100 years and counting and Happy Birthday to all those 100 plus

A friend has her mother turning 100 this week and it got me thinking about how many people in Canada are at this age or older. 

According to our latest census there were 5,825 people age 100 plus in 2011, in 2016 there is expected to be 7,900 centenarians and by 2061 we expect to have 78,300 centenarians in Canada. That is a lot of people and the growth rate in this age group is high. This is good news for those of us, like me and my friends, who are in our 70Th year, it means we have many good years ahead.

The 2011 Census counted 4,870 women and 955 men aged 100 and over. The corresponding sex ratio was about 500 women for every 100 men, the highest of all age groups. Among the Canadian population, there were slightly more men than women up to age 26, after which there were more women than men. By age 65, there were about 125 women for 100 men and by age 80, 170 women per 100 men.

More women than men reach the age of 100 because women experience lower probabilities of dying at all ages than men. In 2008,  the life expectancy at birth was 78.5 years for men and 83.1 years for women.

International comparisons

The number of centenarians depends on the life expectancy and the size of the total population. The United States, for example, had a population about 10 times larger than Canada's; the number of centenarians was also higher, with 53,000 people in 2010.

The rate of centenarians per 100,000 persons is useful in comparing countries of significantly different population sizes, such as G8 countries.

In 2011, Canada's rate of 17.4 centenarians per 100,000 persons was slightly below the average of 19.7 among G8 countries (Figure 2).

In the United States, the rate of centenarians was slightly lower than in Canada. Life expectancy in the United States, at 75.6 years for men and 80.8 years for women in 2007, was also slightly lower than in Canada.

Japan had the highest centenarian rate, at nearly 37 centenarians per 100,000 population, more than twice Canada's rate. Life expectancy was the highest in Japan, at 79.6 years for men and 86.4 years for women in 2009.^Footnote3

France, Italy and the United Kingdom also had higher centenarian rates than Canada. The population of these three countries is, on average, older than Canada's. In France, for example, women had a life expectancy of 84.5 in 2008, compared to 83.1 in Canada.

In Russia, there were only four centenarians per 100,000 population. Life expectancy in Russia over the last 25 years has been well below that of other G8 countries (around 68 years for men and 74 years for women).

Some other interesting data from our census in Canada

• The number of seniors (age 65 and over) is nearly 5 million, an increase of just over 14 per cent.

• The number of seniors is at the highest rate ever in Canada.

• The working-age population, aged 15-64, only grew by 5.7 per cent and account for 42 per cent of the total population.

• The population of children under 14 only grew by 0.5 per cent.

• The population of children under 4 increased a lot, by 11 per cent between 2006 and 2011.

• The first baby boomers hit retirement age — 65 — in 2011.

• The fastest-growing age group are 60-64 year-olds, at 29 per cent.

• The second fastest-growing group are centenarians, those over 100.

• Saskatchewan experienced a decrease in the proportion of seniors because of significant increases in the working age population and the under-14 age group.

• Saskatchewan had the highest fertility rate of all the provinces.

• The working age population, 15-64, decreased in Atlantic Canada and the Yukon but increased in every other province and territory.

• The working age population in Alberta encompasses 70 per cent of the overall population.

• There are a higher proportion of people over 65 living in rural and remote areas than in or near big cities.

• Some of the oldest CMAs — (census metropolitan areas) — include Peterborough, Ont., Trois-Rivieres, Que., and Kelowna, B.C.

• The oldest CAs (Census Areas)— cities — are Parksville, B.C., Elliot Lake, Ont., and Cobourg, Ont.

• Cities with the highest proportion of working age population are: Wood Buffalo, Alta., Yellowknife, Strathmore, Alta., and Whitehorse.

• 5,825 Canadians are over 100 years old.

• There are 500 women centenarians for every 100 men.

• Saskatchewan has the highest rate of centenarians of all the provinces and territories.

• The Calgary CMA has an equal gender split, 50-50.

• Wood Buffalo, Alta., is the manliest town in Canada, with 54.4 per cent of the overall population.

• Cobourg, Ont., is where the ladies are. It is the city under 100,000 with largest proportion of women, 53.6 per cent.

• Nunavut is the youngest territory or province, with 32 per cent of the population under 14.

• The median age in Canada in May 2011 was 40.6

• The number of children aged four and under increased for the first time in 50 years.

• Nearly two-thirds of all teenagers live in central Canada.

For all the moms out there

Miss Jones had been giving her second-grade students a lesson on science. 

She had explained about magnets and showed how they would pick up nails and other bits of iron. 

Now it was question time, and she asked, "My name begins with the letter 'M' and I pick up things. What am I?"

A little boy on the front row proudly said, "You're a mother!"

Resumes

Resumes We have all done them over our working careers, but sometimes a quick reminder of what they are and what they are used for can be helpful. My advice is to not use a resume unless you have to, rely on contacts and meetings to further your job search. Using a resume means, the employer has information that if misread or misinterpreted can leading to screening you out of the race. Remember that. A resume is a tool that the employer uses to screen prospective Employees. If you have to use a resume, here are some points to help you.

