Baby Boomers - Defining Ourselves

The fountain of youth is the continuance of lifelong learning and personal growth. Preparing ourselves to roll over and die will only get us into the grave that much sooner. As we age, we can travel and learn, experience new adventures, broaden our horizons, improve our awareness and our sense of identity. As we grow older, it is an opportunity to realize our dreams and develop our talents. It is imperative to keep learning and to stay active in order to stay young.

Increasing our fitness levels is equally important too. The world's oldest marathon runner is 101 years old. He has completed nine marathons in the past twelve years and in April of 2012, he beat his own record. At 101, he jogs ten miles every day and is going to be part of the London Olympic Games Torch Relay. He didn't begin running seriously until eleven years ago, so it is never too late to begin your fitness regime. Another, a Canadian, recently ran a marathon at seventy-three years of age in under three hours.

Running improves muscular strength and bone density, reduces the risk of falls and fractures, slows the effects of aging, improves not only our physical health but our mobility and psychological health as well. Combined with weight training, it's a perfect recipe for staying young forever.

Learning to play an instrument later in life is also like taking a small sip from the fountain of youth. It rejuvenates unused areas of the brain, increases cognitive function, enhances the brain's structure and benefits memory, auditory processing and motor skills. Playing and practicing music also releases stress. Learning to play either the violin, piano or guitar enhances hand strength and manual dexterity. And lung capacity is improved with wind instruments.

Increasing our knowledge also is a good youth saver. It is never too late to go to university or college. If you are in your sixties or seventies, it may be too late to plan on becoming a doctor or a lawyer but it is never too late to go and take something that particularly interests you but didn't previously fit in with your career goals; perhaps psychology, American history or art.

And what about the things that are on your bucket list, i.e.: giving a speech, (well admittedly that's probably not on many people's bucket list), but perhaps backpacking in Europe, doing a castle tour, going to the Arctic Pole, walking across a suspension bridge, taking a photography course, an art course, joining a book club. a singing group or learning to play bridge may be. What about some of the things that you may have been afraid to try before or that you haven't had time for? Eleanor Roosevelt once said we should try to do something we're afraid to do everyday. I don't think I'm afraid of quite that many things but I do get her point.

If we work daily at improving our fitness levels, skills and knowledge, we won't have time to get old or even think about it. The fountain of youth will always be within our reach. My mantra is, 'Let not the words, 'I am too old' ever pass my lips.

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Who Are the Next Generation of Volunteers?

Boomers are starting to retire. By 2020, in less than a decade, the number of boomers in the workforce will have decreased by 50%. What is hoped, by service and volunteer organizations, is that this will increase the number of boomers looking to volunteer their time and services to the various volunteer and service organizations needing their resources. However, the challenge for leaders of volunteer organizations is not just attracting more volunteers and encouraging them to donate more of their time to voluntary tasks, but, to attract and retain boomers, these organizations will need to provide the right type of volunteer opportunity. For Boomers, the right type of opportunity is one that encourages them to utilize the skills, knowledge and experience they have spent their entire working lives to acquire.

At the same time, leaders of these organizations will be seeking ways and means to attract and retain members of the succeeding generations, Generation X and Y, to build the volunteer base for the future.

According to Statistics Canada, our population is aging and we have more people in the 45 to 55 age group that we have in the 25 to 35 age group. The birth rate in Canada (and all other Western nations) has slowed considerably and the average age of Canadians today is 39 years of age versus 26 in 1971. This will affect our health and social systems but it will also affect our organizations - both inside and outside the workplace. Predictions, by social scientists, of a decline in the expertise available, particularly at the management and senior levels of organizations, may well be the same for volunteer organizations. On the UticaOD.com website, in April of this year, they noted that "... the percentage of baby boomers volunteering (in the U.S.)...is on the decline... nearly 22 million boomers gave their time in communities across the country in 2010 - that's about 28.8 percent of boomers, down slightly from 29.9 percent in 2007 and from 33.5 percent in 2003."

