Aging is a widespread and relevant topic in almost every area of life. That wasn't the situation in the mid-1970s when I started in the field.
When I was new to the field, I wanted to understand what was considered important by following age-related news in print media. I cut and pasted articles from newspapers and periodicals onto a sheet of paper, noted the source and date, and put the sheet into a three-ring binder. This was one way for me to stay informed about what was happening in the field.
In the beginning, I could barely fill one binder. Over time, I started filling three to four binders a year. Then the Internet came along, and the process went digital. Now, there is not a day that goes by without several age-related stories in print or digital news, covering various topics like public policy, health, longevity, nutrition, ageism, and scientific discoveries.More people are living longer with greater needs and opportunities, so the amount of age-related information will continue to grow.
There are 5 main areas of aging that are widely covered in print and digital media, podcasts, webinars, and reports, including public policy, health, longevity, nutrition, and ageism. However, this is just one person's perspective and is not based on formal analytics.
Just focus on a few assistive technology products that help older adults age safely and independently at home. Smart stoves and ovens can turn off after five minutes of inactivity, smart pill organizers dispense pills and use lights to indicate which ones to take, and activity-based sensors can detect if someone is not moving around at home.
Products: Let's concentrate on some assistive technology products that help older adults age safely at home. few assistive technology products that help older adults age in their own residence as safely and independently as possible. Smart stoves and ovens can be set to turn off after five minutes of inactivity. Smart pill organizers dispense pills, others use lights to signal which pills to take (Carroself) and how many (Elliegrid). Activity-based sensors can detect if someone is not getting out of bed, opening the refrigerator door or medicine cabinet. (Sensors).
Management practices: There are now five generations in the workforce, a first in modern history. According to Forbes magazine, a multigenerational workforce is a competitive advantage for several reasons. It is reported to increase productivity, support innovation and drive creative solutions. It provides learning/mentoring opportunities, enhances knowledge transfer and retention and contributes to job satisfaction according to the Academy to Innovate HR.
Appearances: More older notables are proud of their untouched appearances, essentially meaning no cosmetic surgery. “My mother was a great beauty and never succumbed to plastic surgery. She thought it was best to grow old gracefully. I feel the same,” Sigourney Weaver said in an interview last year with El País. For many, retaining one’s natural gray hair is one indicator of aging naturally.
Retirement planning: This popular topic can be intimidating. AARP reports that almost half of those aged 55 and older have no retirement savings. And nearly half (46 percent) of American households have no retirement savings in retirement accounts. Four in 10 workers are expected to fall behind in what they require for retirement.
Where to reside: Currently, there are over 30,000 assisted living communities in the U.S. The demand will keep increasing as 70 percent of older adults are anticipated to require some form of care during their lifetime. This care comes with a cost of just over $57,000 as the median annual cost in 2023. https://www.seniorliving.org/companies/statistics/ This sector generates slightly over $94 billion in revenue.
Here’s an additional fact. The magazine published by AARP (formerly known as “Modern Maturity”) reaches just over 38 million readers, making it the magazine with the largest readership in the U.S.
The extensive field of aging continues to attract entrepreneurs, students, businesspeople, policymakers, researchers, scientists and more. As the population ages, the stakeholders will only continue to grow with most seeking ways to age well with a sense of stability, health and opportunities.
Take care everyone and understand that every act of kindness matters.
Helen Dennis is a widely recognized authority on aging and the new retirement with academic, corporate and nonprofit experience. Reach out to Helen with your questions and comments at [email protected]. Visit Helen at HelenMdennis.com and follow her on facebook.com/SuccessfulAgingCommunity
