Nearly 30 years ago, a University of Toronto professor named David Foot wrote a book called Boom, Bust and Echo.
The book dealt with how the global population was aging and how savvy investors could profit from the graying trend that would become a tidal wave. In fact, Foot referred to it in terms akin to those of a tidal wave.
The book was a best seller. 30 years ago. Foot wasn’t blowing smoke; everything that he said would come to pass, did.
So, if he knew this and wrote a book about it, why are we still struggling to build enough retirement residences, long term care facilities and find the staff to run them? Why is funding for services for older people in such short supply? Why are employers pushing out older workers in favor of young, inexperienced employees?
Our guest this week on The Art 2 Aging is the CEO of a Canadian advocacy group called CanAge. Laura Tamblyn Watts outlines the parameters of what is an enormous challenge for governments, the public sector and the private sector as well.
A note: we apologize for the audio quality at the time the interview was recorded.
A Mammoth Problem