In terms of the workforce environment, intergenerational influences that affect both its composition and operation. There are four distinct generations in the workforce - and a significant shift is underway reaching its peak by the year 2020. This shift will occur due to the exit of Boomers and their replacement by Generation Y. Today, 40% of senior positions are held by Boomers. They lead the companies and the country - they hold a significant amount of expertise and, they have the corporate volunteer networks in place. Generation X and Y have entered the workforce and they have arrived with different preferences, working styles, and views of work, workplace environment and how they should be treated as employees. Recent studies with small business owners, those employing less than 100 employees, representing the majority of employers in Canada, have found that less than 25% of them have a succession plan in place - a means to pass on their business and expertise.

This intergenerational workplace has significant implications for the development of future volunteer activity. Boomers still dominate, not only the workforce in general, but also the senior positions in most organizations, including volunteer organizations. As Boomers retire, they will be replaced by a much younger group - Generation Y - with potentially very different views of the volunteer role and activities. Boomers should be accountable to mentor, coach, and develop the next generation of volunteers. What will be their legacy in this area? What will ensure Boomers, themselves, continue to give back, in the traditional sense as volunteers, by donating their free time (at retirement) to volunteer organizations?

Assuming that participation in the volunteer community will mirror participation in the workforce, by 2020, the percentage of Boomers will actually decline, along with a decline in the numbers of Generation X participating in volunteer activity.

Estimates gathered from Statistics Canada surveys in 2010 show that of the 2.1 billion volunteer hours expended during that year, approximately 36% of these hours were expended by Boomers. Generation X contributed 29% of this total, and Traditionalists (those aged 65+) and Generation Y each contributed 18% and 17%, respectively. So what might be the effect of these demographic changes on our volunteer organizations, our service clubs, organizations that rely on volunteers to achieve their goals and deliver on their community purpose? If we apply the workplace demographic changes to the volunteer community, the decline in Boomer activity will be significant, dropping to 18%. Generation X will also decline slightly and Generation Y will increase, but not enough to offset the effect of the Boomer cohort.

There are some attributes generally considered to be preferential when recruiting volunteers. Organizations seek educated, financially sound, employed, healthy, geographically stable members. They look for those with a positive and active lifestyle, focused on others, who feel a sense of duty and obligation to others, and have free time which they will allot to volunteering activities. Boomers generally fit this profile with a couple of qualifications.

Although Boomers are considered to be in good financial shape, they are now spending money and time on boomerang children and aging parents (average age of boomer parents is increasing requiring more support for longer periods of time). Boomers are highly educated and are focused on continuing to pursue an active and healthy lifestyle and they are relatively stable geographically as they tend to cluster in metropolitan areas (these characteristics summarized from studies and reports completed by the American Association for Retired Persons and Harvard School of Public Health). But some challenges arise when assessing boomers' penchant for volunteer work. Boomers' life experience has been one of self-indulgence, independence, and self-reliance. They are primarily focused on themselves and their own social networks, and are most likely to expend any additional free time (during retirement) on their own pleasures.

Boomers will most likely remain in the workforce longer than originally anticipated so will most likely continue to contribute time and effort to those causes they feel most passionate about and that afford them this time during working hours. However, once they retire, this is predicted to change. Contrary to conventional wisdom, more people volunteer in mid-life than in retirement. Volunteerism peaks in mid-life and then gradually declines (Harvard School of Public Health, 2003). Boomers will leave a large gap - to be filled by the next dominant group - Generation Y. But there are less of them. This volunteer gap could have significant implications for those organizations reliant on volunteers. How will volunteer organizations deal with this loss of labour and, more importantly, expertise in providing services to their communities?

It is important that volunteer leaders and managers learn the demographic makeup of their organization and their communities. Otherwise, they will miss a tremendous opportunity to grow the volunteer ranks and miss out on the significant level of expertise and skills resident within this boomer cohort. Current leaders will need to invest time and effort to fully understand preferences and social styles of the various generations actively working in their organizations and available as potential volunteers in their communities. This includes researching the similarities and differences between the various generational cohorts and determining what attracts their interest. This will provide them with important information when seeking to create an environment where current volunteers are retained and future volunteers are recruited.

Volunteer leaders and managers need to "reimagine" their organizations to keep Boomers engaged and recruit Generations X and Y. To do this, it helps to fully appreciate what drives each of these cohorts and them make some assumptions about what needs to change in the organization to attract them. A recent study (Calling Brands, May 2012) found employees are seeking to work for a company that has a 'strong sense of purpose'. Generation Y job seekers, with their sense of community loyalty and their group-orientation are seeking organizations whose purpose is clear, strategic, tactical and helps them to align their personal values with the position they hold, and tasks they perform, in the organization. This would seem to align very nicely with the concept of volunteering if volunteer organizations do the same. Four possible steps volunteer organizations might take to "reimagine" their strategy and operation.

