The Canadian Initiative on Frailty and Aging seeks to improve the understanding of the causes and trajectory of frailty, promote wellness and improve the quality of health care and life for older Canadians. Goals of the Initiative include proposing a research program on frailty, and developing policy recommendations for decision makers and intervention guidelines for health care professionals.

In 2003, the Max Bell Foundation awarded the Canadian Initiative on Frailty and Aging a four year grant. We also wish to acknowledge the support of the Gustav Levinschi Foundation, the Institute of Aging (CIHR) and the Québec Research Network (FRSQ) as well as various partner research groups and organizations across Canada and Europe.

The Initiative will be developed in close collaboration with colleagues in Europe, Israel and Japan. It will be closely linked to the emerging Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) and the associated Quebec population study supported by the Quebec Research Network in Aging. Links have been established with the developing National Institute on Aging / American Geriatrics Society frailty initiative.

The Initiative was originally launched under the auspices of the Dr. Joseph Kaufmann Chair in Geriatric Medicine, McGill University and the Solidage Research Group.