Boomer Myths and Misconcpetions Blog

A Purple Issue

For the past week, I had the honor and privilege of attending the 2005 White House Conference on Aging (WHCoA) as a delegate-at-large. While generally disappointed by the lack of vision and creativity in the strategies developed, it was invigorating to be involved in such a historic event.

The WHCoA is now history. In her closing remarks, Dorcas Hardy, Chair of the Policy Committee reminded the delegates that, politically, there are red and blue states but preparing for the demographic shift that will begin making its presence increasingly known over the next 10 years is a purple issue. The leading edge of the Baby Boom begins turning 60 on January 1, 2005. Every 8 seconds thereafter for 18 years they will be joined by one of their counterparts.

As one of those Boomers turning 60 in 2006, I am excited by the future. I have never been more excited by the business potential of serving those entering life's third stage and applying the wisdom of the Greatest Generation now blazing the way and identifying the issues that must be addressed. One member of the Greatest Generation was called on to wrap up the White House Conference, Dr. Robert Butler of the International Longevity Center.

Until Dr. Butler took the stage, I was disappointed that countering ageism and aging stereotypes had not arisen as a major issue in the strategy sessions. However, Dr. Butler clearly identified it as a major concern and something that must be immediately addressed. He further labeled the health care system in the US, especially the field of geriatrics, as out of step with today's and tomorrow's reality. He challenged everyone to view the aging of the Boom was not a coming debacle to be feared but an opportunity to be celebrated.

Butler reminded us that longevity and health are drivers of wealth and we must focus on preventive health care, aging research and geriatrics if we are to revolutionize our nation's health care system. He characterized Alzheimer's disease as today's polio and nursing homes as today's iron lungs. Just as Jonas Salk's vaccine ended the need for iron lungs, we need new models for preventive, acute and long term care to successfully serve an aging nation if we are to "add life to years as well as years to life".

To the Baby Boomers in the room he said, "Society is not ready for you; and you are not ready" for the future and called on delegates to begin the revolution. While I felt the majority of the "strategies" included in the final report were little more than an extensive wish list for additional funding of existing programs and lacked both accountability and innovation, there was also a realization within that the system was in need of an overhaul. A play book will be developed by the Policy Committee using the strategies developed by the delegates and become available to the country within six months. Whether or not we are successful in using those plays to create win-win solutions will depend on how well we can build on the plays that bring results and throw out the ones that result in zero or negative yardage.

For both current older adults, the aging of the Baby Boom and generations that follow, this is a game we cannot afford to loose. Play Ball!

Where are the Innovative Leaders?

If you are looking for a good overview of the challenges being created by aging baby boomers, check out the December 3rd issue of the National Journal byJulie Kosterlitz and Marilyn Werver Serafini entitled, "Must it be Gloom and Doom for the Baby Boom?

Of course the short answer to the question posed is NO! But you would not know that if you only listen our politicians and special interest groups. One is obsessed with curring the votes of this group for the next election and the other in increasing their budgets to 'serve' and 'care for them'.

I loved the article...maybe because I have been preaching the need for innovative solutions (getting outside the box, self-sufficiency, life long personal growth, positive aging etc.) in workshops since the early 80's. What is missing from the article however is a call for innovative solutions wherein people are encouraged to do more for themselves and depend less on government programs. The article also failed to mention that a primary motivator for Boomers to continue working is not money or boredom relief so much as it is to find personal significance - purpose - giving back. To ignore this is to overlook the potential available to us as a nation.

I was ostracized by many in the Aging Network in the 80's for saying that everyone attending Older American's Act meals programs could contribute something. That something was time (washing dishes, serving, taking reservations etc.)

We did exactly that in rural Iowa while also averaging donations anywhere from 4 to 6 times the national average. Some of our meal sites even posted a 'duty roster' so <u>everyone</u> had a role. We put the staff dollars saved back into serving more people. We mastered the art of doing more with less. We also learned that it was possible to to do good while also doing well.

While my agency received the second smallest Federal appropriation, we had the second largest operating budget of 13 Area Agencies on Aging. We were even 'investigated' by a state legislative committee because someone complained that a nonprofit agency couldn't do that well without doing something wrong or illegal.

The size of the older army grows every year; but visionary leaders to lead that army toward new horizons in our nation's history, it would seem, are in short supply. We have never had as much experience and wisdom available to call on and such a seeming aversion to calling on it. Leaders in the Puzzle Palace (D.C.) pontificate about the 'wisdom of age'; and yet generally ignore it.

Next week, a gathering of possible leaders will occur in Washington, D.C. at the 2005 White House Conference on Aging. In reviewing the delegate list, I see many names of delegates that were also there in 1981. I will be curious how their views will have changed now that they are 20 years older. Will we all leave this event recharged to tackle the challenges ahead with a renewed optimism and agenda for future success? Stay tuned...

