Baby boomers may have no one to care for them in old age

[Zorro]

Baby boomers may have no one to care for them in their old age.

Shifting demographics mean that aging boomers will have fewer friends and family members to take care of them as they get into their 80s, according to a new study by AARP.

In other words, even though you may be supporting your own elderly parents, the chances of someone being there for you are numerically diminished.

The ratio of potential caregivers to boomers needing care will sink from 7.2 to 1 in 2010 to 2.9 to 1 by 2050, according to the study.

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-baby-boomers-may-have-no-one-to-care-for-them-in-old-age-20130826,0,2883385.story

This disturbing report, coupled with the lack of retirement savings and attacks on social security/Medicare, points to a very challenging and unsettling future for seniors within the upcoming decades.

[hlthe2b]

1. What it points to is a very grim prediction-- some astronomical increases in suicide rates

I so wish to be wrong, but we are already seeing it among those left behind in this recession and "recovery"...

[Douglas Carpenter]

2. no doubt and when people discover these wonderful IRA's and 401K's ae not going to give them

anything near what they were anticipating - a lot of us aging folks are going to find themselves lonely and poor

[forestpath]

3. And Obama wants to make it even harder by cutting Social Security more and more the

longer you live.

[PasadenaTrudy]

4. I plan

to not let myself get that old...

[hunter]

5. I'm going to steal a military exo-skeleton and lay siege upon Elysium.

Photoshop my old-man face here:



And I won't be wearing any pants.

[CanSocDem]

6. Not to worry.

Boomers, historically have always devised ways and means to survive. We were the first generation in modern times to embrace the concept of community. Individualized attention will be less important to us than the well-being of the community.

Note how the "boomer" writers of the Simpsons treat the elderly with issues. Not a perfect response but you don't have 'live-in nurses' or the real life reality of high cost, high tech medical intervention.

The future I see is dormitory style living, healthy communal meals and cannabis based medical programs. Old Time dances 3 times a week and a liberal tolerance toward inter-mingling and sexuality. Educational support for right-to-die programs.

Of course the very limited staff would have to be well paid and extremely accomplished in the area of public health.

.

[Hestia]

7. One tidbit for the food for thought - has anyone here been watching the obits in their local

paper? In the last year here in the state, there have been a lot of 40-61 y/o's who are passing, on some days more so that the 80 y/o's. Couple that with the report that came out last Spring about how this particular age group will not make it 65, it really gives you pause. Didn't that report state that up to 1/2 of the baby boomers wouldn't be alive to 80 due to economic decline, food insecurity, etc? That for the first time, the younger generation would die before the older generation?

Plus, home caregivers don't make squat for a salary and don't get benefits. It's not a paying occupation and one where there will not be droves of people getting into career wise.

[bemildred]

8. I have always known I was on my own.

This is the drawback of our infatuation with the atomic family.