Tag: Baby Boomers

Gen X Similarities with Baby Boomers

Carolyn Worthington, editor-in-chief of Healthy Aging® Magazine and executive director of Healthy Aging®, is founder of September is National Healthy Aging Month. The annual celebration has the mantra, “it is never too late to reinvent yourself.” I call this “rewiring” your personality and skillset.

Worthington champaigns those 45+ to take charge of physical, mental, social, and financial well-being. As she highlights, U.S. attention is no longer predominantly directed to the Baby Boom generation (born 1946-1964), with 76 million Boomers over age 50 today. Gen X individuals (born 1964-1980), 65 million strong, recently streamed into their 60’s.

Consider each take-charge goal (actually for everyone, not just Gen Xers and Boomers):

  • Physical well-being

As U.S. Gen Xers age, health-related decisions become crucial. According to the Mather Institute Gen Xperience Year 2 Report, stress levels run high – nearly 69% of Gen Xers reported moderate-to-extreme stress in the previous 3 months. A majority (67%) reported “good”-to-“very good” physical health, while 9% reported “excellent” physical health. However, research from Ohio State University indicates that risks for metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, and chronic inflammation are higher in Gen Xers compared to Baby Boomers at the same age. Compared to previous generations, Boomers are reported to have 1½ times more cancer, lung disease, heart problems, diabetes and high cholesterol as they reached their 50th–60th decades.

  • Mental well-being

My labeling, Midlife Maze — the squeezed generation caring for children alongside aging parents — is upstream challenged in work-life balance and job security; nearly 60% reported these factors affect well-being. Only 45% of Gen Xers rated their mental health as “very good”-to-“excellent,” compared to 57% of Boomers.  

  • Social well-being

Gen Xers and Boomers report increasing rates of loneliness. An AARP study found 46% of U.S. adults ages 45-59 identifying as lonely. A Cigna Group study found Boomer loneliness rates to be 44-45%. Ben Franklin was 29 when he penned these words: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Let’s prevent social isolation for both groups.

  • Financial well-being

Nearly 40% of Gen-X households have no retirement savings, while 27% of Boomers have zero personal retirement savings. There are misperceptions about who picks up the retirement tab. Without savings, many retirees assume Social Security will bankroll retirement. However, average 2026 S.S. checks for retired employees run about $2,000 monthly with average households headed by an individual 65+ incur monthly expenses of approximately $5000 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey).

Worthington’s advice is to treat September like “back-to-school” season for adults. She proposes asking, “What was your best year so far? 28? 40? Now? Pic­ture your­self at that age and be it. Some…may say this is denial, but…it’s pos­i­tive think­ing and goes a long way toward feel­ing bet­ter about your­self.”

 Tip: Don’t keep swimming in thrashing thoughts about how you look in the mir­ror. Make well-being plans.

Pearls of (PoP) Quiz

536. How do you rate yourself on these 4 indices of well-being?

537. What steps might you take TODAY to leverage better self-care?    

Looking for a Diamond Career?

“Stardust” Time Capsule (Meteorite grains, including diamonds, 7 billion years old)

Careers featuring seasoned citizen populationsare not only rewarding, but necessary. By 2030 Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964) will be 65 years old or beyond. Referred to as a “gray tsunami,” I prefer my terms, seasoned citizens or beyonders. Individuals currently 65 can expect to live 2 decades more, on average, beyond the expectations of many. Life expectancy at age 65 is rising due to better health care. U.S. Census Bureau reporting tracks life expectancy at 65 from 11.9 years (1900) to 19.1 years (2010). By 2023 this number for females reached 20.7 years and for males, 18.2 years. In Japan, life expectancy years for those 65+ are even higher for these aging diamonds.  

March is “Careers in Aging Month,” hosted by the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) to raise awareness about the variety of careers available in elder care with the growing seasoned citizen population. Consider some possibilities:

  • The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a need for medical health managers increasing by 29% by 2033.
  • Social service jobs in senior-living centers are critical on many levels. Some positions require specialized training with certifications; however, low pay is problematic. I recently met a young caretaker who relies on her husband’s paycheck.  
  • Family mediators skilled in guiding difficult elder care conversations and end-of-life issues are game-changers.
  • Recreational therapists (including music therapists and art therapists), as well as fitness instructors, are increasingly in demand. Bodymind exercise is one of the best ways for seasoned citizens to prevent cognitive decline.
  • Financial money managers who help family members and/or guardians plan for extended care are helpful.
  • Technology experts who coach seasoned citizens about cell phone and laptop usage are essential. Scams are increasing and this population is at a higher risk.
  • Aging-in-place consultants may be next-in-demand, as many Baby Boomers wish to stay in their own homes as they embrace aging bodies.
  • Educators and mentors may enlarge careers to provide elder classes. Education levels are increasing; among those 65+ in 1965, 5% had 4 or more years of college. In 2023 this education level comprised 33% of the 65+ population. Many are lifelong learners.
  • Entrepreneurs who work in some aspect of elder care may find 65+ folks an untapped population.

.  Whether you are looking for a career involving seasoned citizens or not, here are questions to ask yourself:

  • If you did something completely different in your work life, what would it be?
  • What is your unofficial resume?
  • What do you really care about, and why?
  • What would you do in life if you knew you could not fail?

Perhaps you are an aging diamond – 65 or beyond, still sparkling, questioning traditional retirement. Neuroscientist Daniel Levitin has a term for folks who keep working — “unretirement.” He cites between 25% and 40% of retirees as reentering the workforce. Are you one of them?

Pearls of Peace (PoP) Quiz

480. What is your plan for your future years?

481. How is your navigation going if you already are in the 65+ starship?