What's Age Got To Do With It?

A couple of weeks ago, I gave a presentation for the Wood County Comm. on Aging at a 55+ women's retreat. It was titled, What's Age Got To Do With It? 10 tips for looking sassy and classy.

After my presentation a woman came up to me and said she wanted to have the whole image package (color and makeup analysis, closet makeover and shopping.) She said she was 74 years old and that her daughters had been after her to update her look. She warned me that she still had things in her closet from 1965.
The ironic thing was, while I opened my big, 'ole datebook, she whipped out her blackberry!



Isn't it funny how we can be progressive in area thing but dated in another?

Commercial Opportunities for Boomers?

Once you start looking for something, you begin to see it everywhere. That explains why lately I walk around with dollar signs in my eyes! Older generations are more active than they used to be; transportation and assistance groups make it possible to maintain independence into one's eighth and ninth decades (and beyond!) .

As I go about my daily activities, I am surprised to see that very few businesses have made even the slightest accomodation for their older customers. Front entrances are cluttered or hard to find; printed materials are hard to read (made worse by careless choices of light-colored ink, small letters, dark backgrounds); store layouts often funnel their less-agile patrons smack into the whirl of harried customers coming and going, shepherding children, grabbing carts (not naming any names, K--ger!).

Toledo-area publishers (with a few exceptions) have begun to shrink their pages and micro-size the content in order to fit, thereby rendering their products less useful to the very people who still appreciate newsprint and subscriptions: the loyal older reader. It seems to me that many small changes could be made to improve the customer experience, especially in industries that claim to face extinction because the times have changed.

Could a consultant make money advising businesses how to adapt their products and practices to fit the needs of their aging customer base? After all, a business that caters to "the elderly" will be drawing on an enormous population of boomers, for decades into the future. Is this an area where boomers could begin to request some improvements, recognizing that there's money to be made?

Taking Care of Mom

The cycle of life can be a tough cookie.

Our parents care for us for the first 18 years of our lives. We are dependent on them for these years. Then we begin to break away, live on our own, start up our own family and get all involved in soccer games, paying bills, cleaning house and writing that business proposal for the boss. Many times family members become spread out across the country and when Mom needs help, you must drop what is happening in your life and turn to care for your mom.

Well, you still have your job, your house and your kids. Soccer games are still going on, bills need attention, house is a mess and that business proposal needs to be rewritten because the boss wants to include the 5 year forecast ...... Oh, and you're out of milk.

Assisted Living facilties can help allieviate much of the stress off the family when mom (or dad) is in need of a bit more daily living help. I have had the opportunity to help several families coordinate the move of their loved ones into Browning Masonic Community in Waterville, Ohio.

I worked with mom to make sure she packed what she NEEDED in her new home. Unfortunately, you just can squeeze a house of stuff into a 1-2 bedroom apartment. Many bags of trash went to the curb, items were set aside for the family to sort through, a few loads were taken for donation. Then coordinated the moving company to load up mom's items and take them to her new home.

Then helped unpack what was brought. Made sure mom's bed was made. She had a drinks and munchies in her home. Mom was pretty much ready to settle down for night's rest. She was never alone through the entire moving process.

All this happened and you were able to stay on track with your responsibilities.

Does this make you a evil, bad daughter/son for allowing someone to help you and your mom?
Not at all.

Mom is in a beautiful, safe new home.
You no longer have to worry about mom being alone.

How awesome is your mom?