Conscious Aging

10 Tips to Prepare for Golden Years

Posted on by Dr. Toni

Take stock now of plans, health, finances, expert says

By Paris Achen
Columbian Staff Reporter

 

This first wave of the silver tsunami began this year when the baby boomer generation began to turn 65.

Between now and 2030, all 76 million baby boomers will turn 65, placing an unprecedented toll on Medicare and Social Security resources. By 2030, 55 percent of the federal budget is projected to go toward the two benefits programs, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

“I don’t know how we are possibly going to sustain baby boomers’ future, and that’s the near future,” said Vancouver gerontologist Gail Haskett. She spoke at a Rotary Club of Vancouver meeting Wednesday at the Red Lion Hotel Vancouver at the Quay.

That’s why baby boomers need to do everything they can to prepare for old age, said Haskett, owner of Vancouver-based Aging Resources Inc., a national firm that provides geriatric care management and family/caregiver consultation services. Here are her top 10 tips for doing just that:

• Challenge your concept of retirement. The baby boom after World War II marked not only a record surge in population but a generation that would experience longer life expectancy. In 1945, life expectancy was about 66 years. In 2010, it exceeded 78 years, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Medical advances have made it possible for some people 65 and older to continue being productive in the workforce.

When considering retirement, don’t assume that retirement at 65 is the best choice. The main question to consider is whether you can afford to retire, but there are other factors to consider before you make a decision about when to take on a life of leisure.

“Are we mentally prepared for it?” Haskett said. Some retirees who give up jobs become angry or depressed because their job was their main source of fulfillment.

Whether you retire at 65 or later, it’s important to start doing the things you enjoy now, Haskett said. That way you don’t miss out on the things you love because you postponed retirement. Plus, developing interests and hobbies outside of work also helps better prepare you for spending your time once you finally do retire.

“Create a bucket list now and start doing it,” Haskett said.

• Make a retirement budget. More than half of baby boomers haven’t calculated how much they’ll need to save for retirement, according to AARP.

One amount doesn’t fit all. Some experts say you need at least 70 percent of your pre-retirement income, but if you are low-income, you’ll need about 90 percent. The amount also depends on your standard of living. Consult a financial planner or an online calculator to determine how much you’ll need.

• Start saving. Twenty-nine percent of baby boomers have saved less than $10,000 for retirement. After you know how much you need to retire, make savings goals and start saving immediately, Haskett said. Contrary to popular advice, Haskett said, she discourages people from buying long-term care insurance because the benefits are often restricted in ways they might not expect. For example, the policies often don’t cover the cost of a caregiver to shop, clean or feed a policyholder who is feeble, she said.

• Shed all debt. Half of households headed by someone between 55 and 64 had credit card debt in 2009, according to the Federal Reserve. The same age group accounts for 16.9 percent of bankruptcies. Consult a credit counselor and begin a debt reduction plan.

• Take care of your health. Exercise an hour a day, and eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. It will enhance your quality of life today and in old age, Haskett said.

“Every impaired person I know wishes they had taken better care of their health,” Haskett said.

• Plan ahead for impairment and death. Drawing up a living will with advance directives can help guide your family through difficult choices about your treatment in old age. Establish health care power of attorney to allow your spouse or family member to make health care decisions for you when you can’t.

“Otherwise your family is going to go through a lot of consternation trying to decide what to do, whether you’re aged or passed away,” Haskett said.

• Convene a “What if … ?” meeting. Meet with your family to share with them what you want to happen if you are incapacitated or die.

• Prepare your home. About 90 percent of baby boomers prefer staying at home rather than going to a care facility in old age, according to AARP. Modify your home so you are able to stay there. Remove any barriers that would prevent you from getting around the house in the event of impairment. Certified age-in-place specialists can offer some advice on what to do.

“Some people wait until something happens, and then, it’s too late. They have to go to a facility at least while changes are being made.”

• Makes friends outside work and family. If your social life revolves around work or family, you might be setting yourself up for isolation in old age, Haskett said. Take stock of who you know and who will help fill your social needs when you retire. Engage in activities that will help expand your social circle.

• Have a positive attitude. A good attitude helps people to cope with the challenges of aging and the challenges ahead of the country, Haskett said.

Paris Achen: 360-735-4551; http://www.twitter.com/Col_Trends; http://www.facebook.com/ColTrends; paris.achen@columbian.com.

