"Don't call me 'elder'!"

Baby boomers are “the pig in the python” that moves through time in America, changing the shape of everything they pass through. And many are trying to predict how they—we—will change the end of life.

Ecumen, Minnesota’s largest non-profit senior housing company and affiliated with the Evengelical Lutheran Church in America, studied a cohort of Minnesota boomers to find out what they thought. Age Wave findings make interesting reading. Among other things, I now know that “80 is the new 60.” Which must mean that 60 is the new 40: what a relief!

What’s in a name?
“Senior” and “older adult” are okay; “elder” and “third-ager” aren’t.

Call them “people,” not “residents.”

They want to live in “homes,” not “units.”

“Community” is the term of choice for where they live: forget “facility” and “campus.”

“Community with services” is good, but not “assisted living.”

“Life care community” is the term of choice, not “nursing home.”

And they don’t like the term “long-term care;” it had negative connotations for nearly half of those studied.


Care options—and how to pay for them
They may not like the term “long-term care” but they know they are going to need it.

89% support using Medicaid dollars to pay family members to provide care for a senior in the home, a model being tried in Vermont (and Wisconsin's Family Care).

86% would pay a payroll tax of up to $12/month to provide funding for a year of guaranteed long-term care.

80% support a lifecare annuity: a single payment that would yield an ongoing income stream to pay for long-term care costs.

Most important characteristics
Between 90-100% of boomers say these will matter as they age:

1. Independence
2. Nearby friends and family
3. Privacy
4. Easy access to health care
5. Safety
6. Easy access to shopping
7. Spiritual opportunities
8. Easy access to transportation

The next most frequently named list (64-81%)

9. Meaningful volunteer opportunites
10. Welcomed community involvement
11. Easy access to fitness opportunities
12. Multi-generational community