RBC Foundation’s $200,000 donation to Women’s Age Lab at Women’s College Hospital further helps their mission to improve the lives of older women
TORONTO, October 13, 2022 – Women’s Age Lab at the Women’s College Hospital and RBC Wealth Management announced a $200,000 donation focused on improving the lives of older women. This gift from the RBC Foundation will help raise awareness around gendered ageism and accelerate research in the areas of drug treatment options, congregate care and loneliness.
“Women’s Age Lab, to our knowledge, is the first research centre of its kind,” said Dr. Paula Rochon, Founding Director, Women’s Age Lab. “We are pleased to have the support of RBC as we work to improve the lives of older women.”
The Women’s Age Lab addresses the health inequities faced by older women, defined by the United Nations as age 60 and over. By 2025, over 20 per cent of Canada’s population will be over the age of 65. Given that women live longer than men, they make up the majority of the aging population. As older women typically experience challenges throughout the aging process distinct to their gender, tailored research is crucial to better understand the differences in older women’s health experiences from men’s. As such, Women’s Age Lab was founded to advance exploration and research in older women’s distinct health needs to improve their well-being and lives.
“Just as it’s important to ensure your future financial plans are well-managed and prepared ahead of time, it’s also crucial that we fully understand the challenges that come with the aging process and how each gender is impacted differently,” said Leanne Kaufman, President and CEO, RBC Royal Trust. “RBC Wealth Management’s partnership with Women’s Age Lab will enable our collective efforts in helping to further raise awareness and recognize gendered ageism while working to improve the health, social and financial well-being of older women.”
To celebrate the first anniversary of Women’s Age Lab and the International Day of Older Persons on October 1, the partnership was launched with a national campaign to raise awareness about gendered ageism. Over the next two years, the partnership will be activated through three strategic objectives of the Lab:
In the years ahead, Women’s Age Lab and RBC Wealth Management will combine efforts, share knowledge, and take action through this partnership to increase education around gendered ageism, helping to break down health barriers and change the way we think, feel and act towards older women.
Launched in 2021 at Women’s College Hospital, Women’s Age Lab is dedicated to addressing the health inequities faced by older women. Women’s Age Lab aims to support the healthy aging of women by reimagining a system and society where older women and their distinct well-being and health needs are recognized and addressed. Together with researchers, healthcare providers, community-based organizations, and policy makers we will be a catalyst to improve the lives of older women around the world.
RBC Wealth Management directly serves affluent, high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients globally with a full suite of banking, investment, trust and other wealth management solutions, from our key operational hubs in Canada, the United States, the British Isles, and Asia. The business also provides asset management products and services directly and through RBC and third party distributors to institutional and individual clients, through its RBC Global Asset Management business (which includes BlueBay Asset Management). RBC Wealth Management has almost C$1.3 trillion of assets under administration, over C$929 billion of assets under management and more than 4,800 financial consultants, advisors, private bankers, and trust officers. For more information, please visit www.rbcwealthmanagement.com.
Women’s College Hospital: Cathy Carter, Women’s College Hospital Foundation, 416-813-4728, cathy.carter@wchospital.ca RBC: Briana D’Archi, RBC Wealth Management, 416-704-1346, briana.darchi@rbc.com