It’s National Seniors Day on October 1st and for the first time ever, there are more seniors than children living in Canada. According to Statistics Canada, in July, the country’s population reached 35,851,774, and people over 65 accounted for 5,780,900 or 16.1% of the total. By comparison, 16.0% or 5,749,400 were children age 14 and under. Overall, Canada’s population grew 0.9% year-over-year, which is lower than the growth of 1.1% the year before. In British Columbia, the population grew 1.0% after increasing 1.2% the year before. The province’s population makes up 13.1% of the total number of people in Canada. The aging of the population in Canada will accelerate between 2010 and 2031, the period during which all baby boomers will reach age 65. Population aging will continue after 2031, but at a slower pace. Today, one in seven Canadians is aged 65 or over. By 2036, nearly one in four Canadians will be a senior. We can all think of a senior who has made an impact in our lives. They are our mentors, our leaders, our grandparents and our loved ones. They are our volunteers, our neighbours and our role models. Through their commitment to remain active, engaged and informed, seniors across the country are demonstrating to Canadians of all ages exactly what it means to age well. And we are all benefiting from their ongoing contributions. In 2015/2016, United Way is investing nearly $12 million into programs and services for seniors in the Lower Mainland. A large part of that money is from the provincial government and is invested in Better at Home, a seniors program that United Way British Columbia manages. Better at Home operates in 67 communities around B.C. Coordinators from across the province are gathering in Burnaby on October 1 and 2 for a provincial Better at Home meet-up. Training session topics include strategies for supporting clients with dementia, and effectively dealing with end of life transition. Better at Home provides non-medical support services to seniors, like light yardwork or friendly visits, in order to help seniors stay in their own homes for longer where they want to be. Keeping connected to community, friends and family is a vital ingredient for keeping healthy at any age. 
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