Director's Message
Aging In America May 2010I have recently returned from Chicago, where I attended the National Aging in America Conference, presenting a workshop on our Partners In Caring Collaboration. For those who are not familiar with it, Partners In Caring is a partnership of six organizations which serve older adults and people with disabilities in Mercer County, chiefly funded by the Unite Way. Our goal is to help people remain in their own homes by providing services that address key risk factors for losing independence. Services include care coordination, consultations, caregiver support, transportation, meals on wheels, volunteer visitors, home safety evaluation and modification, nursing evaluation and reassurance calls. The program is now in its third year. The conference is huge, involving 5000 people over nearly a week, and therefore it often takes me a while to process what I have absorbed. We learned that there are currently 38.9 million people in the US age 65+, that by 2020 there will be a projected 55 million and by 2030, 72 million. Bob Butler talked about the “great risk shift” onto the backs of individuals, as seen in retirement plans and healthcare. He also urged that we reclaim the term “elder” as one who, by virtue of experience, is here to teach, mentor and guide with wisdom and experience. Ken Dychtwald emphasized that we need to begin working toward healthy aging at birth: “healthy children become healthy adults.” He believes we need more primary care doctors and geriatricians, and that all healthcare professionals must become “aging ready.” We need a continuum of care, not care silos, where professionals communicate with each other. We must find ways to cure Alzheimer’s and address frailty. Many older adults are outliving their resources (400% increase in bankruptcy for people over 70), and there are 25 million Boomers who have saved less than $1000. Sarah Lightfoot Lawrence proposed a new life stage, “reinvention,” to describe the years 50-75, which are full of passion, risk and adventure. People are finding new challenges and greater meaning in encore careers, civic engagement and other opportunities. The conversations about the anticipated growth in demand for our services and the severe funding cuts that senior services are experiencing were daunting. At the same, it is exciting to be engaged in a field where so much is happening, and interacting with courageous and creative people. I returned to PSRC with several ideas. We will be a pilot site for a new NCOA (National Council on Aging) program to support economic security for at-risk individuals. The “hot topic” was brain and memory health, and we will do more in that area this year. We will continue to seek ways to be welcoming to all older adults. We will work with PHCS to reduce hospital re-admissions. We will also continue to seek innovative ways to increase revenue. May is Older Americans Month. The theme this year is “Age Strong, Live Long.” I believe that this is something one should practice every day, all year long. The building blocks for memory fitness, as for healthy aging, are physical fitness, engaging in new learning and new experiences, managing stress, nutritious eating and social interactions. PSRC strives to offer these opportunities every day (well, maybe not the healthy eating if you partake of the cookies). Come join us! Start the month by bringing friends to Cotton Club on May 2. Bring non-perishable foods to our food drive to help everyone have a chance to age strong and live long. Susan W. Hoskins, LCSW |
Previous MessagesJune 2013 - Age Friendly Communities June 2013 - Age Friendly Communities May 2013 - Navigating a Changing HealthCare Landscape March 2013 - Navigating Life’s Transitions February 2013 - Partners in Caring Princeton January 2013 - Men as Caregivers December 2012 - The Safety Net October 2012 - Documenting Your History September 2012 - A Journey of Transformation July - August 2012 - Gratitude & Moving March 2012 - Patient-centered Care February 2012 - Can you Spare an Hour? January 2012 - Challenges & Opportunities December - Are you Prepared for Emergencies? October - Chocolate for Memory September- Looking Back and Looking Forward Lessons and Legacies, March 2011 Independent Living February 2011 Witness to my Life December 2010 Elections, benefits and open enrollment November 2010 Strategic Planning September 2010 Hiring Home Care December 2009 Annual Giving by Sharon Naeole November 2009 Flu Pandemic 2009 October 2009 Healthy Memory, Healthy Mind September 2009 A Personal Perspective on Caregiving July/August 2009 Wei Ji: Crisis, Danger and Opportunity April 2009 Write your own obituary March 2009 Hope and Vision in Challenging Times Medicare Changes 2008: Take A Look! December 2008 Scams, Frauds and Rip-offs November 2008 Engaged Retirement: Beyond Financial Planning October 2008 September 2008 Caregiver Dilemmas Finding Rhythm and Purpose July/August 2008 V + OA = ER (Volunteering + Older Americans=Engaged Retirement)May 2008 Have You Had the Talk Yet? March 2008 Get Moving with FitRhythms™! February 2008 What Are Social Services? November 2007 Plan for the Future September 2007 The Up-side of Aging Summer 2007 National Conference on Aging: Let's ReThink Aging April 2007 Season of Giving December 2006 April Hill McElroy October 2006 Civic Engagement September 2006 White House Conference on Aging May 2006 Are You Prepared? October 2005 Watch Your Language September 2005 The End of the Journey May 2005 New Dietary Guidelines February 2005 Civic Engagement with GrandPals October 2004 The Challenge of Giving Care May 2004 Seniors On The Move April 2004 Random Acts of Kindness December 2003 Civic Engagement November 2003 |