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With more than 14 million workers unemployed and millions of others under-employed or lacking skills to get ahead the future looks rather grim.  And with manufacturing jobs going overseas, most of them unlikely to return, our once big consuming society is about to turn into a nation of individuals who are just-getting-by.

Government spending has done little to improve the situation.  To the contrary, the United States is deeper in debt than at anytime in the 235 years since our founding.  Our elected representatives can’t or refuse to find common ground on spending issues.  And, the unfunded liabilities at the federal, state and local levels are about to leave these government entities and individual voters broke.

Americans have always rallied to overcome adversity.  The question is will we be able to do it again?  This nation does best when we unite and work together to accomplish the seemingly impossible.  We did this through wars, financial crisis, physical disasters and more.  Yet many wonder if we have strayed so far from the founding principles that selfish interests will take precedence over consideration for the greater good.

The 76 million Baby Boomers were told they were special and acted that way.  Referred to as the “me generation,” they changed the national landscape over the past 50 years.  It was the baby boomers who fought against the war in Vietnam while fighting for civil and women’s rights.  They continued to make an impact throughout all these years. 

Boomers, for better and worst, helped make America what it is today.  Now, they are becoming New Seniors as the oldest of them turn 65 this year.  And, they will continue to do so at the rate of 4 million per year through 2030.  However, it must be remembered, this generation has not been known for making sacrifices.

The folks who are part of Gen X, and Y along with those coming after them are scrambling to provide for their families, as are the younger Boomers.  So, the New Seniors must act like the adults.  We have the experience and desire to make America the land of opportunity for our children, our grandchildren and their children as it was for us.

There’s a lot on our collective plates.  Besides stopping the spending spree, we must address the short and long-term future for both Social Security and Medicare.  At the same time, faith in America has got to be restored.  We have seen this happen before, yet many of those who have not experience great national problems are turning pessimistic and believe that America is on a path of decline.  This defeatist attitude is truly the greatest evil of all.  New Seniors can play an important role in overcoming such thinking.

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At the beginning of the last century, the average lifespan for Americans was 47.3 years.  By 1950 that jumped to an average age of 68.2.  Today, we can expect to reach age 78.6, but women outlive men by 5.5 years, 81.2 versus 75.7 respectively.  And, by 2030 (the year all Baby Boomers will be 65 or older) the US average lifespan will reach 81.2.  However, by that time, women are expected to live less than 4 years longer than men.

But there’s much more to the subject than statistics.  New Seniors, those 65+, have firsthand experience that America is living longer.  Many of us got to be introduced to our great grandparents and most of us grew up having grandparents in our lives.  Probably we did not pay much attention to this phenomenon, but we did benefit from the mere fact that it happened. Now, as we reach the next phase of our lives, the subject of life expectancy has become more personal. 

The life expectancy numbers improve at birth because infant mortality rates have improved markedly in the past century.  Childhood disease in this country, such as scarlet fever and polio, have been controlled to the point were reaching adulthood is a better bet than ever before.  The deadly diseases such as cancer, diabetes, coronary and even AIDS have been arrested while not being eradicated.  And, death by influenza, the plague and dysentery are no longer a threat to most of our population.

So upon reaching 65 the majority of us are in pretty good shape, especially if we have watched our diets, exercise and have regular physical checkups.  Even with once fatal or debilitating illnesses, there are treatments that allow people to live longer, more productive and comfortable lives.  Nonetheless, all good things must come to an end, and that’s were the debate centers.

Some experts believe aging is a natural part of living.  They suggest every one over 65 has one or more disorders or diseases that must be addressed now or in the future.  As symptoms for these issues arise, specialists should be called in to deal with each individual problem with the family doctors acting as coordinators and overseers of the patients’ wellbeing.  Another group takes the holistic approach and treats aging as the disease with the various conditions that occur being part of  this disease.

Either way, we are not going to get younger, so New Seniors will have to let those following us be the guinea pigs.  In the meantime, if you want to live longer you could move to any of 20 countries with longer life expectancies than the US.  Or you could move to a location in this country that you don’t like.  This won’t extend life, but it will sure seem like it got longer.  Better yet, spend as much time as possible with those you love and your life will be richer and more enjoyable.  Isn’t that what it’s all about?     

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As part of the president’s health care plan that was signed into law, we were told that the half-trillion dollars would be realized by eliminating waste, fraud and abuse within the system.  These cuts will include paying less money to doctors and force them, along with hospitals, out of the Medicare system in the future, making it increasingly difficult for older Americans to find health care providers willing to accept Medicare.

The good news is that both the president’s health care law and congressman Ryan’s proposed plan will not affect anyone 55 and over.  The bad news is if something is not done to reduce the growth of health care costs the tax burden will double within the next two decades. 

