October 1, 2020 is National Seniors Day in Canada.
The celebration of older adults is recognized here in conjunction with the 30th Anniversary of the United Nations’ International Day of Older Persons (https://www.un.org/en/observances/older-persons-day).
“The Government of Canada is proud to acknowledge the lifelong contributions our nation’s seniors have made and continue to make to their families, communities and society,” according to Employment and Social Development Canada (https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/campaigns/national-seniors-day.html). “We are focused on improving income security, social inclusion, health and housing for seniors.”
This year, International Day of Older Persons focuses on the role of health care workers, particularly women in the nursing profession.
According to the UN, life expectancy around the world rose from 46 to 68 years from 1950 to 2010. Globally, there were 703 million persons aged 65 years or over in 2019, with over 200 million in Europe and Northern America.
In the next 30 years, the demographic is projected to more than double to more than 1.5 billion people by 2050.