Step 1: Evaluate current competency and future leadership capability within your organization.

Step 2: Research 'next' practices. 'Reimagination' requires predicting future trends and activities rather than relying on 'best' practices - practices that work well today or in the past. Holding cross-cohort working sessions or training sessions may help the various cohorts to better understand one another and come up with creative ways to attract more volunteers from all generations. Conducting reviews of the preferences and social styles of each cohort may open up a number of opportunities for generating more interest in volunteering for the longer term.

Step 3: Conduct workshops with leaders and managers to identify changes needed for your organization, changes in terms of strategies, culture, values, and leadership philosophy. The 'reimagined' leadership philosophy will set the stage and provide the tools volunteer leaders need to grow the future volunteer force.

Step 4: Build a development plan to implement these changes. This is all about effective change management training and coaching leaders about the differences, how to work with them, and how to incorporate them into the organization.

The key is to ensure the strategy, process, implementation plan, and evaluation tools are customized to the volunteer environment. There has to be a commitment in these organizations to developing an organization that will attract the 2020 volunteer force. Couple this with the creation of a clear strategy to leverage generational styles and preferences; this will set the tone, format and scope for developing the next group of volunteers.

Develop marketing strategies and plans that target each of the three generational cohorts. Boomers will be a stable, mature volunteer group and they come with significant expertise - solid skills, knowledge and experience. And they want to utilize this expertise, be appreciated for this expertise. They are looking to replace work (since work determines their level of self-esteem) with a cause they can feel passionate about. Many of them have held leadership positions. They will be attracted to organizations that require them to mentor or coach others, those requiring professional management services, those that acknowledge their leadership experience and offer them opportunities to continue to apply these skills. Boomers are used to multi-tasking so will be willing to volunteer their time in several different capacities. If they do not feel fully utilized, they will move on. Volunteer leaders and managers need to keep in mind that Boomers will attach themselves to causes that are valued by their personal and professional networks. Social networks and interactions (where relationships matter) drive participation rates of Boomers.

Generation X prefers work/life balance and many of them have small children. They will be most interested in organizations that offer them the opportunity to get involved with their children's education. Organizations that reach out to them through school events or facilities will attract members of this cohort, particularly, if they offer family events. They grew up as the 'latch-key' kids, so like boomers, they are independent and will resist being managed closely. Find ways to encourage this independence and utilize technology to attract their interest. They grew up with networks, LANs and WANs, so can easily be marketed online through social media, internet marketing and smartphone applications.

Generation Y is the connected generation. They have never known anything different. They are group and community-oriented, loyal to their peers and colleagues. At the same time, they have Facebook friends, many of them they may not actually have met, so they are open to new experiences. Marketing to this cohort must be through social media. Without a social media presence, they are not likely to even know the organization exists. Volunteer organizations will need to use technology to recruit this group and advertise group volunteer activities and events.

Attracting, recruiting and retaining the next generation of volunteers requires volunteer organizations and their leaders to be committed to self-development, examining their current operation and identifying changes that need to occur. Leveraging generational styles and preferences will set the tone, format and scope for developing the next group of volunteers. Focusing efforts on 'reimagining' the future, applying creative thinking to 'next' practices and, fine-tuning marketing efforts to target members of each cohort is the way to build the volunteer base they will need.

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Medical Bills and Arbitrary Costs: Add These Strategies to Your Toolkit

Media, consumer advocates and others talk a lot about how many of us are facing absurdly high costs for medical treatments. We know that these charges range significantly from location to location and that many times you may be hit with the majority of the balance. Not everyone, though, is talking about actual, practical ways to protect yourself from excessive costs when you obtain care at a local doctor's office, hospital or other facility.

Asking the Right Questions

Almost all of the practical strategies for "consumer cost control" in medical offices focus on getting answers from medical providers. Asking relevant questions before, during and after a visit can help you avoid some of the most ridiculous charges that show up on medical bills.

One tip is to ask for an itemized list of charges. Itemization of a medical bill will show you whether any costs for a particular procedure have been padded or exaggerated, for example, in bills for supplies and related expenses. Some doctors have begun to bill different aspects of consultation separately and this is another area where an itemized bill can come in handy.