While the number of aging programs and their budgets has grown, innovative, entrepreneurial efforts remain in the minority. As I frequently point out, there has been literally no innovation in the field of long term care with the exception of the Eden Alternative/Green House model from Bill Thomas and the LTC Pioneers. Contrary to current myth, Assisted Living is not an innovation but a re-branding of custodial care - and as they say, "no matter how thin you slice it; it's still baloney."

In a recent interview, Dr. Andrew Weil accurately framed the issue, "We are obsessed with youth. We are obsessed with appearance. The old are marginalized in our culture. Marketers target a 20-to-49 demographic. The entertainment industry markets to that, and the old are considered not worth it. I think this is the perfect moment to try to change this because the baby boomers are going to start turning 60 next year, and they are a very large and influential segment of the population. I don't think they're going to settle for the models of aging that previous generations have bought into."

Consultants such as Ken Dychtwald, the perceived golden child of US media and business when it comes to aging, and others building a practice by casting the leading edge of the Baby Boom as 'teenagers for life' are largely responsible for replacing the frail dependent aging myth of yesterday with the sky diving granny image of aging 'hippie' boomers. To me, both are ageist.

Although this view of aging boomers would seem to condemn the 76 million aging adults to a lifetime of narcissism, it has gone largely unchallenged and businesses continue to seek out this type of myopic advice to capture the elusive Boomer market in spite ofthe dismal track record of successes produced following such a philosophy - a view of aging for the developmentally challenged.

I am very positive about the upcoming White House Conference which I have the honor of attending as a delegate-at-large. I am also positive about my future as a leading edge Boomer who turns 60 next year - God willing...and if it's ok with Congress.

Lessons from SD

Some time ago, I was interviewing a 97 year old woman. I asked her what was missing in today's 'retirement' communities. She simply stated we lost something along the way. In World War II, everyone had a job to do whether or not you were in the military. We didn't just talk about supporting our troops we actually did something about it. Somewhere along the line we stopped getting involved and became spectators. I guess you could say that what is wrong with 'retirement communities" is a big part of what's wrong with our nation.

We used to pride ourselves on self-sufficiency, rugged individualism, and personal autonomy. Today, it seems whenever there is a disaster or problem; people start hollering for the government to solve their problems. But not in SD!

As a SD native, I was not surprised when a friend sent me a weather bulletin from last week. I was fortunate enough to grow up with role models that taught me solve my own problems. This text was shared with me as coming from a county emergency manager out in the middle of Eastern South Dakota after the storm.

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WEATHER BULLETIN

Up here in South Dakota we just recovered from a Historic event may I even say a "Weather Event" of "Biblical Proportions" - with a historic blizzard of up to 24" inches of snow and winds to 50 MPH that broke trees in half, stranded hundreds of motorists in lethal snow banks, closed all roads, isolated scores of communities and cut power to 10's of thousands. FYI:

George Bush did not come....

FEMA staged nothing....

No one howled for the government...

No one even uttered an expletive on TV...

Nobody demanded $2,000 debit cards.....

No one asked for a FEMA Trailer House....

No one looted....

Phil Cantori of the Weather Channel did not come....

And Geraldo Rivera did not move in.

Nope, we just melted snow for water, sent out caravans to pluck people out of snow engulfed cars, fired up wood stoves, broke out coal oil lanterns or Aladdin lamps, and put on an extra layer of clothes because up here it is 'work or die'. We did not wait for some government agency to get us out of a mess created by being immobilized by a welfare program that trades votes for 'sittin at home' checks.

Even though a Category "5" blizzard of this scale has never fallen this early...we know it can happen and how to deal with it ourselves.

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Wouldn't it be refreshing if this was the attitude of our nation's leadership at all levels?

Strengthening Relationships

For over 12 years, I have been coordinating meetings for a group of 40 professionals specializing in either marketing to or serving the needs of middle age and older adults (www.thesocietygroup.com). Most of these professionals have over 20 years of specialized experience with this exploding market. We are not just a loosely organized bunch of professionals; but friedns who share a deep commitment to ending ageism while growing both spiritually and professionally.

Just before Thanksgiving, I organized a yackpack (www.yackpack.com) to improve the quality of communications between members. While starting slow, the messages over the Thanksgiving holiday demonstrated the power of this new technology. Rather than sending a quick "Happy Thanksgiving" email or electronic greeting card, members left voice mail messages that shared since wishes while reflecting on this uniquely American holiday. Several members also shared family traditions and the things they were most thankful for in their lives. Listening to these messages, I realized that I was involved with something very special.

As one of the consultants serving yackpack as a consultant, I have come to realize how important the human voice is in building stronger relationships; and why email may in fact erode relationships over time. Email is wonderful for many things; but cannot communicate human emotion, which is central to building stronger relationships. Since there is currently no cost to begin a yackpack, I would encourage everyone to test drive this new technology as a special holiday gift to those you care about.

Happy Holidays!!