While social participation is at the center of recent conversations on aging, it is questionable whether or not its definition corresponds to the realities and aspirations of elders as an ensemble. This article presents a critical analysis of discourses that examined policies on aging developed by the province of Quebec (Canada) between 2005 and 2012. The results show that emerging interpretations of participation can be problematic when they are associated with recommendations, standards and expectations. First, analyzes show that participation is more and more determined from a productivity perspective, replacing discourses built around the well-being of seniors with concerns about their social utility. Second, the context of social participation has shifted from a collective responsibility to a personal choice issue within the local community. Third, the documents reflect a polarization of activity and loss of autonomy that results in associating participation and good health. These results suggest that the way in which social participation is articulated and encouraged in Quebec’s policies on aging can impede the inclusion of people with disabilities in the community and non-profit settings.