Re: Boomers and up: what exactly is older?

RE: WSJ article

2009-05-12T16:01:19Z

We're seeing a lot of seniors/boomers at our programs, particularly those aimed at job seekers.

WSJ article

2009-04-06T12:46:28Z

Here is the Wall Street Journal's April 2 article about the possible effects of the recession and the new Kennedy Act on seniors and national service.

"The deep recession is forcing millions of Americans in their 50s and 60s to rethink plans for retirement. That shift -- coupled with new legislation out of Washington -- could help spur a commitment to national service not seen since the early days of the Peace Corps, say nonprofits."

Re: Terminology: 'Older Adults' vs. 'Seniors'

2008-05-05T22:32:25Z

Depends upon their, ah, musicality.

(Cue up the <i>Blazing Saddles</i> clip ...)

Re: Terminology: 'Older Adults' vs. 'Seniors'

2008-05-05T20:16:23Z

So, our cabal of (ahem) three has decided that *maybe* we could be more inclusive IF we really wanted to open up our already welcoming discussion group well then we *MIGHT* want to change the name?

Bah.

Until we get more users/posters, it isn't going to make a difference. It's a hill of beans!

Our next thorny issue: Beans: fruit or vegetable?

Re: Terminology: 'Older Adults' vs. 'Seniors'

2008-04-24T20:14:19Z

I agree and tend to think that the *real* distinction is between "those who can get to the library on their own" and "those who cannot." Some of the former may need minor assistance due to failing eyesight and the need to learn a bit o' new tech ... but they're still in the game!

Re: Terminology: 'Older Adults' vs. 'Seniors'

2008-04-24T18:21:12Z

Thanks for reviving this topic. There are a lot of interesting comments here.

There are distinctions between the two terms. Most senior discounts kick in at age 65, as does traditional retirement and Medicare. So 'senior' marks a rite of passage in our society. However, I was surprised and little dismayed to receive an invitation to join AARP on my 50th birthday. The retirement community in which my parents live accepts residents starting at age 55 --no need to be actually retired.

All of this indicates that 'older adults' is the more encompassing term. But is there a significant difference in library services and programs offered to older adults vs. seniors? Is there a difference between programming for older adults in the range of 50-65 and programming for all other adults? As an active and fully employed adult, I don't feel that I fall into any special needs category for services at my library.

Conclusion: I vote for combining the terms -- Older Adults/Seniors. Is that the easy way out. ;)

Terminology: 'Older Adults' vs. 'Seniors'

2008-04-24T13:44:04Z

Picking up this thread again, there has been interest about the taxonomy of our terms on this board: 'Older Adults' vs. 'Seniors.'

Originally I had envisioned 'older adults' as inclusive of the Baby Boomers. 'Seniors' (to me) seems more an older school term for actual senior citizens definitely not in the Boomer age cohort.

While it is, naturally, dicey to try to categorize individuals into broad groups, I guess the question is: should we change the name of this board to 'Library Services to Seniors'? Or to something else altogether?

I'm hoping that all readers/posters will chip in on this and that we can discuss. All are welcome to post.

Though I'm not wedded to either camp and just want to help librarians serve their targets, 'older adults' seems more inclusive to me personally.

Fishrocker/Doug

Re: new book: Mark Freeman

2007-07-28T23:18:34Z

I tend to think that "older adult" simply means "older adult" w/o having to infer special needs ... except for the frail. I know 80 year olds who are active and fulfilled. I expect *a lot* of us boomers will do our best not to grow up. ;-)

new book: Mark Freeman

2007-07-27T15:05:03Z

Maybe Mark Freedmans new book will give us a clue on what an older adult actually is these days? By the author of [url http://www.amazon.com/Prime-Time-Revolutionize-Retirement-Transform/dp/1586481207/ref=sr_1_1/105-9257083-0181246?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185548904&sr=8-1]Prime Time[/url].

Encore: Finding Work that Matters in the Second Half of Life (PublicAffairs) ISBN: 1586484834 $24.95. [url http://www.amazon.com/Encore-Finding-Work-Matters-Second/dp/1586484834/ref=sr_1_1/105-9257083-0181246?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185548560&sr=1-1 ]hyperlink[/url]

Re: Other sources of demographic information

2007-07-18T14:22:15Z

Thanks for posting this!

I once saw Stephen speak in Washington; though I left confused and unhappy about librarianship's prospects, I give the man credit for being a deep thinker - so the resources hje identifies are a-okay by me.

Gaming for seniors/the 50+ crowd is also growing as a concern for marketers.

A Boston Globe article mentioned: "...successfully promoting video games to an audience more used to card games than video ones could be a struggle...In addition to Wii, Nintendo also promoted its Brain Age game for the portable Nintendo DS, which includes a series of exercises that ostensibly help to improve brain functioning. [url http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/aging/articles/2007/06/16/games_seek_to_bring_seniors_to_their_feet/ ] link[/url]

Doug

Other sources of demographic information

2007-07-18T00:08:05Z

Stephen Abram recently <a href="http://stephenslighthouse.sirsidynix.com/archives/2007/07/two_new_seniors.html"> posted </a> about two new sources of marketing information about older adults. These sources are:

<a href="http://www3.brookings.edu/views/articles/200705frey.pdf">Mapping the Growth of Older America: Seniors and Boomers in the Early 21st Century</a> , a publication of The Brookings Institution: Metropolitan Policy Program, which predicts future population trends for older adults throughout the United States

and

<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/aging.htm">Data and Statistics on Older Americans</a>, health data and trends from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Re: Census publciations

2007-07-17T16:25:25Z

Thank you for this!

Census publciations

2007-07-17T15:53:16Z

The Census Bureau has a couple of publications of interest, though of course they are dated snapshots at this point.

The 65 Years and Over Population: 2000 is at http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/c2kbr01-10.pdf.

The similar-sounding Older Population in the United States at http://www.ctlibrarians.org/events/soar.htmlhttp:/www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/p20-546.pdf from March 2002.

Both are profiles, useful for reports and aggregate data.

Re: PBS Frontline: "Can You Afford to Retire?"

2006-11-13T23:32:45Z

It's an issue, for sure, and a darn good reason to be a public employee (if the retirement plan is properly funded!).

With any amount of luck, my retirement and my 40 years in the retirement system will just about coincide. As will my youngest's college graduation.

PBS Frontline: "Can You Afford to Retire?"

2006-11-13T17:55:13Z

I sure can't afford to retire! But Allan M. Kleiman found the 'watch online' version of the PBS show at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/retirement/ for viewing anytime with Windows Media nd Realplayer.

Scary tagline:
"Baby boomers are heading for a shock as they hit retirement: vanishing pensions and inadequate 401(k) savings. What can be done?"

LIS Webcast on topic, 3/7

2006-03-06T17:55:34Z

At 7 PM (CST) Tuesday March 7 ALA's Allan Kleiman will be a guest on LIS Interactive Webcasting at the University of Missouri-Columbia at http://lisradio.missouri.edu/.

Host Charley Seavey and Allan will be discussing "Library Service to Older Adults and the Baby Boomers."

The calendar of events: http://lisradio.missouri.edu/calendar.php

http://lisradio.missouri.edu/support.php?type=Listeners tells you what you need to do to listen in.

Re: Boomers and up: what exactly is older?

2006-01-30T20:19:00Z

That does indeed sound like a whale of a program.

And that's a good point about retaining "what the library meant to us as we entered it's doors for the first time" - that's quite true in a lot of cases.

I wonder what Sandy Berman http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanford_Berman would make of this young/old discussion? Or should I write, how might he classify this conversation...

Thank you for posting desertrat!!!

Re: Boomers and up: what exactly is older?

2006-01-30T15:39:31Z

That sounds like a great program!

I have to agree that "old" is a state of mind as much as anything. I've got an online friend ... a ready adopter of useful (to him) technology ... who fought in Normandy 60+ years ago. He'll never be "old" except in the physical sense.

But I do have to say that he's an exception to the general tendency people have to shut down their critical functions and coast when the think they can. This begins at age 18 in some cases!

Re: Boomers and up: what exactly is older?

2006-01-29T19:54:38Z

I view being "older" as someone who is "old school" and one who is not accustomed to change. Older is: always remembering when....doesn't adjust to change; insist that "keep" the old card catalogs because computers will destrou everything (LOL) "Older" is someone who is out of touch, both physically and intellectually to the world. When it comes to views of what libraries are or what they should be, this opens up a whole can of worms! The older folks think of libraries as quiet, serene places to frolick and a place to peruse shelves for good books. The "younger" group views the library as a place to hang with friends after school, peruse the internet to play games and/or find research and perusing the shelves as a last resort for more information. and some even use it as their own personal space and some still only go out of sheer boredom. "Older" really is relative when discussing a topic... I'm 37 and YES, I am considered to be "older" from a child/teens point of view. LOL

I have created a program to break the myth of what "older" is. We offer school-aged children class tours that consist of getting their first library card, a story and an activity. I am now going to offer the same program to seniors but with a little twist. The teens will act as tour guides, give out library cards and interact with them during lunch and entertainment. This will allow the teens to view and describe the library to the seniors from their point of view.the seniors will be able to hear/see it from a teens point of view. It's funny how the connotation of the word "library" means the same thing to everyone as a whole BUT somehow we never let go of what the library meant to us as we entered it's doors for the first time, whether as a child, teen or adult.

that's what older is to me.... it's in the eye of the beholder

DesertRat

Re: Boomers and up: what exactly is older?

2006-01-04T15:34:41Z

Just noting that a round of golf can cost $100+ ... so folks do indeed prefer the library.

One thing strikes me this morning: how reading becomes a wee bit more difficult when you have to find your reading glasses. I've got several pairs and have to find the strongest one when I want a few hours of reading (and I need my weakest pair when I'm on the computer). :-)

Anyway ... this is to say that audiobooks become more important. So too do old TV programs on DVD, both as something to be seen/remembered and as something a bit easier on the eyes.

Re: Boomers and up: what exactly *is* older?

RE: WSJ article

WSJ article

Re: Terminology: 'Older Adults' vs. 'Seniors'

Re: Terminology: 'Older Adults' vs. 'Seniors'

Re: Terminology: 'Older Adults' vs. 'Seniors'

Re: Terminology: 'Older Adults' vs. 'Seniors'

Terminology: 'Older Adults' vs. 'Seniors'

Re: new book: Mark Freeman

new book: Mark Freeman

Re: Other sources of demographic information

Other sources of demographic information

Re: Census publciations

Census publciations

Re: PBS Frontline: "Can You Afford to Retire?"

PBS Frontline: "Can You Afford to Retire?"

LIS Webcast on topic, 3/7

Re: Boomers and up: what exactly *is* older?

Re: Boomers and up: what exactly *is* older?

Re: Boomers and up: what exactly *is* older?

Re: Boomers and up: what exactly *is* older?

Re: Boomers and up: what exactly is older?

Re: Boomers and up: what exactly is older?

Re: Boomers and up: what exactly is older?

Re: Boomers and up: what exactly is older?

Re: Boomers and up: what exactly is older?