One of the major challenges to improving the care of older patients is the availability of health human resources trained in providing appropriate care to the elderly. With only about 250 geriatricians currently available to support 5 Million older Canadians, there are not enough geriatricians – let alone other types of Canadian physicians and other health care professionals – with the appropriate knowledge and skills to provide holistic, person-centred care to our rapidly ageing population.

The baby boom generation that arose in 1946 unleashed a wave of student protests in the 1960s, bought homes and started families in the 1970s and 1980s, and then started turning 65 in 2011. Just a few years ago, one of the largest generations that Canada has ever seen started leaving the workforce to enter retirement, and in 2015, for the first time in Canada, Statistics Canada reported that there were more Canadians over 65 than there were under 15, sparking numerous articles and discussions about a “grey tsunami” that will raise costs and put more stress on our health care system.