Aging is a Triumph, Not a Tragedy

Posted on by Dr. Toni

So spake the great geriatrician, psychiatrist and elder advocate, Robert N. Butler, who died in December 2010. According to his biographer, W. Andrew Achenbaum, he helped

“…to transform the study of aging from a marginal specialty into an intellectually vibrant field of inquiry.”
Personally, I doubt I would have become an elder advocate myself without having had Butler’s books to teach me.

Robert N. Butler cover artRobert N. Butler, M.D. is the title of this just-published biography of the great man who won a Pulitzer Prize for his 1975 book, Why Survive? Being Old in America and before that, in 1968, coined the term “ageism” as an analog to racism and sexism.

”Butler well understood that ignorance, prejudice, and stereotypes clouded the vision of vital, productive, fruitful aging that he wished to promulgate,” writes Achenbaum.

“In late life,” he continues, “Butler concluded that ageism was even more pernicious than he initially had realized…Butler now called ageism a disease, a morbid fear of decline and death that crippled individuals.”
Robert Butler may not have crushed ageism during his long career but his other achievements transformed attitudes and beliefs about old age that continue to help elders’ well being now and will continue to do so into the future.

Butler was appointed by President Gerald Ford to be the first director of the National Institute on Aging. Later he established the first U.S. department of geriatrics at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.

In 1990, he founded the International Longevity Center (ILC-USA) to pursue the study of health and productivity of old people. Among the organization’s projects was the Age Boom Academy created in 2000 to

”…deepen the understanding on the part of 150 journalists of how the perils and promises of societal aging affected their respective news beats. Ideas germinated in the academy often found mass circulation,” explains Achenbaum.
In 2009, I was privileged to be one of the dozen journalists that year at the week-long Age Boom Academy – all expenses, as every year, paid in full. Dr. Butler brought together the crème de la crème of age researchers and experts from every sub-field imaginable and by the end, it was like being granted a masters degree in aging. Here is one of my stories about the Age Boom Academy.

[DISCLOSURE: Achenbaum quotes from my 2008 interview interview with Dr. Butler which you can read here.]

Achenbaum, who is professor of social work and history in the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Houston, does a fine job of recounting Butler’s achievements that benefit elders – the remarkably large number of reasons the book is subtitled, Visionary of Healthy Aging.

But it is the many quotations from Achenbaum’s previously unpublished conversations with Butler along with the book’s epilogue – Butler’s unfinished “life review” in his own words – that most captured my attention.

Some thoughts from Butler you too may find provocative:

“Why do we have so much trouble enjoying the moment? This was not as true when we were children.”
“When a young person writes a novel he writes an autobiography; when an old person writes an autobiography, he writes a novel.”
“There is a dark side to the lives of those of wealth and privilege; they do not need to carry out the most elemental aspects of existence, the preparing of their own food and taking care of their own personal needs. In a perverse sense, elementality is a luxury of poverty.”
“Old age is no longer equivalent to disease, infirmity, frailty, decrepitude and slowing down. The brain is proving to be subject to repair and growth and this plasticity promises greater cognitive health.”
“The challenge is how to better understand, shape and value this new old age. Older persons themselves should define this portion of their lives, and not passively allow the culture to do so.

“They are the pioneers who have interest into the redefined old age and do not accept aging and disability as inevitable, unpreventable and untreatable. Society and culture, of course, have catching up to do.”

6 Wise and Funny Lessons on Aging — From Animals

Posted on by Dr. Toni

These amazing creatures can teach us a lot about finding pleasure in life

Aging gracefully can present challenges. Human role models, like, say, Betty White or George Clooney, can show us how it’s done. The animal realm can, too. Just for fun, we pulled these six examples of animal inspiration. Enjoy!

 

1. Tortoises — Take life slow and enjoy the ride

Tortoises are one of the most ancient creatures on the planet, living up to age 150. With an average speed of .17 mph, they’re not winning sprints, but they are highly effective burrowers and have evolved to survive the harsh conditions of the desert. They endure. Tortoises may not be what you’d call the sexiest animals around, but they teach an important life lesson: Slow and steady wins the race.

 

2. Elephants — Share your memories

Elephants’ brains, the largest among land mammals at about 10.5 pounds (10 percent of their body weight, vs. a human’s 2 percent), are complex. They have the ability to grieve and elephants have been observed performing burial-like ceremonies. Elephants also have excellent problem solving skills; the well-known example of Asian elephant Bandula unhooking the shackles on her feet and then freeing other captive elephants shows a keen intelligence. Scientists have found that older elephants are better at making crucial decisions, such as searching for food and protecting the herd from predators, because of their remarkable memory. We humans can look to elephants for inspiration to share our lifetime of experiences and use our hard-earned knowledge as leaders.

