Aging: It’s interesting how we look at things
It’s interesting how we look at things.
Some see dried, useless flowers that they’d discard. Others see a pretty bouquet that adds life to a room.Looking at older people: Some see decline. Others see great value.
It’s interesting how we look at things.
10 Leadership Traits for Building Greatness in Aging Services
What other leadership characteristics would you add for building greatness in aging services?1. Tackle tough problems. 2. Find meaning and purpose in your work.3. Collaborate, don’t isolate.4. Adapt quickly.5. Be accountable.6. Build trust. Be honest.7. Empower others to lead and to innovate.8. Be curious - continually.9. Keep growing.10. Think widely - see the big picture.
Redefining America’s Senior Centers
Say hello to new kinds of senior centers in America. Ecumen’s continuing care retirement community Parmly LifePointes and the residents of Chisago City, Minnesota had a vision - to create a wellness center that takes a proactive approach to aging. It’s a new kind of senior center. MinnPost.com wrote about Vitalize! Wellness Centre here. You can also watch a two-minute video about it here. The buzz is this: Almost seven in 10 of the fitness center’s 221 members aren’t Parmly residents. They’re people who live independently in this Twin Cities exurb. A few weeks a go an 80-something woman came in wanting to take swimming lessons. She had always wanted to learn how to swim … Living … . Learning … Growing … What a great way to grow old.
Can Older Workers Fill America’s Caregiving Gap?
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%.Can older workers fill this gap? Shari Roan in the L.A. Times shares a story today of Silverado Senior Living, a California-based company that provides hospice, home care and assisted living with a specialty in memory care, that is already turning to older care workers. At Silverado, 12% of its paid employees are over age 55. Many have flexible schedules that allow for extended time off if, for example, they want to travel or have health needs of their own.According to the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, seniors who have a caregiver have a five times better chance of remaining in their homes. Also, if you have a caregiver, you have human interaction, which is critical to living fully.
Will Prince Go to a Nursing Home for Rehab?
According to a British tabloid Prince (a 49-year-old who will soon be living fully after 50) is getting secret hip replacement surgery. Wonder if he’ll go to a nursing home for rehab.
New Senior Housing Development and Design
The design of senior housing is undergoing a number of changes. Below are two newer designs of several that recently received Merit Awards from the American Institute of Architects (AIA). You can see the others there. You can also download our white paper 'A New Day and New Trends in Senior Housing Development'
This project by Hebrew SeniorLife is a slated to be completed next year and will be a multigenerational community with a K-8 school. This continuing care retirement communtiy is planned to include clustered cottages, 12-unit villa living, and two-story penthouse units served by elevators. Care services will be provided using “small house” principles.
This planned 30-story, 224 unit tower called Mirabella is part of the developing South Waterfront District in Portland, and offers an urban environment with a number of amenities within easy walking distance. a Portland Retirement Services community, it will provide all levels of senior care, including independent apartments, residential living, memory care, and nursing care.
Will Baby Boomers Become Seniors? Whatever They Become They’ll Be all over Technology
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? - Mary Furlong, the entrepreneur who started the SeniorNet program, will be holding her informative 'What’s Next?' Boomer Business Summit in Washington, D.C. Several people have attended these in the past from Ecumen and have found it interesting. As a preview, here is a Q&A conference organizers did with Wall Street Journal technology columnist, Walt Mossberg: Q. What are the trends and products in personal technology that will assist the senior population with loss of vision, arthritic hands, etc?A. I think that speech recognition and text speech recognition are becoming more common and are more in demand. The industry is slowly beginning to respond to this need; however, it is not widespread. Cell phone companies have produced phones with larger buttons that are in greater demand today. For example, Verizon Wireless has a new phone aimed at seniors. The primary focus is on simplicity and clarity, and this is not just for seniors, this is what everyone wants. A cell phone trend that is aimed not just for seniors is the development of bigger and clearer phone screens.Q. Based on questions you receive from readers, what are the unmet needs that technology manufacturers need to pay attention to in order to address these needs?A. The primary unmet need within the technology industry is simplicity and readability across the board, for all age groups. All people care about is that their technology works. Manufacturers claim they are addressing this unmet need but they often have mixed agendas and priorities. They often add the latest feature before it is ready.Q. How important is design in creating products for the baby boomer population?A. Design is important for every population, from the college student to the retiree. Design in every sense of the word is crucial. Hardcore techies may not appreciate how things look, but themainstream population of all ages appreciates beautiful design. They want products to be both functional and attractive and fit into their lifestyle, home, car, office, etc. In the last 5-6 years, there has been a resurgence by Apple in the music and phone arenas on designing beautiful products. They know how to package together fantastic design with power.Q. What, in your view, are the most critical issues shaping technology as they relates to the boomer market?A. Baby boomers have the most money. They buy a lot of technology, web subscriptions, etc, so they are big spenders. As long as the technology products and services they want to buy have the right features and are at the right price, they will continue to buy these products and services.Q. What do you think will shape the national conversation about boomers this year?A. The major national agenda item will be about the generational transfer. A large cohort of the population will be reaching retirement age, which will have a tremendous impact in many facets of life in this country and around the world. There will be competition for resources and jobs, and elder care and healthcare issues will play a larger role in the future.
Little Old Lady With a Prius: A Bad Headline
So yesterday in Minnesota the State Legislature voted to override Governor Pawlenty’s veto of a gas tax. The result: Minnesota’s first gas tax hike in 20 years … . and bad headline writing.Today’s Saint Paul Pioneer Press featured a chart to show the gas tax impact. It created three categories of drivers, labeling them as:1. Gas Guzzler2. Middle of the Road3. Little Old Lady with a Prius.Enough with the cute, old labels. Why not call the Middle of the Road' person, a 'big, middle-aged person.' It wouldn’t cross the mind.
When Long-Term Care Becomes Wrong-Term Care
Innovator Sean Kershaw, who leads the Citizens League, one of the country’s top non-partisan civic engagement organizations, calls for a new civic and intergenerational approach to aging. He writes in his most recent 'Viewpoint' article …The term 'long-term care' is revealing. Long-term care is usually about long-term loss: the loss of authority, money, health, and connections to family and community. Our system is based on an expert and medical model of passive consumption and limited choices. And because none of us really want this, we avoid talking about it or planning for it … We need to begin an intergenerational discussion to redefine the issue in radically new - civic - terms … We should talk about how we all age, not just about 'the elderly'; about harnessing wisdom and building individual capacity, not just providing more/better services and care. We should talk about health and wellness, not just chronic illness; about taking personal responsibility for our retirement and for the economic health of future generations, not just how we pay the bills for the current troubled system … You can read Sean’s full Viewpoint article here.
The Purpose Prize: 10 Days to Nominate
| There are only two weeks left to nominate individuals you know over 60 who are changing the world! Civic Ventures is accepting nominations, including self-nominations, at www.PurposePrize.org until March 1st. |
| The Purpose Prize provides fifteen awards of up to $100,000 to social entrepreneurs, 60 years and older, who are solving the world´s toughest problems. They can be leaders within nonprofit, government, or private sector institutions or organizations whose innovative ideas were put into action after they turned 50. |