Aging is all about decline and loss, so it is said. For many it is a struggle, no doubt, but we need to remind ourselves that many are disproving that statement by spending their later years in rewarding ways. There are so many who are living into their 90s and beyond now and who go on proving that life can be worthwhile. We can't diminish the reality that we have many older persons in our state who struggle with their health and bills and pills. They depend on family, friends, community and yes, government to help them now that they aren't as independent as they once were. Much of what our office does and the county offices for the aging do is to provide home delivered meals, help people get heating aid, prescription drugs and other benefits. We take great pride in the success of the aging network and the medical community in increasing life spans, reducing the poverty rate among older persons, establishing senior centers and improving quality of life.
Now, we still have serious problems to confront with the huge age wave of Baby Boomers like me who will retire in the years ahead and the subsequent demands on our health care system and the loss of skilled workers in fields like nursing and social work. We need not deny the aging of the population nor fear it. I believe, and have pursued in my job, the idea that just as individuals need to be empowered to exercise their rights, communities need to be empowered to participate in all levels of government to design the kinds of environments they want to live in.
The Governor has proposed new demonstration projects that help communities design ways to allow persons to remain in the community through self-help and cooperative models. We will do more to support caregivers who are providing 80% of the long-term care in our state at a value of $24 billion. We need to do much more to educate older persons and caregivers about prevention, like how to avoid falls, which usually end up requiring long term care.
I realize more than ever, though, that a big part of my job is to encourage society, government, business, and media to not view older persons just as a dependent population, but one that is giving and caring and resourceful. This is not something unknown to us - how often do we see a grandparent at the bus stop when the gradeschooler comes home because mom and dad are working?
Given the numbers we face, we have no choice but to involve older persons as resources themselves - as volunteers in health care, hospice, senior companions, or counselors regarding benefits. I have no doubt that the people of New York are up to the challenge of an aging society. We have to accept this challenge and its problems but also embrace the opportunities to use the talents and wisdom of older persons as resources.
