Franke: The Aging of America
by Mark Franke
By 2035 the number of senior citizens in America will exceed the number of children.
I learned that fact at the annual meeting of a faith-based retirement community for which I am a voting delegate. While this may seem like a positive growth forecast for this ministry, it presents its challenges as well.
What kind of living accommodations and health-care facilities will this aging population need in 10 years hence? Lutheran Life Villages, the ministry I support through my participation in its governance, appears well suited for providing the required services. It offers all levels of care, through independent living in apartments or cottages, through assisted living and memory care, to full service skilled nursing and rehabilitation services.
But that’s today. When I served on its board of directors 10-plus years ago, the offerings were somewhat different. Memory care was not a high demand need, at least not yet. Assisted living was being restructured to recognize seniors’ desire to remain as independent as possible while having access to immediate health and lifestyle care.
The aging of America is one of those dreaded mixed blessings. Due to medical advances, people live longer and remain active well into retirement. We can spend our well-earned free time doing important volunteer work and helping to raise grandchildren. At least those two activities are what keep the Franke household busy.
Patient demand for health-related services has grown exponentially. If you doubt this, just look at the huge medical complexes in our cities. Sure, this growth has created millions of new jobs across the care-giving spectrum but someone has to pay for it all. Health insurance premiums have risen even faster than taxes, and that’s saying something. Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid have become federal and state budget busters while defying whatever modest political courage our politicians are able to summon.
Health is one of two American industries that do not have a sustainable financial model. The other is higher education, where I spent my career but sensibly getting out before these institutions jump lemming-like over the coming enrollment cliff.
As I find myself well-entrenched in my mid-70s, I can’t help but notice things changing in my life and my ability to cope with even the routine. I expected the physical degradation. I can’t lift as much dead weight as before and I don’t bend at the knees or waist like I used to. Fatigue sets in more quickly during exertions and earlier in the day.
It seems most of my friends have gone through knee or hip or shoulder replacement but I am fortunate on that count. All my original parts are still there, wisdom teeth excepted, although these OEM parts certainly don’t work so well anymore. However, that does provide for a ready excuse to get out of the heavy lifting. “I’m too old to do that anymore” is my mantra.
Another common senior complaint is having sleep issues. They say we old folks need less sleep but I think that is an erroneous conclusion drawn from the fact that we just don’t sleep like teenagers anymore.
I have never used an alarm clock, being able to wake up naturally at any required time. I resolved in retirement to get more sleep, primarily by moving back my wake-up time. It didn’t work.
It’s the mental side of the equation that concerns me most. It is more than simple forgetfulness; the evidence of infrequent bouts of absentmindedness is a real cause for concern. If I walk into the kitchen and then forget why I came, so what. If I walk out of the kitchen and leave a stove burner on, that’s serious.
I used to have an excellent memory, being able to memorize lists with little effort. I almost never forgot a name and frequently would recall the details of conversations held decades previously. Now, it’s a hit and miss situation. Names of people I see regularly may momentarily wander off into Never Never Land. If I do recall the name, I don’t trust the accuracy of my recollection. Listen to any conversation among a group of senior citizens and eventually this complaint will surface, with all nodding their heads in agreement.
My family doctor told me to analyze my memory problems this way. If I forget where I put my car keys, it is simply normal aging. If I find them and can’t remember what they are used for, that’s a real problem which needs professional attention.
So far, I have always recognized their use when I pulled my car keys from my pocket. Now, if I can just remember where I parked the car…
Mark Franke, M.B.A., an adjunct scholar of the Indiana Policy Review and its book reviewer, is formerly an associate vice-chancellor at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.
Comments...