Mark Hager, Industry expert, small business coach and trainer, and Founder of AgeInPlace.com discusses the coming aging Baby Boomer crisis here in America. This is a call for action to all citizens of the U.S. on behalf of our beloved older citizens. It is a challenge to small business owners, local government and agencies ... and you.

1. If I Were So Brave
America Isn't Ready for the Aging Boomer Crisis

2. On July 7th, Ivan Yates of the Irish news site Independent.ie
wrote an article that should have shaken the Irish public to its
foundation.
The article entitled,
“We have failed to prepare for our greying future and
a million elderly will pay dearly”
is one of the most clearly articulated descriptions of the fate
the growing aging population in Ireland
could face in the coming years.

3. In it, Mr. Yates discusses his view of the current and near-
future state of elder care. And, how he feels that will affect the
1,000,000 people that will be over age 65 in Ireland, between
2016 and 2046.
According to Mr. Yates, “The greatest, medium-term
challenge to our social system is how to adequately provide
for the needs of 1,000,000 extra people over 65 between
2016 and 2046.”
It’s bleak. It’s unforgiving.
And, in my opinion, it’s a pretty fair assessment.

4. The sad fact of the matter is, Ireland is not alone. Japan,
Australia and many other countries are in the same boat.
America is included in that list. I’d dare say we are a front
runner, just behind Japan.
As a country, we are heading down a tunnel and no one is
thinking about what’s on the inside.
Much less, what’s on the other side. At least, not in terms of
us; the people and communities of The United States.

5. I’m here to tell you, it is not going to be all unicorns and
rainbows when American Boomers are all well into their
retirement years.
If I were so brave … as brave as Mr. Yates … I would
emphatically state that I believe it will be quite the contrary.

6. If I were so brave, I would stand up and say, “In 2050, the
U.S. population aged 65 and over is projected to be 83.7
million, almost double its estimated population of 43.1 million
in 2012.”1
(Because, a 50% increase is pretty substantial,
right?)
I would ask people to imagine what it would be like to have an
additional 40.6 million people on Medicare. Or, to consider the
number of hospitals, doctors, assisted living facilities that
many older people would require.
1 An Aging Nation: The Older Population in the United States, https://www.census.gov/prod/2014pubs/p25-1140.pdf

7. If I were so brave, I might go so far as to question how
people are going to get the things they need as they grow
older, such as transportation, delivery services, home
maintenance, in-home care and a host of other things.
I would encourage everyone to educate themselves about the
ill-conceived plans and paltry gestures of preparedness that
have been heralded as answers to the problem.

8. If I were so brave, I’d deliver heartfelt pleas to people to
think about their own future, or a loved one’s, and lay some
plans that would help them maintain their quality of life.
I would remember … just for a minute … that in fewer years
than I’d like, I’ll be numbered among those that are over age
65.
And, that the future we’re building for the Boomers will mostly
likely be my generation’s future, too. (And, possibly, that of
the next few generations coming up behind us.)

9. I wish I was brave enough to stand up and say,
“Our country is not giving the issue of the aging Baby
Boomers the right amount of consideration and certainly isn’t
taking enough action to prepare.”
AND
“What we, as a nation, are doing is essentially turning our
heads away from a problem that will have
irreversible consequences.”

10. I wish you were, too.