Empowering Ideas for 2014

Without doubt, the concept(s) of Aging In Place, together with advances in elder care and elder law are changing a grim landscape for millions of Americans. While researching aging-in-place options for a neighbor, I stumbled across empowering information and ideas I found very hopeful. One is a book, "Audacious Aging" by Raines Cohen. It is a compelling read for anyone approaching what has become known as "retirement age," a term I view as sad, not to say, paralyzing. A linguist, I am committed to changing the terms we use to describe people over fifty. I prefer the term elder, and offer the traits of an elder, taken from the definition of The Elders' Guild:

• An elder is continually growing, a learner.
• An elder has life potential, a life of promise, connection to the future. 
• An elder views happiness, joy and pleasure as birthrights.
• An elder is a font of wisdom, gained from a lifetime of experience.
• An elder's work is to synthesize this wisdom into a legacy for future generations.

Lifelong achievement, wisdom and simple endurance make an elder someone deserving of respect and honor. This is, by no means, a new way of perceiving elders. Native American tribal cultures looked to elders as the guardians of tradition, counselors and teachers.

In the Forward to "Audacious Aging"Stephanie Marohn, the Editor, writes of an inadvertent right of passage for Baby Boomers. As she passed her 50th birthday, she began to receive mail from AARP. Her reaction was denial -- she set about filling waste baskets with AARP junk. Marohn says of her denial:

"...It revealed a belief in a future of limitation rather than expansion. I saw aging as a shrinking of options and a gradual loss of everything. What a dismal view! I was not alone in this view. It is the societal view of aging under which we currently operate."

Here is a link to the website for Raines Cohen's book:  http://www.audaciousaging.com.

Additional empowering concepts I'll explore and discuss in future posts are Aging In Community and Co-Housing. Much thought and discussion is being given to the creation of sustainable communities. Co-housing provides a means to achieving sustainability and facilitating aging in community Although co-housing communities are a perfect fit for elders, co-housing is not for elders only. Anyone can become involved in the co-housing movement. Read more about the definition and history of co-housing here:
http://www.cohousing.org/what_is_cohousing

It is a new year, a new day! As I become more involved in my own audacious aging, The Elders' Guild, Aging In Community and Co-housing, I'll share experiences and knowledge.