The quote by Anne Morrow Lindbergh from her " Gift from the Sea " We Americans, with our terrific emphasis on youth, action and material success, certainly tend to belittle the afternoon of life and even pretend it never comes “ and the article titled “Aging America Needs an Honest Conversation About Growing Old” triggered today's disquisition. Certainly Americans, individually and politically, are in denial and employ cognitive dissonance about the future .All we have to do is look at the current aging problems that are facing Japan for cognitive gain insight . The focus is about growing old in our country .
Japan has the highest proportion of people 65 or older in the world. Further, especially in their rural areas, schools have shut down because there's not enough children to fill them; about 450 schools close every year and the birth rate is dwindling. With fewer young people working, revenue for retirement programs are shrinking and there is a chronic labor shortage. People in Japan work into their 60s, 70s and beyond, often in physically demanding low-paid jobs such as making deliveries and cleaning offices.
In 1935 , we passed the Social Security Act which was meant to ensure that older people would not die destitute because they could no longer work. How is that currently working out ? Homeless statistics are ? In 1965 aging was included as part of the vision of the great Society. It's time to adjust the Social Security and Medicare programs .
There's a recent decline in America's life expectancy and alarming deaths from drug overdose, along with higher mortality rates among children and teenagers from violence and accidental deaths , and an average of 10,000 boomers turning 65 each day. It's also been estimated that by 2053 more than 40% of the federal budget will go to programs for seniors primarily Social Security and Medicare. Obviously those programs were not not designed to handle that prediction .
Additionally, where and how will seniors spend the closing years of their lives? Millions of Americans are already grappling with these dilemmas. Not everyone wants to spend the last years of their lives in some convalescent facility. Most would rather be at home. If so, who's going to care for the older people ? Are our cities and businesses designed to handle the aged ? How are Americans who have aged fairing in a country that’s obsessed with youth , avoiding the inevitability and possibilities of old age ? Politically, the opposition is focusing on Pres Biden’s age.
One issue for aging relates to housing. California has made it easier to increase accessory dwelling units -ADU’s adding living spaces 800 feet tops that share property with the main house. Zoning and building requirements have to be addressed in order to increase these "Granny Flats." Since World War II, residential areas have evolved around the suburbs with the development of single family houses as opposed to duplexes, triplexes, townhouses and so forth. It's been estimated that only about 10% of the nation's housing stock is considered senior friendly. Not only that ,we have little affordable housing . Increase in homelessness among older Americans and about 1/3 of senior households are considered cost burdened.by housing - they spend about 30% of their income on housing In addition, there are restrictions for parking, and occupancy requirements. Design standards and the approval process needs to be streamlined . Mortgage availability and financial assistance are other issues related to housing. In other words, local communities, the county, states and federal government have to come up with a plan to deal with aging.
There are a number of places that provide environmental models . These models exist where individuals have the longest lifespans. These communities provide monetary incentives for older and younger people to live closer together; facilitate nearby communal dining options; encourage tutoring opportunities for the older to teach the younger children; availability of places for physical activity and being close to healthcare . Another example would be to view communities with the 55 and older age group and witness the number of physical, social opportunities for interaction, all the well being classes along with assistance for those requiring it. There are numerous models for assisting the aged. It's up to the voters to form interest groups and lobby these lazy self serving politicians.
Providing care for individuals wanting to remain in their home remains another problem. Currently we have for-profit franchises providing in-home assistance, but not health care. Unfortunately, these workers suffer burnout, low wages and minimal training irrespective of the marketing propaganda . For those family members providing care, they suffer burnout, lost wages, estimated at 522 billion, and physical and mental health handicaps.. My friend TD, travels weekly between Iowa and Ohio while caring for his mother and father with their health handicaps.
One suggestion : 1. County, state, federal, and health insurance companies should provide meaningful financial and transportation assistance for those special aged individuals requiring assistance 2. Have the University teacher education degree curriculums incorporate a major in assisting the aged. The curriculum should focus on teaching, learning, memory; physical activity as in pickleball, yoga, walking; and nursing care assistance 3. Breakfast and lunch availability based on nutrition 4. The setting should be an easy access elementary school that has a staff nurse , physical activity teacher, music teacher, psychologist and so forth to assist when needed.
The aged would benefit from face to face interpersonal interaction, quality “hands on “ professional care in a familiar comfortable setting. These "teachers of the aged" would be properly trained, properly paid with the availability of consultation by psychologists, nurses and others with geriatric training. A pilot program could be easily established and properly evaluated. A program like this is morally needed and would more than likely reduce healthcare costs and increase well being for all..
PS
For an in-depth analysis of the benefits, rewards, and the why's, the how to do's and motivation for exercise, I suggest "It Has Nothing To Do with Age." An article in The New York Times October 8, 2023 titled "If You're a Runner, There's a Tribe for You" reinforced the importance of exercise. Exercise can facilitate the meeting of many needs of the ego . For instance, exercise does not have to be solitary. In fact , connections,and friendships result in meeting ego needs of affiliation , achievement, deference , nurturance and of course play..Believe Shakespeare, when he wrote "We know what we are, but know not what we may be."
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