'Aging of America? gives seniors bigger voice

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Let us speak of age, in keeping with the subject of this week's special section, 50+ retirement and elder care.|ret||ret||tab|

The first time I ever thought of myself as having actually arrived at the state of "old" was at age 32 while playing sandlot basketball in a San Francisco public park. It was a random group of guys that day, all younger than I, and the designated captains were choosing up sides. |ret||ret||tab|

I was the last guy left to be picked. That was enough of an indignity, I figured, since I had a pretty wicked jump shot that I thought deserved some re-spect, but it got worse. The chooser, who had to be all of 17 years, pointed my way and said, "I'll take the old guy."|ret||ret||tab|

Holy Metamucil, he might as well have hit me in the head with a shovel.|ret||ret||tab|

"Old guy?" I said. "Old guy?"|ret||ret||tab|

His face reddened. "I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't mean you're really old. It's just that as young as I am, almost everybody seems old to me."|ret||ret||tab|

He was a nice kid and it was a beautiful recovery, but the damage was done. I figured I was washed up at 32. |ret||ret||tab|

The stigma of age was much worse in those days. It's better now. Much better. Within the last decade, demographic, cultural and technological changes have profoundly altered the image and experience of older people in America. |ret||ret||tab|

I think there are three main factors involved: First, the population has been growing older. The oldest baby boomers turned 55 in the year 2000, officially qualifying as senior citizens. Thanks to this "aging of America," seniors now 1) make up 27 percent of the population, 2) own 77 percent of the nation's individual net worth (approximately 9 trillion dollars), and 3) control 55 percent of discretionary income. This according to the U.S. Census.|ret||ret||tab|

Second, due to medical and other technological advances, seniors are living longer, healthier, more active lives. |ret||ret||tab|

Third, where seniors formerly were all but ignored by the heavily youth-oriented American culture of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, their growing numbers and concomitantly increasing consumer power now have moved them closer to center stage. This is evidenced by the increasing proliferation of older people as news subjects and characters in films and television. Many shows now spotlight seniors as central characters. And in real life, seniors are increasingly holding key positions as news anchors, news field reporters, moderators, commentators and interviewers.|ret||ret||tab|

This growing financial power and visibility have given older people a greater voice in America. In addition, because seniors are living longer with greater vitality and now have validation and permission from the culture to be multi-dimensional human beings, they themselves have undergone change. Many older people are expanding their horizons and altering their lives and "lifestyles" to be more active and involved.|ret||ret||tab|

Many avenues of assistance are open to older people in need. Some little-known but highly effective agencies in southwest Missouri are Alzheimer's Assistance, the Alzheimer's Support Group, the Long-Term Care Ombuds-man Program (which acts in advocacy of nursing home residents), the Missouri Council of Senior Citizens, and the Southwest Missouri Office on Aging, about which you can read on page 17 in this issue. In addition, many agencies that deal with substance abuse, family violence, mental health, and other issues that can affect seniors are also available, as are numerous agencies and organizations that facilitate senior social life.|ret||ret||tab|

On the whole, it's just much better for older people these days.|ret||ret||tab|

Thanks for joining us this week.[[In-content Ad]]