55) also ranked among the lowest-scoring preparedness domains, highlighting opportunities for people to better prepare for the housing, accessibility and wellbeing considerations that support independence as they age.
Financial Advice Tied to Stronger Longevity Preparedness
The research found people working with a financial professional scored 63 on the Longevity Preparedness Index, compared with 57 among those who have never worked with one. The advantage extended across all eight dimensions measured, including care, health, social connection, daily activities, and life transitions.
“One of the most compelling findings is that Canadians who work with a financial professional report higher levels of preparedness across every aspect of life, not just finances,” said Paul Lorentz, President and Chief Executive Officer, Manulife Wealth & Asset Management. “Canadians who work with a financial professional score higher across all eight domains of preparedness, and scores rise even further when advisors discuss longevity-related topics. Preparing for a longer life requires connecting the dots across financial, health and personal considerations, and advisors can play an important role in helping clients navigate that journey.”
Among people whose advisor discusses longevity-related topics, preparedness rose even further to 66, compared with 61 among those whose advisor does not have these conversations.
Average preparedness scores were also higher among Canadians who were older, lived in urban areas, had higher levels of income and education, were retired, married or partnered, and had children.
Manulife is Empowering Customer Health, Wealth & Longevity Globally
The Longevity Preparedness Index was originally created by the MIT AgeLab and John Hancock in 2025. Updated U.S. findings show Americans also scored 60 out of 100 on the index, providing a broader view of longevity preparedness across North America.
The LPI supports the work of the Manulife Longevity Institute, a global research, thought leadership, innovation, advocacy, and community investment platform that aims to advance action on helping people live longer, healthier, more financially secure lives. As a global life insurer, asset manager and retirement plan provider, Manulife is committed to helping Canadians navigate the opportunities and challenges that come with longer lives by supporting physical wellbeing and financial security.
Together, these efforts reflect Manulife’s strategic priority to empower customer health, wealth, and longevity by helping people build resilience for the years ahead.
For more information about the Longevity Preparedness Index and to view the full report, visit our website.
Notes
1. Statistics Canada: The Daily — Deaths, 2024.
2. The LPI was conducted online in English and French, sourced through the Ipsos Knowledge Panel. The sample was a representative sample of 1,025 Canadians, aged 18 and up, with oversamples from Quebec to allow for comparison. During analysis, survey responses were weighted to mirror the composition of the Canadian population. Survey data were collected from June 3, 2026 to June 10, 2026.
About Manulife
Manulife Financial Corporation (TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC, SEHK: 945) is a leading international financial services provider, headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Anchored in our ambition to be the number-one choice for customers, we operate as Manulife across Canada and Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, providing financial advice, insurance and health solutions for individuals, groups and businesses. Through Manulife Wealth & Asset Management, we offer global investment solutions, financial advice, and retirement plan services to individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2025, we had more than 37,000 employees, over 106,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 37 million customers with operations across 25 markets globally. We trade as ‘MFC’ on the Toronto, New York, and Philippine stock exchanges, and under ‘945’ on the Hong Kong stock exchange. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For more information, visit www.manulife.com.
About Manulife Longevity Institute
The Manulife Longevity Institute is a global research, thought leadership, innovation, advocacy, and community investment platform to drive action that can help people live longer, healthier, and more financially secure lives. Underpinned by a $350 million signature commitment, its focus is on helping people extend their healthy years, promoting greater financial resilience for all. As a global insurer, retirement plan provider, and asset manager, Manulife is uniquely placed to help lead this change. The Institute’s work will support Manulife’s Impact Agenda strategy by investing in organizations that are growing the longevity economy, convening research collaborations with leading academic institutions and think tanks, and producing thought leadership to advance awareness and action on the issues impacting populations as they age. The Institute will be known as the John Hancock Longevity Institute in the United States. The actions of the Institute will be guided by a Steering Committee of members of Manulife’s Executive and Global Leadership Teams and in partnership with a robust ecosystem of partners and experts who champion longevity across Canada, Asia, and the US. For more information, visit www.manulife.com/longevity.
SOURCE: Manulife Financial Corporation