Look At the Medical Codes

Medical consultants are now advising to look at the CPT codes that show up on your medical bills. CPT codes represent specific procedures and treatments, and you can use these to help find a fair price online. It is becoming increasingly common for individuals to look for these kinds of "blue book values" for medical procedures when negotiating with a provider. Experts also recommend checking out the government's reimbursement rates for Medicare and Medicaid to see if your doctor is charging you too much for a specific procedure.

Look for Alternatives

Another way to lower overall medical costs is to decline some of the more expensive and less necessary treatments that your doctor may suggest. Lots of medical advocates tell patients to always apply the "BRAIN" ( benefits, risks, alternatives, intuition, nothing) principle to their questions in the doctor's office. This involves looking at the pros and cons of procedures, as well as what lower-priced alternatives may be available, as well as checking your intuition or "gut feeling" about a suggested treatment. Then, evaluate the consequence of delaying treatment for a health condition.

One reason that consumer advocates suggest this kind of questioning is that a doctor's suggested treatments are not always the only course of action for any given health condition, and sometimes, a practical approach can reveal perfectly good alternatives that can come with a much lower price tag.

Look for Discounts and Other Payment Options

Another great tip is to look for payment plans and other options from your local medical providers. Many providers have begun to offer these options to patients. Some patients who are facing high-dollar bills can even qualify for charity, especially if their insurer declined huge portions of their bill. Make sure that you keep all of these strategies handy for dealing with medical bills that threaten to ruin your financial health.

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Helping Aging Parents Thrive

As your parents age, it can be difficult to maintain the same parent-child dynamic you've always had while increasingly taking on the role of caregiver. Whether your parents are enjoying an active retirement or are part of the community in a skilled nursing center or assisted living facility, these 8 tips can help you help them to thrive during this time of transition.

Encourage Them to Get Active

One of the best ways to improve your parents' state of mind as well as their physical health is to encourage them to stay active. This encouragement can take the form of a gym membership or home exercise equipment purchase, but a free and fun alternative is to exercise with them.

If your schedule allows it, make time to visit your parents and take a walk together. Allow them to set the pace, and chat together as you exercise. You could also enroll in water aerobics or take a yoga class. The shared time will provide just the incentive your parents need to get active, and you'll both strengthen your bond as you strengthen your muscles.

Improve Their Mental Health with Classes

Fitness classes aren't the only way to improve health. In fact, learning something new in the form of a community education class can help seniors stay sharp. You can encourage your parents to take exciting new classes by focusing on the activities that have interested them over the years. Brainstorm together by making a list of everything your parents have enjoyed. Then look through those items to identify what they have in common.

Once you've narrowed down the topics, get out the course catalog from your local community college, library or senior center. Make another list of the classes that match up, and present the options to your parents. If they seem reluctant, you might offer to take the class together.

Bring the Mental Exercise to Them

Another great way to maintain mental focus is to engage in tricky mental activities. Even if your parents are dealing with physical challenges that make it difficult for them to take a community education class, you can bring the mental exercise to them.

Pick up a selection of crossword puzzles, Sudoku books, and mind puzzlers and spend the afternoon together working through a few of the puzzles. Or involve them in a family game of Trivial Pursuit. Alternatively, if your parents aren't fans of these activities, drop off a great selection of books or surprise them with a subscription or two to an interesting magazine.

Help Them Pass on Their Life Lessons

Whether your parents are living independently or require assistance, feeling valued and useful are important for their emotional health. In addition, many people can benefit from the knowledge and wisdom they have gained over the years. Try some of these ideas to help them to pass on some of their life lessons and experiences:

• Encourage them to volunteer in the community. Whether they choose to mentor new entrepreneurs with a program like MicroMentor or work with school children learning to read, everyone benefits from the experience.


• Help them make a list of life lessons and print the list up in book form. Topics might include favorite recipes and cooking tips, parenting advice, or other useful tidbits.


• Work with your parents to record their stories. You can do this in the form of a book or audio tape, or you could work with a professional to create something very special. Whatever method you choose, you and your parents will both be glad that you took the time to preserve their life stories.

