Aging in Modern America: The Baby Boomer Reality, a Major Concern

A skyrocketing number of baby boomers, or people born within the first ten to fifteen years after World War II, added to the huge numbers of senior citizens born prior to that time, creates a major concern for modern America.

"Why is that a concern?" one might ask. "What is new or different now?"

Many baby boomers are already facing either early retirement, or retirement at age sixty five which is going to, or is bringing about a decline in the work force. The ratio of baby boomers to the younger generation, who will be expected to take care of them in the future, appears to be out of proportion. There is a far higher number of baby boomers than there is younger people.

With the advent of improved health and longevity, the number of years that baby boomers will require either short-term or long-term care as they age, continues to rise. Health care costs are already skyrocketing and are expected to continue to do so.

There are already major global concerns with respect to shortages, like oil food and water.

The cost of living is skyrocketing everywhere.

Look at this scenario from a baby boomer's perspective and take some common sense factors into consideration before anyone panics.

Many baby boomers do not see themselves as either wanting to, or needing to retire early. Many baby boomers will remain employed for many years beyond retirement, if physically able and allowed to do so. 

The baby boomers, who grew up in the post war years, learned a lot about survival that the younger generation has never needed to learn. The majority of baby boomers are quite realistic in terms of their short and long term expectations because of the era in which they grew up.

While not all baby boomers are healthy, (but then not everyone else is either), a good majority of them have focused on staying healthy as well as on living long and healthy lives, in a positive and constructive way.

It is the baby boomer generation and a lot of people prior to that time, who have been so successful in bringing about the technological, scientific, medical, as well as other advances, that have made America what it is today.

Baby boomers, as well as others, have been seeking solutions to problems for many years. This is certainly going to continue over time. Many of the baby boomers will find their own answers and implement whatever changes are necessary for survival through their own initiatives.

One must also ask, "What baby boomers can do in order to ease the burden on the next generation?"

Why not begin to present the problem to the baby boomers and see what kind of answers they can come up with, after brainstorming together.

If you are a baby boomer, ask yourself "What can I do personally to avert a baby boomer crisis in the future?" You might just be amazed at what your ideas might contribute to this aging in modern America, area of concern.