The back side of the baby-boomer curve
Getting old is something most of us don’t think much about until it actually happens.
At 70, my health is good, I’m active and still wake up every day seeking some new adventure or challenge.
Recently however, I’ve spent some extended time visiting with and helping care for my 92-year-old mother, who lives with my 90-year-old father in Phenix City, Alabama.
My mother is mobile, but not really. Her mind and thoughts are mostly clear and coherent, but every day it’s less so. My dad’s in better shape than mom, but not by much. My little brother who’s 60 years old himself, lives with them, and is their primary caregiver. He also works full time, leaving the house at 5:30 a.m. and returning home about 6 in the evening.
Needless to say, “Paid Family Leave” is a public policy initiative that just took on a whole new meaning for me. Most of the discussion on this topic focus’s on caring for the new-born child, while caring for grandma and grandpa often does not get discussed.
Because my parents are home alone much of the time and very shaky on their feet, they have no business working around a hot stove or flames of any sort. Consequently their main meal of the day is often limited to what a microwave oven can offer.
Thank goodness we have “meals on wheels” that will deliver fresh and nourishing meals to their doorstep — another public policy initiative that must be supported and hopefully expanded.
Two weeks ago my mother took a fall. Paramedics and an ambulance were called to the house to pick her up off the floor and make sure nothing was broken. Fortunately she was OK, a little bruised in spirit and around the knees, but basically OK.
Access to trained and affordable “in-home” care is still yet another need for my dear old mom, and for so many others.
The list is long, from physical therapy, to hearing, dental, and vision care, to basic transportation for medical appointments – all directly impacted by government healthcare policy decision-making.
Thank goodness for the “handi-van” and similar public services that provide “Bus service available for registered seniors to and from program activities, shopping, clinic, recreation, and door-to-door services for frail elderly.”
Every other day my mom gets a phone call from someone trying to sell her something or otherwise steal from her gullible nature.
They’ve even tried impersonating her grandchildren. These guys should go to jail.
The baby boomer bubble has not yet begun to burst, but the first wave of aging boomers is already here. It’s past time I think for leaders in government to start looking more closely at the needs, the benefits and the repercussions of failing to respond adequately to the gazillion people who are now, at this very moment entering those golden years.
Mahalo plenty to the Kauai County Agency on Elderly Affairs (AEA), the agency that plans, implements, supports, and advocates for the well-being of older adults (60 and older); and to the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC), which serves as a one-stop source of information on long term care support options and services for all residents.
If you’re taking care of someone who’s also getting on in years, I encourage you to visit the AEA websitehttps://www.kauai.gov/Government/Departments-Agencies/Agency-on-Elderly-Affairs.
If you’re a state, county or federal lawmaker, I encourage you to start paying more attention to old people — they are not only super-voters, but they are the ones who raised you.
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Gary Hooser served eight years in the state Senate, where he was majority leader. He also served for eight years on the Kaua‘i County Council. He presently writes on Hawai‘i Policy and Politics at www.garyhooser.blog.
