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.

Janice Walton and her husband, Dan, were married for more than 60 years. They made every decision, planned every holiday together.

For six decades.

They raised their two kids together, providing them with a safe and secure home environment.

Dan was the love of Janice’s life when, overnight, their world went pear-shaped.

He began to experience signs of dementia. Janice found herself thrust into a role she was ill prepared for – that of a fulltime caregiver.

Then, Dan needed surgery. And after the surgery, his mind began to spin away even faster, to the point where Janice had to find a memory facility for him.

The facility was hit with Covid during the pandemic; Dan became infected and died.

Suddenly, for the first time in her adult life, she was alone.

This is a very personal story but one that is not unique. It’s the story of a spouse hurled into the role of caregiver with no roadmap as a guide.

To try and deal with her grief, Janice began to write. A lot. Today, at the age of 85, she is the author of one book and a newsletter, Aging Well, on Substack.

Janice shares much of her story this week on The Art 2 Aging.

Baby boomers have grown up with technology. We’ve seen enormous change over the past seven decades. It’s staggering what has transpired since the days of telephone “party” lines in homes, rotary dial phones, two or three TV channels via an outside antenna – the list goes on.

So, it’s always odd to hear someone who is NOT a baby boomer make the assumption that older people are clueless about technology. We’re not.

But what can baffle us is the complexity of technology today. Which baffles many who are much younger, too.

It is difficult to stay on top of authenticator apps, IPTV apps (and how to configure them), two or three step ID security systems, modems, ethernet, etc. The technology is always changing and tricky to master.

Ezra Schwartz is a UX developer with more than 30 years experience designing interfaces that are clear and simple. His major complaint with technology – the industry in which he makes his living – is that apps and software platforms have become so complex that they are leaving many older people on the sidelines. He’s our guest this week on The Art 2 Aging and he explains what’s wrong and how to fix it.

Correction: Ezra Schwartz is a UX designer; he is not a UX developer. Our apologies to Ezra!