Working with Seniors: Health, Financial, and Social Issues

Chapter 1: Trends in Aging

This is the first time in human history that the prospect of living a long, healthy, and productive life has become reality for the majority of people in most parts of the world. What was once a special advantage of the few has become the destiny of many. And it is likely that this increase in longevity will continue. As important as is liberation by health, as powerful as is liberation by law, older people must be liberated, too, from stereotypes that limit their horizons. We are in the midst of the wonderful new world of longevity. It is in our power to make it a celebration. -- Robert Butler, 2001

Introduction

Would you like to know what our senior population will be like in 5, 10, or 20 years? Would it help your business to know their health status, where they will live, or their needs for financial planning? It is a safe bet that this knowledge would benefit you and your clients.

Forecasting trends in aging is a lot like weather prediction. It involves levels of certainty and uncertainty. No one can predict if it will rain or snow next December 15. But there is a very good chance that the weather will be colder on that day than it will be on July 15 of the same year. Therein lies the level of forecasting we can make about trends in aging.

Fortunately, we have a knowledge base that we can use to make some speculations. For example, we know that the seniors of the year 2020 will come from the current group of people who are about 45 and older. Certain key trends affecting this group are already clearly in view (Francese, 2003). For instance, we know their contingent is large, their incomes as a whole are larger than those of their parents, their acceptance of nontraditional family structures has stretched the American idea of “family,” and while they have a greater knowledge of the benefits of health, exercise, and nutrition than probably any American generation in history, they still face medical challenges unknown to previous generations. We can combine these generalized facts with research findings about work, retirement, education, economic development, and other factors to create a range of expectations for the future (Cutler, Whitelaw, & Beattie, 2002). Certainly, some of the next generation’s seniors will live lives not unlike what many of us consider “normal” for seniors today and in the past. But each generation has its unique makeup, and anyone who works with seniors now and in the future must be prepared for change.

What challenges lie ahead for seniors, their families, and those who offer their services to seniors? How can seniors and their families best prepare to provide themselves with enjoyable and healthy lifestyles? And how can our society manage the economic, physical, and emotional needs of this cohort as it moves through its middle years and on to the next stage of life?

In this spirit, this chapter covers the following key trends, which will have impact on your future business of working with seniors: