|
Inspiring Opportunities Free E-Newsletter |
| | |
|
Featured Story |
|
Longtime friends Jane Brooks and Joyce Burd decided to combine their skills, Jane as a writer and Joyce as an arts administrator, to bring ballroom dancing to 5th grade classrooms in Philadelphia.
| |
|
News The positive aging movement is quickly gaining momentum, as well as recognition, in all areas of society. Keep up with the newest trends and stories; there will be plenty to consider as you read the latest news for boomers and beyond.
World Class Philadelphia
You may remember that the The Economy League of Greater Philadelphia asked area citizens to submit videos of their vision of the region's future based on their 2026: Future Histories of Greater Philadelphia report. Four winners have been chosen and the ideas presented will play a role in the ongoing discussions of how to make Greater Philadelphia a world class place to live, work, and play by 2026. The Best of Show is a short film called "The Journey" that tells the story of two people meeting in a Global Village future with iconic images of this region woven into the story. To see this and the other winning entries, click here.
Brave Old World
And if you are ready to move... this New York Times post highlights ElderSpirit, one of four existing examples in the country of a senior (not multi-generational) "co-housing" or intentional community built exclusively for this use. An eclectic group of 44 older adults, hailing from 15 states, moved to Appalachia. The majority of residents are over 70. They see the community as a low-cost alternative where they can remain independent, share weekly meals with neighbors, and help each other. Most are thriving, but have been relatively free of critical health issues and dementia. Check out the fascinating videos by fellows at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism focused on the issues of aging.
Living Large in Jacksonville
So where are boomers settling as they enter their golden years? Are they moving to the bustling, arts and culture rich cities? Not according to this Forbes article that cites 2010 Census data about the whereabouts of those 55 to 64 year. If people are moving, it is to the low-density Sunbelt metros on this top ten list. But, by far the biggest trend among boomers at this age is not to move at all. Maybe they are staying at home because many are still working full-time, the economy is unstable, and/or grown children are returning. Read the next article for what some in the older set are considering...
Brain Training: Money Well Spent?
Because so many boomers and older are worried about maintaining their brain power, a burgeoning industry of "brain fitness" products is flourishing. In fact, according to a 2010 survey by AARP, boomers are more concerned about keeping their mental abilities than running out of money. Exercises, games, and classes that promise to keep memory loss at bay, improve your attention span, and help you become productive, are feeding this industry projected to hit up to $8 billion by 2015. The problem, experts say, is that these investments may be not be worth the cost. To read more about maintaining brain health, click here.
Tips for Writing an Engaging Memoir
Writing a memoir sounds like an easy assignment; after all, it's all about you. But, this article, an NPR interview with author and memoir writing instructor, Marion Roach Smith, points out that aspiring memoirists often err on the side of including every memory on the page, rather than focusing on broader themes. Roach believes that writing a memoir that will keep a reader's interest calls for choosing one area of expertise rather than exploring a lifetime, which is the job of an autobiography. To get some more tips from the author of The Memoir Project, click here.
Property Tax Rebate Extended
Good news for procrastinators! The deadline to apply for Pennsylvania's Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program has been extended from June 30th to December 31st. The program provides qualifying senior citizens and other Pennsylvania residents with rebates based on the property taxes or rent they paid the previous year and is open to Pennsylvania residents 65 or older, widows and widowers 50 or older, and people 18 or older who have a disability. The income limit to qualify is $35,000 for homeowners and $15,000 for renters. Call (888) 222-9190 for an application.
Boomer Bonding
As we know, boomer women and men are eager to explore next steps in their lives and connect with others going through this time of life. This article talks about a group of New Jersey women, "Boomer Chicks", who have found "female bonding" through activities and discussions with a trained counselor. With full-time work taking up much of their time, they found that they didn't develop the kinds of friendships that their mothers did, many of whom were homemakers. There are a growing number of resources for seeking connections and direction. Check out the Coming of Age website for resources, the Age for Change e-book, The Transition Network...and this newsletter for upcoming workshops and events.
Younger Boomers Reinventing their Lives
There are so many terms to describe the boomer experience... the Encore Years, the Third Age, Coming of Age...and now, the "In-Betweeners," a term coined by well-known author, Gail Sheehy. In this USA Today article, Sheehy highlights the state of the largest cohort in America, those 45 to 55. They are not young, but are a long way from old; more unmarried than married; not sure about their work future...and above all, resilient and eager to find companionship. These traits are picked up in another article describing the growing interest of this age group and older in online dating on 50+ sites. Whether looking for a friend or spouse, they are staying in the game and doing it their way.
Oprah is Still Giving...
At least we still have Oprah's magazine to console us! And this article in the latest issue does that and more as it provides research and observations that show how older brains trump younger ones in at least 10 areas. Among the findings are that brain cells never stop growing and continue to develop as we learn new skills; older adults make smarter money decisions; and mature people have better people skills and greater clarity about feelings. It's nice to read about our assets with research to back the findings.
|