Give Them a Social Outlet

While frequent visits and phone calls to your parents are sure to be appreciated, research suggests that having positive friendships actually may be even more important for longevity than regular contact with family. Whether your parents are living independently or with help, encourage them to interact with friends as much as possible.

If your parents are living independently, you might persuade them to start a book club or join a band. Regular card games, dance classes, and senior center activities can also be great places to establish and further cement positive friendships.

For those who have limited mobility, being social may be even more important. While most facilities have extensive social programs, getting involved can seem overwhelming to some seniors. Work with your parents to pick a few activities that interest them, and these can provide a great social outlet.

Get in Touch with a Support Group

Although your role in your parents' lives is changing, you still may find that you cannot provide all the emotional support they need. The retirement years can be challenging for several reasons, including the loss of loved ones, financial challenges, significant life changes, and health concerns.

Listening to your parents can help them navigate these challenges, but many people also need the help of a support group or therapist. These resources may be available in your parents' skilled nursing or assisted living facility. If not or if your parents are living independently, you can encourage them to find a support group or therapist through their local senior center or through a hospital.

Provide a Change of Scenery

No matter what your parents' living situation is like, a change of scenery can be extremely helpful in making the world feel like a bigger, better place. If your parents are healthy, travel is a great way to boost mood and see some amazing sites. Work with them to set up a dream vacation to Europe or a short jaunt to a nearby city.

For those with limited mobility, a change of scenery may mean an outing to a favorite restaurant or a night at the movies. Pick activities your parents will enjoy and coordinate your efforts with the nursing facility or assisted living center where they live. These facilities may be able to provide transportation if your parents need help.

Encourage Them to Practice Mindfulness

One key to helping your parents stay positive and enjoy their retirement years is to encourage them to notice and be present in the moment. When they were raising a family or building a career, they were likely rushing from one task to the next. Now they have a chance to slow down and see the beauty in the world.

You can encourage mindfulness by asking your parents to make a note of or take pictures of something beautiful every day. Then, at the end of the week, take some time to look through what they've created. This activity will boost their moods and yours, and it will also provide an opportunity to bond.

Take Care of Yourself

It's easy to get caught up in the very important role you now fill in your parents' lives. However, remember to take some time for yourself as well. Maintaining balance in your own life will make you a better caregiver, and that will go a long way toward enhancing your parents' retirement years as well.

Can Older People Find New Jobs?

Why Are Older Workers Seeking New Jobs?

in the old days, from what I hear, a person could plan to stay with the same company for an entire career. These days, things are changing rapidly. Free of us have the luxury of ending up with the same company we started with. Times are changing quickly, and companies are changing the way that they are getting work done.

This has left many people unemployed. It seems like older workers, especially those over 55, have had an especially hard time of it. Their unemployment numbers are always at the top end of any age group. In addition, they seem to stay out of work longer.

On the other hand, though it is always hard to see it at the time, a period of unemployment can be an opportunity to repackage yourself, begin a new career, and perhaps end your working life on a positive note.

Older Workers And Professionals Have Advantages

If you are an older person, who has been working for decades, you do bring some strong things to the interview table. You have lots of experience. You have probably developed some strong skills as well. You may be frustrated because you are not finding any job opportunities, in your old industry, for those skills and that experience.

However, there are still plenty of fields that are hiring. A lot of your skills and experience can transfer into your new line of work. You may have to be realistic and accept a step backwards in order to move forward though. For the best opportunity, you may have to move, and this can be tougher on people in midlife than it is on younger people. I am not trying to tell anybody that a midlife career change will always be easy. However, it can be done.

Leverage Social Networking

You have always heard people say that who you know may matter than what you know! These days, a variety of online social sites can help you grow your own personal network of contacts very quickly. In fact, a majority of today's recruiters and hiring managers say they do comb some social networking sites for qualified people.

Today, social networks are good for much more than sharing videos and pictures of your puppy. Most businesses work very hard to have a presence on these sites, and most of the time, you can use these services without paying anything. You may have to put some work into presenting yourself as a strong candidate, but once you do, you can attract a lot of positive attention.

If you do need a new job, you should not be shy about asking for one!

Be Flexible And Stay Current

Many older workers, who have been out of work a long time, keep doing the same things over and over again. They may work very hard to find a new job, but their tactics are just not effective any longer. In order to prosper you may have to work differently, update your job searching skills, and open your mind to new opportunities.

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