Baby Boomers Beware...

Speaking of healthy individuals, it has been found that baby boomers born between 1948 and 1953 are reporting poorer health than people who were born 6 to 12 years earlier.

An ongoing study is tracking more than 20,000 U.S. adults from middle age to retirement and has found that baby boomers are much less likely than their predecessors to describe their health as "excellent" or "very good.”  Baby boomers are also more likely than members of older generations to report having high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and difficulty walking and lifting objects.


Why do baby boomers feel so bad? Some researchers suggest that boomers are simply more conscious of their health than previous generations. Others point to a long list of health issues that currently plague the baby boom generation and aren’t likely to go away anytime soon.

• Chronic conditions is a major concern for baby boomers
• 6 out of 10 baby boomers will be managing more than one chronic condition by 2030 
• Putting off care and neglecting to take needed medications exacerbates this problem
• Only a quarter of baby boomers take advantage of preventive services

Given these statistics, it is not surprising that by 2020, boomers will account for 4 in 10 physician office visits nationwide. The following health conditions will increase considerably over the next decades:

• Drug and alcohol dependency
• HIV
• Arthritis
• Cancer
• Heart disease 
• Alzheimer’s resulting in an estimated 115 million dementia patients 
• Diabetes 
• Obesity 

Researches disagree about the level of disability that baby boomers are likely to experience in old age. Several studies suggested that chronic disability among people 65-85 was decreasing. However, more recent research in January 2010 found that disability rates among 60-year-olds increased by 40 to 70 percent during 1988–94 and 1999–2004, compared to an unchanging rate for 70-year-olds and a drop in disability rates among 80-year-olds.

Remaining physically active allows individuals to remain more independent, feel healthier, experience fewer declines in their ability to perform daily tasks and report fewer new instances of loneliness than sedentary individuals.You are never too old to begin any type of physical activity and you could live a longer and better life.

Factors to Implement for Home Safety

More than one-third of adults over the age of 65 fall each year. Falls can stem from many factors, including reduced hip and leg strength, flooring surfaces, and vision impairments. And falls can happen anywhere.

With more and more older adults wishing to stay in their home environment as long as possible, it is important to be in an environment that is as safe as possible.

Consider the following in residential design:

• Remove loose mats
• Provide contrast on steps and curbs
• Improve lighting
• Install grab bars
• Check for any irregularities in layout

 It is also important to be aware of the person's use of and circulation in the space. Perhaps a chair is used for temporary support while he or she is walking across the room. Careful observation and discussion should take place before making any drastic changes. Many older adults, especially those with vision impairments, rely on memory of the composition of the room. So, if that chair is gone and he or she gets up in the middle of the night, there could be a fall incident. Along the same lines, unstable furniture is also another risk factor to be mindful of.


Other factors to consider are the proximity of the bathroom to the bedside, appropriate lighting and lighting sensors, carpeting, and the floor layout. As a designer responsible for helping seniors to age in place, it is important to take steps to reduce the probability as much as possible.