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IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES
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BLOGGER: LAURA TRAYNOR
Starting next year, the first wave of America’s 80 million baby boomers will turn 65. Think about it, 80 million new customers for the field/industry of aging. That’s a huge number! And this is a major demographic revolution, not some fly by night trend. Since there’s a big age range between the youngest and oldest baby boomers (19 years), this will be a period of sustained change. If you like to be inventive or entrepreneurial (and I do), here’s an expansive field that is wide open!
I work in the field of aging and think it’s one of the most exiting places to be. To me, aging is a new frontier – for the first time in our country’s history, more people are living longer than ever before. Older people today are our pioneers – forging ahead into unchartered territories and creating a host of opportunities along the way. I’m eager to forge ahead and excited to help shape the future of the industry, for with luck we shall all reach this demographic one day!
Think about it. How will baby boomers live? Where will they live? What will they wear? What will they consume? What new products will they demand? Will they have more time in the work force or more leisure? One thing’s for sure – baby boomers will be a different generation of older adults, requiring new and different approaches to living out their extra years. There will be a huge demand for new products and services. New jobs that have yet to be imagined. And new policies that address the challenges and opportunities brought about by a rapidly aging society.
I’m currently working as a program manager for a growing non-profit organization that is looking at a big policy issue – how are we going to care for this growing population of older adults? Right now, there’s a critical shortage of professional caregivers and families are fragmented and/or stretched to the max. This project, developed by members of The Transition Network (www.thetransitionnetwork.org), taps into the human and social capital that resides within their community to help each other through temporary periods of illness and disability. It increases the pool of caregivers by extending this role to informal communities – where networks and friendships are already in place.
This is just one example of some of the exciting work that’s going on in aging. Unfortunately, when it comes to aging, you’re likely to hear more gloom and doom than then its upside. That’s why I got involved in ImagineAge. To add a bit of imagination, sparkle and pizzazz to a field that has a bad rap. If you have specific questions or topics you want covered, please let me know. If you are in school and curious what options the field might hold for you, send me a note! If your job on Wall Street disappeared before you even started it, I’d be happy to tell you about some of the exciting options in the field of aging.
In upcoming blogs, I’ll be sharing some fresh approaches, innovative ideas and interesting people that I hope will inspire you to imagine a new age! Stay tuned……
In the meantime, if you have anything you’d like to share, leave a comment. We’d love to know about ideas you have!
To find out more about Laura, click here to read her bio.
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Tags: aging, baby boomers, boomers, future, hope, imagine, imagineage, job, life, midlife, possibilities
The article is usefull for me. I’ll be coming back to your blog.
The article is ver good. Write please more
How soon will you update your blog? I’m interested in reading some more information on this issue.
Laura,
I was happy to find this inspiring web site. Please allow me to let you know about an innovative fall prevention exercise program that works on many levels. It is well known that exercise can help reduce falls. However positive results can be achieved only with the full participation of the targeted population.
The Benevolent Ballet-Fall Prevention for the Elderly program offers a solution to this and several other challenging concerns of the healthcare industry. Besides the exercise syllabus a methodology was developed to include motivational and communication skills which help reduce the apathy and negative attitudes that often keep the elderly (especially the frail elderly or those with Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementias) from participating in group programming and enable them to enjoy and benefit from this program. These skills echo the ‘Person Centered Care’ approach that is revolutionizing long-term care. The program works by using these skills to deliver a carefully developed exercise curriculum which integrates classical and semi classical music with movement. This results is an enriching arts component which allows for creativity and self expression while building confidence and self-esteem.
One facility, Heritage Park Senior Living Communities of Fort Wayne, IN recognized an 80% reduction in falls, plus improvement in mood and behaviors.
Training has been held in 11 states and the UK. Seminars can be sponsored by individual healthcare corporations, QIOs (Quality Improvement Organizations contracted to Medicare.) or other professional organizations that are concerned with quality of life issues and fall prevention.
Sincerely,
Sheila Lehner
http://www.benevolentballet.com
Please allow me to let you know about a fall prevention exercise program that works on many levels. Yes, exercise can help reduce falls. However positive results can be achieved only with the full participation of the patient.
The Benevolent Ballet-Fall Prevention for the Elderly program offers a solution to this and several other challenging concerns of the healthcare industry. Besides the exercise syllabus This program offers a methodology that addresses motivational and communication skills to help reduce the apathy and negative attitudes that often keep the elderly (especially the frail elderly or those with Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementias) from participating in group programming and enable them to enjoy and benefit from the activity. These skills echo the ‘Person Centered Care’ approach that is revolutionizing long-term care. The program works by using these skills to deliver a carefully developed exercise curriculum which integrates classical and semi classical music with movement. This results in an enriching arts component which allows for creativity and self expression while building confidence and self-esteem.
I believe that this approach to exercise works because:
1. It addresses several concerns of the elder care community including falls, mobility, pressure sores, depression, boredom, and apathy.
2. It improves posture, range of motion and general mobility.
3. It motivates and inspires residents to participate to the best of their physical and cognitive ability enabling them to reach their prescribed goals.
4. It inspires feelings of well being and joy.
One facility, Heritage Park Senior Living Communities of Fort Wayne, IN recognized an 80% reduction in falls, plus improvement in mood and behaviors.
Training has been held in 11 states and the UK. Seminars can be sponsored by individual healthcare corporations, QIOs (Quality Improvement Organizations contracted to Medicare.) or other professional organizations that are concerned with quality of life issues and fall prevention.
Sincerely,
Sheila Lehner
http://www.benevolentballet.com
Phone: 407-889-7770
Email: lehners1@yahoo.com
Hi Shelia – thanks for letting me know about this amazing program! It’s people like you who are taking a fresh approach to the challenges of aging that make the field so interesting. Your studies are impressive too; I am definitely going to keep the information on file to share with other colleagues.
Regards -
Laura