Changing Aging

Who will care for you or the one you love?  Could it be older Americans?  Could they help you stay more independent?

In our Age Wave Study, most boomers said they aren’t going to retire, but they’re going to do something that they enjoy, that has purpose and keeps them connected to others.  That could be working in aging services.

Today about 20% of American adults needing care assistance are unable to find either paid or voluntary help, according to a 2006 study by the International Longevity Center-USA, a nonprofit research policy organization in New York City.  According to the Center, demand for home health aides during the next decade is expected to increase by more than 50%.

Will baby boomers always be known as boomers, or will they take on the moniker “seniors” when they become 80, 90, 120 . . . . ?   Hmmmmmm  . . . . In our Age Wave Study, most boomers said they were fine with the term senior, but we didn’t ask them if they’d be called boomers or seniors . . . that would have been interesting . . . what do you want to be called when you’re in your 90s or 100s? 

Who’s that riding the Age Wave? 

Mickey and Minnie Mouse at Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Japan.  According to Telegraph.UK.Com, Disney Japan has announced new pricing structures focused on wooing older customers with their grandchildren.

Japan has the largest proportion of seniors in the world, with close to 20 per cent of the nation’s 127 million residents over 65, a figure that is going to continue to grow.

This May a guest from Disney, which is recognized globally for its customer service and hospitality, is going to be keynoting our annual Ecumen Leadership Conference, a gathering of 500 Ecumen leaders.  We’re going to be carrying over the discussion on “It” that we’ve been having here at Changing Aging.

Soon a lot more communities are going to have more seniors than children.  Is an aging society a problem?  It very well could be.  Or it could mean some mind blowing, incredible innovation.

Stephen Aguilar-Millan is a futurist in the U.K.  His blog post The Olderpreneurs looks at how future seniors will create a “Grey Economy,” creating businesses with each other and doing business with each other.  When I look at how boomers view their work future in the Ecumen Age Wave Study, I see Stephen’s futurist view makes a lot of sense today.

While there are many more than 12 people who are “Changing Aging” across the United States,  here are 12 that Kelly Greene of the Wall Street Journal focused upon on Friday. 

At Ecumen, we’ve had the pleasure to work with two of them: Eric Dishman, who heads up innovation in Intel Corporation’s Digital Health Group, and Dr. William Thomas, the Dr. Spock of Aging and who also authors a “Changing Aging” blog. 

When you look at the areas they identify, you see key areas for innovation and “Changing Aging” in America:

- Technology

- Housing

In Finland, Gallup recently conducted a poll of Finns, age 49-60. 

According to the poll, every second middle-aged Finn is prepared to purchase care services for their parents to supplement services provided by municipalities.

I don’t think you’d get quite the same response in the United States.

Technology is going to play an increasing role in aging and the transformation of America for the Age Wave.

Christine Capecchi, a reporter with MinnPost.com, spent time with Honor Hacker, an Ecumen customer, yesterday (at left) at the Ecumen community of Lakeview Commons.  Here is Christina’s interesting story.

Honor and Kathy Bakkenist, Ecumen’s COO and senior vice president of strategy and operations, will be testifying tomorrow before members and staff of the Senate Special Committee on Aging on the subject of aging and technology.

Churches across America have a tremendous opportunity to play a significantly positive role in the aging of America by helping create vibrant communities that bring multiple generations together.

Looking closer at this emerging leadership role, we have introduced a white paper entitled: “A New Wrinkle on Aging, Congregational Senior Housing.”  Author Kay Harvey shares one congregation’s experience as it turns a vision into reality.

Are you a grandboomer?   Is it different than what your experience was like with your grandparents?

The Age Wave is redefining grandparenting.

- More than one in three baby boomers are grandparents, with the average age of grandboomers being 53.

-With life expectancy at record lengths, baby boomer grandparents will be part of their grandchildren’s lives longer than any previous generation. 

- The newest grandchildren will see work as an integral part of their grandparents’ lives as boomers will work longer than previous generations of grandparents according to our study of boomers.

Thirty years ago last Sunday, former Vice President and Minnesota U.S. Senator Hubert H. Humphrey died.   He was only 66.

It’s interesting how America’s public policy agenda changes over time.  In Humphrey’s 1976 campaign brochure the theme was:  Humphrey . . . The Man for All Reasons.

Guess what Reason # 1 was?  Senior Citizens.

When you open his 1976 brochure this is the text that hits you first: