Attention aging Baby Boomers

The center for disease control in the United States claims that more than half of all clinical visits are attributed to baby boomers, a sure sign that this generation is aging very fast. By 2010 the Baby Boomers will represent 25 percent of California’s population. The convergence of four key factors drives how Boomers will impact U.S. health care:

1. There are significantly more of them and, as they age, they will require more health care services than any other generation of Americans.

2. The prevalence of chronic diseases is increasing among Boomers.

3. They have different needs and expectations than past generations.

4. More medical services and technologies are available to them than ever before.

Meeting these future health care challenges will require more resources, new
approaches to care delivery and a greater focus on wellness and prevention.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the aging-services industry composed of home healthcare, elderly and disabled services and community care facilities for the elderly make up three of the top 10 industries with the fastest employment growth.
The Chronicle of Higher Education even named gerontology one of the “hottest” academic fields of the future. For instance, this fall, the University of Southern California debuted a new master’s degree in Aging-Services Management to meet the growing interest in the field.

I get questions from people each day on many subject areas and try to cover many of them for the community by writing these articles and by having experts as guests on my talk radio show “The Aging Boomers” on KSVY each Monday from 2 to 3 p.m. A few weeks back I interviewed Dr. Sandra W. Haymon, who wrote the book “Baby Boomers – Sandwiched Between Retirement and Caregiving.” In the chapter of the book named “Our Turn,” she wrote, “Many of us may be required to take several turns sorting out elder care issues for parents, in-laws, siblings, friends, or a spouse, as well as for ourselves. In addition, these turns might occur simultaneously, even while we have minor children still at home.”

On Wednesday, June 30th from 6:45 to 8:00 p.m. area residents will have the opportunity to learn about numerous resources available for themselves, their parents, other family and friends. A panel of experts (including myself) will be at Merrill Gardens in Sonoma to address the audience with a seminar called “Where to Go to Know.”

The panel will include professionals in the areas of Elder Care Law, Medicare and Med-Cal, Veteran’s benefits, In-home care, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Rehabilitation Services, Long-Term Care Insurance and more.

The Boomers are turning 65 this year and whether you want to face it or not, you need to be informed for you and your loved ones. Some of questions and concerns that have come from my own clients will be covered:

My mom is becoming very forgetful and getting worse, so what kind of help for her should I consider?
I am being discharged from the hospital, but I cannot take care of myself.

How do I balance my family and career while still having to take care of my dad?

My parents will probably need help in the future. Should I start now?

I looked into Assisted Living for my aunt, but it seems pretty expensive. Are there any options out there to help cover the costs?
I don’t want to leave my kids with the high costs should I need assistance later in life, but when is the better time to get long-term care insurance?

I promise you this: The pros conducting this session are dedicating their time to help educate you and will not be trying to sell you anything. They just want to help inform our community of the resources that are available in our area, should you need them now or in the future. In addition, there will be some Sonoma wine and cheese.

Seating is limited, so please RSVP to 996-7101 and mention “Where to Go to Know.”

Frank M. Samson is Founder of Senior Care Authority based in Sonoma, which provides free assistance to families in finding In-Home Care, Independent and Assisted Living for their loved ones. He is the host of “The Aging Boomers” on KSVY 91.3 and ksvy.com Mondays at 2 p.m. and can be reached at 939.8744 or [email protected].
The company website is seniorcareauthiry.com