1.      A resume is a tool that you can use to focus on some important facts about yourself.

2.      There are two rules when writing a resume:

3.      Have mercy on yourself!

4.      Have mercy on the person reading your resume!

5.    Don't make these types of mistakes on your resume

a.    Typo's This one seems obvious, but it happens again and again. A 2013 CareerBuilder survey found that 58% of resumes have typos.

b.    Length A good rule of thumb is one page of resume for every 10 years of work experience. 

c.    Formatting Unless you’re applying for a job such as a designer or artist, your focus should be on making your resume clean and legible.

                                                  i.    Use at least 10-point font. At least half-inch margins. White paper, black ink. Consistent spacing between lines, columns aligned, your name and contact information on every page.

d.    Do not give out confidential information at least 5-10% of resumes reveal confidential information. 

e.     Lies Putting a lie on your resume is never, ever, ever, worth it. People lie about how long they were at companies, how big their teams were, and their sales results, always goofing in their favor.

The style of the individual resume may vary according to the personality of the person writing; just remember it should be neat with no spelling or grammar mistakes.

1. There are three standard ways of doing resumes:
1. Chronological order **
2. Narrative/Biographical ***
3. Descriptive/Functional ****

**  If you have had many jobs, you list the jobs in reverse order of holding them.

***  If you have not held any jobs, you list skills you have and how they can help The employer.

**** If you have held a few jobs that lasted a short time each, then describe the duties of the job.

There are THREE IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES, which you must keep in mind as you being drafting your own resume:

1. Put your strongest qualifications first! You will have to grab the employer in your first few statements or sentences.
2. Present your important achievements and skills in an honest and direct manner! If you do not let the employer know exactly what you can do, no one else will! Don't cheat the employer by exaggerating your abilities, but don't cheat yourself by underrating them!
3. Include your strengths and exclude your weaknesses! No one is perfect. Like everyone else, you probably have weak and strong areas. The resume, however, is not the place to mention weaknesses or problems. To get that interview - KEEP YOUR RESUME STRONG

Keep these three principles in mind as you work on your resume! Remember that the resume is a sales tool. The employer's first impression will be based on your resume.

Gender gap in retirement income

There is a gender pay gap, it  is a real phenomenon, but it has beeen overshadowed another inequality that has the same potential to threaten the long-term financial stability of women: the glaring gender gap in retirement savings.

In the USA in 2011, the average IRA owned by a man had a balance of $114,745 while the average balance for a woman was $66,529. At age 70, median balances were $72,971 for men and $42,926 for women.

There are several reasons why women need to save more aggressively than their male counterparts. Here are some:

1. Women often have fewer years in the workforce

Many women don't earn as much as men and often end up working less because they take time off to have children at some point during their careers. This means in order to have more in retirement, more of income earned while working needs to be saved according to financial planners. Tough when money is needed for running the home, easier if  a women is in a relationship where both parties contribute to the home. A better solution, pay women more money when they are working, close the gender gap.

2. Women may be more conservative in their investments

Women have a tendency to be more conservative then most men, when investing. While conservative investing can keep money safe, it may also mean women don't earn high enough returns to build a comfortable nest egg. The conservative approach works because women tend to ask more questions and be more likely to stick with their investment decisions, which can be a good thing in a tumultuous market environment. Women may be encouraged to take larger risks when investing, but this only benefits the sellers of financial products. Over the long term a conservative investor can do well if they aim for a rate of return that is one or two points higher than inflation.

3. Women don't necessarily plan for themselves

Whether it be letting a man make their investment decisions or thinking a husband's Social Security or pension will sustain them, many women make the mistake of not being in charge of their own retirement plans.

Part of the problem may lie with advisers who assume men are the decision makers. Women shouldn't be afraid to speak up during investment discussions and they should seek out women who are professional money managers, as many men discount the opinions of women when it comes to investing.

Women live longer than men so about 50 to 60 percent of women will be single (at some point) in retirement. Those women might be divorced, widowed or single by choice. Regardless of the reason, they need to be prepared to care for themselves during their final years. 

5. Women may place others' needs ahead of their own

It's unfortunate that children and grandchildren may not feel an obligation to help their mothers and grandmothers because, in some cases, those older women may not have retirement savings since they prioritized their families above themselves.

Men when asked to name a common mistake women make  about investing is that women worry about everyone else and do not put themselves first.

That means college funds get money before retirement plans, and family needs are placed before savings and this is needed in today's economy but women should still put themselves first.  The old adage, pay yourself first still applies when you are retired and women need to consider themselves as well as their loved ones and families. Helping loved ones, should never mean putting yourself at risk.

If enough women take control in these ways, the gender gap in retirement savings could become a thing of past.

