Seniors constitute the fastest growing segment of Canada’s
population. In fact, the proportion of seniors has risen
from one in twenty in 1921, to one in eight in 2001. Within
this group, the number of Canadians aged 85 or more
is anticipated to increase substantially, up to 4% of the
total population by the year 2041 (Health Canada, 2002).
Women make up the majority of seniors, with gender
differences becoming more pronounced in the oldest age
groups.