By 2040, the population over 80 will more than double, but our perceptions of aging and plans for seniors’ care innovation have not kept pace.

Let’s change the conversation.

Coming of Age features host Donna Duncan, CEO of the Ontario Long Term Care Association, in lively discussions with national and international experts on ageism and how to reimagine seniors’ care.

&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;&gt;Care doesn’t start with policy — it starts with people.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;&gt;In this special episode of &lt;/span&gt;&lt;em style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;&gt;Coming of Age&lt;/em&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;&gt;, host Donna Duncan sits down with the Honourable &lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;&gt;Natalia Kusendova-Bashta&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;&gt;, Ontario’s Minister of Long-Term Care, for a deeply personal conversation about leadership, responsibility, and what it means to answer the call to care.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;&gt;A registered nurse, Minister, MPP, mom, wife, daughter.. and even a student… Minister Kusendova-Bashta brings all of these identities into her leadership. Drawing on her nursing experience at the bedside, she reflects on how care shapes the choices we make as leaders, as systems, and as communities.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;&gt;This conversation goes beyond politics, portfolios and priorities. It’s about the leader behind the role,&amp;nbsp; and why, in long-term care, leadership is more than a job. It’s a calling.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;&gt;Resources mentioned in this episode:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.ontariocolleges.ca/en/pathways-to-nursing&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; style=&quot;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);&quot;&gt;Pathways to becoming a nurse&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;&gt; in Ontario and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.ontario.ca/page/careers-health-care&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; style=&quot;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);&quot;&gt;supports for entering a career in health care&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;&gt;Incentives to work in long-term care for &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://ontariohealth.ca/system/hhr/join-ltc&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; style=&quot;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);&quot;&gt;nurses&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;&gt; and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.ontariohealth.ca/system/hhr/funding-psw&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; style=&quot;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);&quot;&gt;PSWs&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;&gt;Ontario’s commitment to &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1006347/ontario-launching-new-funding-program-to-build-long-term-care-homes&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; style=&quot;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);&quot;&gt;build and redevelop 58,000 long-term care spaces&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;&gt;In August 2025, Ontario committed to make &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1006273/ontario-investing-89-million-to-help-people-age-safely-at-home&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; style=&quot;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);&quot;&gt;Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care program&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;&gt; permanent and expanding it to serve more communities&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;&gt;Learn about the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1005431/ontario-connecting-people-to-dementia-care-and-supports-for-caregivers&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; style=&quot;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);&quot;&gt;Improving Dementia Care Act&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;&gt; that Minister Kusendova championed with MPP Laura Smith&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;about:blank&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; style=&quot;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);&quot;&gt;Community access to long-term care pilot program&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.oltca.com/advocacy/ltc-community-engagement-day/&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; style=&quot;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);&quot;&gt;LTC Community Engagement Day&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;&gt;. Engagement Day is a powerful opportunity to bring people together – residents, staff, families, and community leaders – to celebrate, connect, and advocate for long-term care. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.oltca.com/advocacy/ltc-community-engagement-day/&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; style=&quot;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Join us September 18, 2026&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;ql-cursor&quot;&gt;﻿&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;&gt;If you are a member of the public or a family member with questions or comments about long-term care, please contact the&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.ontario.ca/page/long-term-care-ontario&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; style=&quot;background-color: transparent; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);&quot;&gt;Ministry of Long-Term Care&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;or call their&amp;nbsp;long-term care hotline, available 7 days a week at&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;&gt;1-866-434-0144&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Coming of Age: Meeting the needs of our aging population

The Data