Optimism for aging Maine

The “United States Census 2000 – Bangor by the numbers” series has been an excellent vehicle by which to learn about the changing profile of Maine’s population. As a gerontologist, I would like to offer some additional thoughts as follow-up to Bangor Daily News reporter Gordon Bonin’s fine piece (April 2) titled, “Population of young slips.”

In that article the reader is informed quite rightly that the proportion of Maine’s population younger than 18 is shrinking and that the older adult population is concurrently increasing. Such a trend should come as no surprise as Americans continue to witness unprecedented maturing. Indeed, the United States is experiencing nothing less than a demographic revolution, unprecedented in the history of our nation. The revolution in aging is impacting urban, suburban and rural communities alike.

Our nation’s older adult population is growing at a pace three times faster than that of the young. Today, more than 35 million Americans are over age 65, 13 percent of this country’s citizens. Within 30 years’ time one in five Americans will be over the age of 65, comprising some 70 million persons. And the elderly population is growing increasingly diverse. By the year 2030 some 25 percent of the elderly population will be minorities compared to only 16 percent today.

Some forecasters predict the “graying” of America will lead to our ultimate demise as our economic system collapses under the pressure of so many so-called “unproductive” retirees. Others speak of the emergence of unprecedented opportunities as a consequence of extended lifespan. Count me among the latter. I am exceedingly optimistic about the future of aging and its implications for societal as well as Maine’s well-being.

Without downplaying the vitally important efforts of re-searchers and human service professionals who are working feverishly to conquer aging-related diseases, reduce elder poverty, wipe out elder abuse, and more, I would suggest that a greater measure of time and attention needs to be directed toward recognizing the positive features of the aging experience. Lest we forget, the vast majority of older adults live out their lives in their own homes and not in nursing homes or hospitals. Indeed, recent surveys confirm that older adults are significantly more optimistic about their latter years than ever before and believe it to represent the best period of their lives.

Older adults residing in Maine and elsewhere are an increasingly sophisticated, educated, healthy, politically astute, mobile and vocal cohort with higher expectations and more disposable income than any prior generation of elders. For the first time we are actually able to document a rather dramatic decline in disability rates among older persons. Poverty rates among older adults continue to decline as well hitting an all-time low of 9.7 percent in 1999.

It should be emphasized, too, that older adults should not be seen as a drain, as some would have us believe, on public resources nor a burden to our community infrastructure. While government certainly has the obligation of bearing a measure of responsibility by maintaining a safety net of entitlements, benefits and services for older adults, elders themselves and their families continue as they always have to shoulder the lion’s share of support. The incredible strength and resiliency of older people’s families, friends and neighbors remains phenomenal both here in Maine and elsewhere.

Realize also that in the future, the needs of older adults will create a myriad of new job opportunities for individuals employed in both the service and product economies. Furthermore, elder homeowners and consumers will continue to pay substantial and growing proportions of taxes that fuel the infrastructure. Older adults will swell the ranks of the volunteer service sector and represent a major source of philanthropic giving. They are also predicted to remain in the workplace for longer periods of time buttressing the tax base while easing the demand for reliable and responsible employees in a tight labor market.

Of course, in the end, older adults also return many billions of dollars each year back into the economy through inheritance mechanisms. In all of these contexts elders should quite naturally be seen as valuable community and family resources and not burdens on society.

The swelling numbers of older adults will fuel the expansion of services and programs that aim to respond to their expectation of increased choice and options in later life. Opportunities for well-trained health and human services personnel who are armed with the latest knowledge in working with older adults and in administering effective and efficient community organizations will be great. Put simply, the aging baby boomers of tomorrow are going to create the greatest boom in geriatric-focused services that will need to be staffed by well-educated and caring professionals.

The point being made here should be obvious – the aging of Maine’s population is not a bad thing nor is Maine’s experience out of the ordinary. Yes, an aging Maine will gradually require a retooling of the state’s health, education, social, recreation and business infrastructures. In doing so, wonderful new opportunities for innovative service and product development will appear. It will open up vast new sectors of the economy for both younger and older workers to engage in creative enterprise. It will pave the way for innovative public and private community partnerships in service to older persons.

Older adults are a positive force to be reckoned with politically, economically and socially. The consequences of the aging revolution will ultimately make Maine an even stronger, healthier and more desirable place in which to spend one’s youth, middle and latter years.

Lenard W. Kaye, DSW is a Visiting Libra Professor in the School of Social Work of the College of Business, Public Policy and Health at the University of Maine.