By Peter M. Thompson
Published: February 14, 2010 in
the Sunday Daily Progress
I’m often asked why so many people choose to stay in Charlottesville or
relocate here after careers wind down and children are launched. The
better question is: “Why not?” We are a great community, so why wouldn’t a
person at 55 or 75 or 95 enjoy living here?
Indeed, the greater Charlottesville area is often cited as a
world-class community. From Charlottesville’s recognition in 2004 as
America’s best city in which to live, to the University of Virginia’s
consistent ranking as one of the nation’s best public universities, to the
John Paul Jones Arena’s award as the nation’s best new concert venue, we
take pride in being the best.
And we have resources that are particularly inviting for people in the
second half of life. The Jefferson Area Board for Aging is one of
America’s most respected and recognized agencies of its kind. The UVa
Health System and Martha Jefferson Hospital consistently rank among the
best in their fields. The Senior Center, celebrating its 50th year serving
our community, is the reigning Pin-nacle of Excellence Award winner as
America’s premier community center addressing all aspects of senior
wellness: physical, intellectual, emotional, social, vocational and
spiritual.
Founded 50 years ago today, it is also Virginia’s first nationally
accredited senior center.
In the Charlottesville area, seniors made up 14 percent of the
population in 2000; their numbers are projected to rise 41 percent by
2025, according to our region’s 2020 Plan on Aging. This booming
demographic is an asset for our community that we must celebrate. For it
is by creating a community that is friendly for people age 50 and better
that we are developing a community that is a great place for all of us to
age.
Aging in the 21st century has moved light years away from the days of
creaky porch rockers. Longer life spans have given rise to a new life
stage. We now have many more years, even decades after our roles as
workers and parents wind down. Alternatively referred to as “third age,”
“middlescence” or “mid-course,” this next chapter in life can be an
enjoyable, productive time of new pursuits, new goals and even new
careers. But longer life spans, especially when combined with the aging of
77 million baby boomers in America, present great challenges as well
opportunities.
As individuals we are not planning for how we will spend these bonus
years. The Vital Aging Network found that while the average American
spends 90,000 hours working in a lifetime, we spend only 10 hours planning
for how we will live in our post-career years. In part because of this
disparity, it also found that 65 percent of people struggled through their
transition into “retirement.” Perhaps this is in part because we too often
regard this transition as retiring from something instead of focusing on
what we can retire to.
We can retire to a great life here in Charlottesville because we have
many of the resources necessary for a high quality of life. Studies
consistently show that the biggest challenge facing American communities
as we age is the need to help seniors maintain their independence. Further
research shows the key ingredients for independence are maintaining
physical and mental wellness, continuing to have a purpose in life, and
maintaining social connections and support.
Fortunately, our community has many great opportunities for people to
access the resources necessary to add quality to our later years. To
remain physically fit, we have fantastic outdoor recreation options and a
wide variety of fitness clubs. To maintain mental fitness, we have
excellent and accessible lifelong learning at the Miller Center and the
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (both associated with UVa) and at
Piedmont Virginia Community College. There are countless options for
staying socially engaged.
In America, we often find purpose through our work and more of us are
working longer both for financial reasons as well as for the psychological
benefits of work. An AARP study found that 80 percent of baby boomers,
today age 46-to-64, plan to work at least part-time past the traditional
retirement age of 65. Fortunately for all of us, millions of boomers are
launching Encore careers, seeking meaningful work in their 50s, 60s and
beyond at a time when we need more teachers, nurses, ministers, nonprofit
and social workers, and others who make a difference in our communities.
And every employer benefits from the experience that veteran workers bring
to their organization.
For those who don’t want or need paid work, the United Way, JABA and
the Senior Center connect people with volunteer work with almost every
nonprofit in town such as Habitat for Humanity, Charlottesville Free
Clinic, Friends of the Library, Meals on Wheels and hundreds of
faith-based organizations.
By providing resources for those 50 and better to remain independent,
we all benefit from the wisdom and experience they provide. Our youth and
young adults benefit from the wisdom of their elders and there are many
opportunities, such as the Music Resource Center, Computers for Kids and
programs through the Senior Center and JABA, for people of all ages to
come together and learn with and from each other. The positive reciprocity
of such interactions is priceless.
The baby boomers have a long history of working to improve our
communities including working for civil and women’s rights and launching
the environmental and peace movements. And with diminishing government
resources for human services and the arts during a time of growing demand
for such programs and services, we need the talents of our seniors more
than ever to help build even healthier communities for today and for
future generations.
Today, many of us are seeing aging more as a journey than a
destination. This will have a positive impact on how we improve the vision
of aging in our community. For with a lifetime of talents to share with
our community, these valuable, active citizens make Charlottesville a
better place to live for all of us.
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Daily Progress
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