 

3. Dolphins — Stay true to your friends and family


Dolphins are extremely social and form tight-knit groups, called pods, which range from five to hundreds of members. These aquatic animals are so loyal that they have been observed staying with sick or injured pod members. Dolphins can be friendly to humans, and there are numerous news stories of dolphins rescuing people from drowning and from sharks. Their sense of community and altruism exemplifies how we should approach relationships, which play a critical role as we age. Older adults tend to lose social connectivity after they retire or as their adult children move out of the house or start their own family, so it’s vital to maintain close ties with friends and family — our pods.

4. Zebras — Own your uniqueness

Each zebra has its own stripe pattern — no two are alike. Researchers hypothesize that zebras’ stripes help them hide in the grass, making it difficult for their predators to discern an individual outline to attack. Another more recent theory is that the stripes ward off pesky insects. Their unique coats set these mammals apart looks-wise from all other animals, but their hides also save them. The human lesson is to be grateful for the skin you’re in.

 

5. Rabbits — Adopt a healthy lifestyle


Rabbits epitomize a healthy lifestyle. These little vegans eat mainly green leafy foods. Plus, they are active and agile. Their physically fit and flexible bodies allow them to do the binky, which is often referred to as the “happy bunny dance.” This move is when rabbits jump into the air and twist their head and body in opposite directions. If we humans ate more vegetables and hopped (or even walked) around all day, maybe with practice we could do the binky, too.

 

6. Monkeys — Keep having fun

Monkeys groom each other on a daily basis for two reasons: hygiene and social interaction. This co-grooming goes beyond the “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” mentality because of the social bonding that stems from this activity. Monkeys can make most anything fun — even caregiving. These mischievous, curious primates teach us the importance of social bonds, and also to remember to have fun.

 

By Jill Yanish

Jill was formerly the associate editor for Next Avenue.  She earned a bachelor’s degree in communication from the College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University and has written for various Twin Cities publications.

Reading on Conscious Aging

Posted on by Dr. Toni

A “senior boom” is happening in American life, and it’s getting bigger by the day. Until very recently, most of the attention paid to this phenomenon has focused on retirement options, pension plans, health care challenges, medical ethics, and research on the biology of aging and the prolongation of life. Surveying recent books, films, and spoken-word audios about later life, we have noticed a number of hopeful signs that signal a broadening and deepening of the way we see the senior years. The added element is an interest in their spiritual dimensions. Here’s a sampling of these new views of aging. (Click on each of the links to read the full review.)

BOOKS

Age Power: How the 21st Century Will Be Ruled by the New Old by Ken Dychtwald (Tarcher/Putnam, 1999)
Here is a wakeup call intended to offer preventative solutions to the age-related questions we face as individuals and as a society. “How we decide to behave as elders will,” writes Dychtwald, “in all likelihood, become the most important challenge we will face in our lives.”

Another Country: Navigating the Emotional Terrain of Our Elders by Mary Pipher (Riverhead, 1999)
This informative and salutary work is designed to help forge ties between the baby boom generation and their parents, who are now residing in the country of old age.

The Force of Character and the Lasting Life by James Hillman (Random House, 1999)
This imaginative, compelling, and always thought-provoking volume turns conventional ideas about aging upside down. In three bold sections, the best-selling author of The Soul’s Code shows how our characters are enriched, deepened, and made meaningful by long life.

From Age-ing to Sage-ing by Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and Ronald Miller (Warner, 1997)
The Jewish elder who coined the term “spiritual eldering” presents his thoughts on the last stage of life. This is a time to for men and women to “contemplate their life journey, harvest the wisdom of their years, and transmit a legacy to future generations.”

Gray Heroes: Elder Tales from Around the World by Jane Yolen, editor (Penguin Books, 1999)
The editor has gathered a fascinating batch of stories from different cultures about “elders who wear their years well.” The tales are divided into four sections: wisdom, trickery, adventure, and a little bit of love.

On Women Turning 70: Honoring the Voices of Wisdom by Cathleen Rountree (Jossey-Bass Publishers, 1999)
Sixteen extraordinary women tell their stories and share their feelings on turning 70.

