Finding Programs & Services in Calgary
Calgary 55+ Programs & Services Directory Project
Find trusted programs and services that support healthy aging—all in one place.
Coming Early 2027
We are developing a research-driven, easy-to-use online directory that brings together programs and services for adults aged 55+ across Calgary.
The directory will include:
More than 700 programs and services
Over 300 organizations
Simple search and filtering tools
Designed for older adults—and also useful for caregivers and service providers—this directory makes it easier to find reliable, up-to-date information in one place.
Why This Matters
As Calgary’s population ages, ensuring that older adults can easily find and use programs and services is an important part of supporting healthy aging.
Through the Age-Friendly Calgary Initiative, organizations across sectors are working together to create a more supportive and inclusive community for older adults. This work includes improving how people access and navigate information about available programs and services.
Despite these efforts, many older adults, caregivers, and service providers continue to face challenges. Information is often scattered across multiple sources, making it difficult to find and determine which information can be trusted. These challenges can be even greater for those with lower digital literacy.
Improving how information is organized and accessed helps older adults connect to the supports they need.
Our Goal
We are creating a centralized, easy-to-use online directory that brings together trusted information about programs and services for adults aged 55+ in Calgary. The directory is designed primarily for older adults and will also support caregivers and service providers in helping others access these programs and services.
This project is led by the Centre on Aging, in close collaboration with Calgary Seniors’ Resource Society and Carya, both active partners in Age-Friendly Calgary.
Project Approach
This project is being carried out in four phases.
We conducted an online survey with adults aged 55+ in Calgary to understand how they find information, the challenges and supports they experience, and what they want in a digital tool. See key findings from this phase below.
We developed a comprehensive database of non-medical, community-based programs and services for adults aged 55+ in Calgary.
- More than 700 programs and services identified
- Over 300 organizations included
- Each resource includes key details such as location, type of service, and cost
To support the reliability of the information, we also developed and applied a framework to assess the credibility of organizations offering programs and services. This framework considers factors such as:
- Organizational capacity
- Length of establishment
- Credentials and qualifications
- Recency of program and service information
- Transparency of program and service details
We are currently designing and refining the directory based on findings from Phase 1. The directory will allow users to:
- Search for programs and services
- Filter results based on their needs and preferences
- Explore resources in one convenient place
We will evaluate the directory to ensure it is accessible, easy to use, and meets the needs of older adults.
- Testing will involve up to 30 adults aged 55+ in Calgary
- Feedback will be used to refine and improve the directory before launch
Key findings from Phase 1
212 people participated in our survey.
Outputs & Impact
The online directory will launch publicly in early 2027. The online directory will launch publicly in early 2027. Following launch, Calgary Seniors’ Resource Society will lead the ongoing management and maintenance of the directory to help ensure the information remains current and relevant.
We will also share project findings through community and academic reports, which will be available on this page once completed.
This project supports Age-Friendly Calgary by improving access to information and helping older adults, caregivers, and service providers connect with programs and services that support health and well-being.
Contact Us
If you have questions about this project, contact the Centre on Aging.
Stay Informed
Enter your email below to be notified when the directory launches. We will only contact you with updates about this project.
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Acknowledgements
We gratefully acknowledge the individuals and organizations providing leadership for this project.
We also thank Vertical Motion (Wes MacDonald) and the W21C Research and Innovation Centre (Anna Bradford, Maggie Hui) for their contributions to the development and evaluation of the online directory.
Funding
This project is funded by the Centre on Aging, the Brenda Strafford Foundation Chair in Geriatric Medicine, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Betty Havens Prize for Knowledge Mobilization in Aging.
