WE MUST IGNITE A REVOLUTION TO REINVENT AMERICA

America is growing older….78 million Baby Boomers (the oldest of whom turned 60 this year and the youngest 42) are aging fast. As these Boomers age, one will reach 50 every 7.5 seconds and this adds up to 4 million every year. This is an astounding statistic, and it will have an enormous impact—from family life, work and recreation, to the economy. We are not ready for this onslaught, that is for sure.

We must recognize this coming wave, and quickly, or we will be drowned by it. We know the effect will be felt immediately on Social Security programs, the movement of experienced workers away from corporations and the resulting gaps, the weight of this new geriatric health care need  on health institutions, occupying these aging group’s time, and so much more.

First, our health care system is outrageously expensive already. We spend $1.9 trillion a year on health care—that is $6,280 for each man, woman and child on average. Also this is 16% of our economy.
We must certainly reinvent retirement, as it is understood today. It is not enough to look at this coming wave, we must look much further down the road as a child born today can expect to live 30 years longer than one born a century ago.

If we do nothing for the future, what can we expect to happen? We will have a collapse of all of the systems and organizations we know today, that is for sure. The Economic Policy Foundation predicts the shortfall of workers needed to turn out goods and services will total 4.3 million by 2011 and 35 million by 2031. But many companies and organizations are beginning to react. For instance someone like Borders Books is hiring men and women in their 50’s and more to handle stores and the results are increased sales to everyone and especially the elderly. There are others like New York Life, Loudon Healthcare, Lincoln National Corp, MetLife and Scripps Health Care…the list goes on.

The AARP has been recognizing these problems for years and they are advising many executives on how to proceed. What they dictate in a new book, called "50+", is that there has to be a new American Revolution in our society. Each of us  must do all we can to save our way of life. Whatever age you are, take a look at your own future.