L Editorial

Editorial
L
ast week, I spotted an interesting headline in the business
section of the Globe and Mail. It was about ‘the boomer
shift’. The title got me thinking about what this means for us,
as oncology nurses.
I realize I could be seen as slightly biased—given I am right
in the middle of the boomer age group and it all feels very relevant—but I think there are issues beyond me, as an individual,
that will have a large influence on cancer control and, thus, on
cancer patients, their families, and oncology nurses. I am concerned that we anticipate these impacts and take steps to be
prepared.
I am certain you have heard about the baby boomers, those
individuals who were born during the two decades after the
Second World War (specifically 1946 to 1965). This population group has been described as the most important cohort
in human history for influencing economic, technological, and
social development—and this is not expected to be any different as they approach retirement and their older years (Foote in
Boom, Bust & Echo).
The boomers have had a significant influence on many
aspects of Canadian life from the moment they were born.
This group of individuals (now between 50 and 69 years) form
28.6% of the Canadian population. The greying of such a significant proportion of the Canadian population is set to have a
large impact over the next few decades, but it creates an immediate pressure to anticipate and prepare for change in the next
15 to 20 years. The coming changes will reshape our economy
and force substantial government social policy shifts to support the citizens of our country.
The baby boomer group (referred to as a ‘demographic bubble’) is expected to face its senior years in better health than the
previous generation, to have longer lives and possess greater
wealth. But, as they move from being actively employed individuals, to retired consumers, and eventually dependent
recipients, this movement will have a significant impact on
economic productivity and the need for a wide range of services (especially health care and social services). And no doubt
aspects of living such as leisure activities, travel, attitudes, values, life priorities, and moral concerns will all come into sharp
focus, and begin to shift.
Within this boomer shift, there are two trends that I think
have particular relevance to us, as oncology nurses: one concerns workforce changes and the other concerns the aging
population health needs for care and support.
As baby boomers leave the workforce (and many are
poised to do so in the next decade either through retirement
or moving to part-time employment), they take with them
tremendous expertise and wisdom. They have built their
knowledge and skill over the years through experiencing
the many challenges in the work environment and learning
In the Summer Issue (Volume 25, No 3) Cherie Severson was
listed in error as working at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in
Calgary, Alberta.
2
how to cope and succeed. This wisdom and knowledge will
not be easily replaced. This trend calls for careful succession
planning and for innovation in assisting baby boomers to
pass on their knowledge or work in new or different ways,
as they ease out of fully active work life and into retirement
(or pre-retirement) mode. One of the next books we likely
all should read is Chris Farrell’s entitled, Unretirement: How
baby boomers are changing the way we think about work, community and the good life.
Some experts have said this workforce trend will be offset
by immigration and by old adults working past 65 years of
age. In fact, the number of individuals older than 65 who are
still working at least part-time has tripled in the past decade.
However, these two potential solutions will require innovation
within our cancer care world if we are going to take full advantage of them.
The other concern I have is about the escalating demand
for health and social services that we will see; and within that,
the escalating need for cancer care of older adults, as the baby
boomers age. I would encourage you to read the Canadian
Cancer Society’s recent report projecting the number of cancer
diagnoses in older adults that will be made over the next three
decades.
We already know that the biggest risk factor for cancer is
aging. But what we do not have, as yet, is the robust knowledge base about caring for older adults. Many of our existing
supportive care studies and clinical trials do not include older
adults. We need to escalate our research efforts to understand
the needs of the older adult cancer patient and look to designing the appropriate treatment and supportive care programs.
In addition, the older adult who will come to us in the next
few decades will not be the same older adult we see today. The
future one will be healthier, likely more active and health literate. They will no doubt demand health and illness interventions and support in different ways than does the generation of
today; they may wish to experience different balances between
quantity and quality of life. I imagine the demand could well
be for more aggressive intervention for older individuals than
was practised in the past or is currently offered today. This is
going to have a huge impact on what treatments and supports
will need to be provided—and on the projections about cancer
care economics and needed resources.
So, as I think about ‘the boomer shift’, I think it is imperative that we anticipate and prepare ourselves while there is still
time. We cannot wait until the ‘grey tsunami’ is upon us.
Margaret I. Fitch, RN, PhD
Editor in Chief CONJ
Dans le numéro d'été (volume 25, no 3), Cherie Severson a
été présentée par erreur comme travaillant au Centre de cancérologie Tom Baker de Calgary, en Alberta.
Volume 26, Issue 1, Winter 2016 • Canadian Oncology Nursing Journal
Revue canadienne de soins infirmiers en oncologie