Which Foods are The Healthiest?

Here is the list of the healthiest foods, how many did you guess?

Avocados
Rich in healthy, satisfying fats proven in one study to lower cholesterol by about 22 percent. One has more than half the fiber and 40 percent of the folate you need daily, which may reduce your risk of heart disease.
Quick Tip:  Adding it to your salad can increase the absorption of key nutrients like beta-carotene by three to five times compared with salads without this superfood.

Beans
Eating a serving of legumes (beans, peas, and lentils) four times a week can lower your risk of heart disease by 22 percent. That same habit may also reduce your risk of breast cancer.
Quick Tip: The darker the bean, the more antioxidants it contains. One study found that black bean hulls contain 40 times the amount of antioxidants found in white bean hulls

Blueberries
If you are looking for an antioxidant punch look no further then the blueberry. This fruit has the highest level of antioxidants among fruits. Studies have shown that blueberries can help in lowering cholesterol, reducing diabetes risk, and even slowing down the aging process. Combine that with improving motor skills and urinary and vision health and you have another healthy choice.
Quick Tip: Blueberries on your cereal to start the day off right.

Broccoli
The "King" of health vegetables. Loaded with vitamins such as B-6,A, folic acid, and K also full of minerals like potassium and calcium. Broccoli also has unique cancer-fighting properties, activated by phytochemicals indole-3-carbinol and sulforaphane.

Quick Tip: Zap it! Preserve up to 90 percent of broccoli's vitamin C by microwaving. (Steaming or boiling holds on to just 66 percent of the nutrient.)

Dark Chocolate
Believe it or not dark chocolate actually makes our top 10 list because of recent studies which show benefits to our cardiovascular system as well as cancer-protective properties and mood-enhancing benefits. Just remember to consume in moderation.

Quick Tip: A dark chocolate bar contains about 53.5 milligrams of flavonoids; a milk chocolate bar has fewer than 14.

Lemons

Just one lemon has more than 100 percent of your daily intake of vitamin C, which may help increase "good" HDL cholesterol levels and strengthen bones.  Citrus flavonoids found in lemons may help inhibit the growth of cancer cells and act as an anti-inflammatory.
Quick Tip: Add a slice of lemon to your green tea. One study found that citrus increases your body's ability to absorb the antioxidants in the tea by about 80 percent.

Flaxseeds
Combine the warm nutty flavor of flaxseeds with a generous amount of omega-3 fatty acids and you have a health food superstar. 
Quick Tip: Sprinkle them on cereal in the morning and enjoy the healthy benefits they provide 

Garlic
Garlic is a powerful disease fighter that can inhibit the growth of bacteria, including E. coli. Allicin, a compound found in garlic, works as a potent anti-inflammatory and has been shown to help lower cholesterol and blood-pressure levels.
Quick Tip: Crushed fresh garlic releases the most allicin. Just don't overcook; garlic exposed to high heat for more than 10 minutes loses important nutrients.

Green Tea
Many studies support the benefits of adding green tea to your diet. Some studies show it has cancer risk reducing properties, and a potential in also decreasing incidence of stroke and heart disease.
Quick Tip: Make it habit to switch from regular black tea to green tea.

Honey
Honey has many healing properties and research has shown that honey has a role in digestive health as well anti-bacterial and anti-viral effects
Quick Tip: Combine Honey with your Green tea for a real healthy drink

Potatoes

One red potato contains 66 micrograms of cell-building folate -- about the same amount found in one cup of spinach or broccoli. One sweet potato has almost eight times the amount of cancer-fighting and immune-boosting vitamin A you need daily. 

Quick Tip: Let your potato cool before eating. Research shows that doing so can help you burn close to 25 percent more fat after a meal, thanks to a fat-resistant starch

Salmon
Salmon is another healthy food superstar because it is low in calories, saturated fat, and is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids and protein. Research studies have shown anti-inflammatory and
cancer prevention properties and a key role in diabetes and Alzheimer's prevention plus cardiovascular benefits.

Quick Tip: Opt for wild over farm-raised, which contains 16 times as much toxic polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) as wild salmon.

Spinach
Spinach contains lutein and zeaxanthin, two immune-boosting antioxidants important for eye health. Recent research found that among cancer-fighting fruits and veggies, spinach is one of the most effective.
Quick Tip: Spinach is a healthy -- and flavorless -- addition to any smoothie. You won't taste it, we promise! Try blending 1 cup spinach, 1 cup grated carrots, 1 banana, 1 cup apple juice, and ice.

Walnuts
Walnuts are rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, walnuts are the first food that the FDA allowed to make this claim "Supportive but not conclusive research shows that eating 1.5 oz of walnuts per day, as part of a low saturated fat and low cholesterol diet, and not resulting in increased caloric intake may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease."

Quick Tip: Eat a few for dessert: The antioxidant melatonin, found in walnuts, helps to regulate sleep.