Passion for Life: Lifelong Psychological and Spiritual Growth by Anne Brennan and Janice Brewi (Continuum, 1999)
With the doubling of life expectancy since the beginning of the twentieth century, men and woman are challenged to become “architects of their own aging.” The second half of life has become an arena for continued growth and development, i.e. soul-making.

Spiritual Passages: Embracing Life’s Sacred Journey by Drew Leder (Tarcher/Putnam, 1997)
The author taps into all the world’s religions for insights into qualities which can be unfurled by elders. He presents a substantive and sacred model for aging that celebrates self-exploration, change, service, suffering, transformation, and facing death.

A Time to Live: Seven Steps of Creative Aging by Robert Raines (Plume, 1998)
The former director of Kirkridge Retreat and Study Center has written a bright and buoyant volume about the art of creative aging. He masterfully sets anecdotes from his own life alongside poignant illustrative material from contemporary novels, films, and political events.

Toward Holy Ground: Spiritual Directions for the Second Half of Life by Margaret Guenther (Cowley, 1995)
The author uses St. Anne as a model and wisdom figure for later life when ambiguity, service of others, and wonder are given free play.

Understanding Men’s Passages: Discovering the New Map of Men’s Lives by Gail Sheehy (Ballantine, 1999)
The bestselling author presents a rounded portrait of the different stages of “second adulthood” for men including “the fearless fifties” and “the influential sixties.”

VIDEOS

I’m Not Rappaport (MCA/Universal, 1996)
This feisty drama revolves around an 81-year-old Jewish radical who is a modern-day Don Quixote fighting injustice. He and his best friend have to stand up for themselves in a society that seems determined to treat elders as if they were invisible.

Men With Guns (Columbia TriStar, 1998)
A common task in old age is to secure one’s legacy. A wealthy physician in an unnamed Latin American country who is nearing retirement decides to visit the medical students he trained to serve poor villagers in the countryside. His quest opens and softens his heart.

Nobody’s Fool (Paramount, 1995)
This movie shows that the last stage of life can be one of personal renewal. A crusty and cantankerous handyman in a small town discovers that it is never too late to stir the ashes and light up your life with the glow that comes from love of family and friends.

The Shell Seekers (Republic Pictures, 1994)
A 63-year-old Englishwoman suffers a heart attack and is compelled to review her life and her view of happiness.

The Straight Story (Walt Disney Home Video, 1999)
Alvin Straight is a stubborn and highly principled 73-year-old Iowan who sets out on his John Deere lawnmower to visit his estranged brother who has suffered a heart attack in Wisconsin. His deep yearning for reconciliation gives him the energy and strength he needs to fulfill his mission.

Strangers in Good Company (Touchstone, 1991)
A group of long-lived women take shelter in an abandoned farmhouse when their tour bus breaks down. While they wait for other transportation, they share the stories of their lives with each other.

Waking Ned Devine (Fox, 1999)
In this comedy set in a small village in Ireland, two of the town’s elders creatively expand the possibilities for community life.

SPOKEN-WORD AUDIO

Conscious Aging: A Creative and Spiritual Journey by Various Speakers (Sounds True, 1992)
Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, Marion Woodman, Maggie Kuhn, Ram Dass, and Bernie Siegel present their ideas on elders as bearers of wisdom, healing, creativity, and vision. This audio program was taped during a conference at the Omega Institute.

The Second Half of Life: The Blossoming of Your Creative Self by Angeles Arrien (Sounds True, 1998)
This teacher and cultural anthropologist explores the three major themes of elderhood: generativity, intimacy, and creativity. This six-cassette package is filled with soul-stirring stories and spiritual practices from indigenous peoples and Greek mythology.

 

What is Conscious Aging?

Posted on by Dr. Toni

“The purpose of Conscious Aging, as a movement, is to join the growing chorus of elder voices proclaiming that the later stage of life has within it the unique potential for growth. It is a time for elders to make life as fulfilling as possible. For those who pursue Conscious Aging it is also a time to remain Aware, Awake, and Deliberate, and to take Active responsibility for their destiny.”

Harry R. Moody
Speaker and author on aging, spirituality, and ethics

“Ultimately, Conscious Aging is about developing and maintaining integrity. It involves developing spiritual resources to adapt to aging, not to deny it.”

Robert C. Atchley
Professor and Chair of the Department of Gerontology at Naropa University, Boulder, Colorado.