Under the current plan, reducing the amount of money the government spends for Medicare will eventually result in fewer benefits.  At the same time, taxes will increase to pay for the growing number of people who will qualify for Medicare coverage.  Younger Americans will have to shoulder the rising costs from an already out-of-control system.  And, they will wait longer to receive whatever benefits that can be squeezed from a shrinking budget allotment for each individual.

The only thing left to do is reform the system so it still exists for those now under 55 when the reach the time for Medicare to kick in.  A combination of some form of medical saving account and boosting the age for qualifying will likely produce the best results.  Younger adults will complain.  Do you remember when the Baby Boomers were faced with moving the age for full Social Security benefits?  They may not have liked it, but now it’s simply the way the program works.

Don’t forget, under the president’s law an additional 32 million people will be insured.  They were previously uninsured, so the money has to come from somewhere.  Some will come from the $500 million being cut from the Medicare budget. Higher taxes, yes.  More efficient system operations, doubtful (after all the government is running this).  Fortunately, the folks under 55 will have several years to save for what will certainly be increased health care costs when they reach retirement age.

So, today’s New Seniors have little to worry about, right?  Wrong!  There will be more health care regulations in place, which could adversely affect those 65+.  One major concern is the establishment of a government run Independent Payment Advisory Board.

This panel will have the responsibility to approve when to get health care, where to get it and whether to extend care or not.  That’s why it is incumbent upon all New Seniors to contact their elected representatives and say, “No death panels.”     

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Another New Senior landmark event took place this year as the first of the more than 76 million Baby Boomers began turning 65.  This translates to someone becoming a New Senior every ten seconds through 2030.

The Greatest Generation, after doing so much for our country, has passed the baton to the New Seniors.  So it is our job to uphold, the values those before us fought for and sacrificed to protect for all generations.  New Seniors Day was established to memorialize this responsibility. 

New Seniors accept this honor and make the commitment to connect with other New Seniors by engaging in honest and civil discussions, sharing our experience and getting involved in our communities and reaching out to others in an effort to bring our great nation together, once more.

The 65+ crowd is a more homogenous group than most other demographics – partly because we share similar concerns about living our own lives in relative comfort and safety and partly because life’s lessons endowed us with an understanding of the importance of  unity.  New Seniors are not from one race, political party, religious affiliation, education level, job background or geographic area.

Our numbers are impressive.  There are more Pre-boomers than there are adult Hispanics living in the United States.  Pre-boomers and Boomers together represent a larger population than Generations X and Y combined.  By 2015 the New Seniors population will be about 50 million, which is just 17% of the population.  However, we will account for a third of the discretionary income and half of the country’s assets. 

Politicians should note that this year those 65+ accounted for about 1 in 4 of the votes cast in the last election.  And our concerns about Medicare, Social Security, government debt and tax increases will continue to be expressed at the ballot box.  New Seniors are also concerned about the future of our grown children and the education and opportunities for our grandchildren.  We expect the nation’s problems to be solved in a common sense way that will benefit all Americans.

So on June 5^th (6/5), join in the celebration of New Seniors Day.  If you’re not one, take a few minutes from your busy schedule to call a New Senior and get to know us.  Learn from what we experienced by living life on life’s terms.  And, most important, enlist our guidance to navigate the bumpy road that lies ahead.  You’ll discover that we are ready and willing to help if you are prepared to accept it.    

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The definition of an extended family household is one that has two or more adult generations or a grandparent and one other generation living together.  According to a 2008 Pew Research study, 49 million Americans, 16.1% of the total U.S. population, are part of such a family.  This trend is growing.

In 1940, 25% of the population lived in extended family households.  This fell to 12% by 1980.   At the early part of the last century, 57% of adults over 65 lived with their adult children.  During the 1980s into the 1990s just 17% of those 65+ lived with their families.  This climbed to 20% in 2008 and continues to increase. 

Only 10% of the total population lives in a single person household.  In 1980 nearly 29% of those living alone were over 65.  More recently, this has dropped to just over 27%, even though there are more people over 65 than at any time before.

The wave of immigration that began in the late ‘70s, the ethnic makeup of the new multi-generational households reflects this phenomenon.  Hispanics 22%, Blacks 23%, Asians 25% and Whites 13%.  All segments have increased since the recession began.  Of total U.S. households, 34% consist of one generation, 47% are two generation (parent with child), 16% are multi-generational and 2% are living in group quarters.

Another Pew study (2005) indicates that 56% of the public believes it is the responsibility of adult children to take in elderly parents, but a strong minority (39%) disagree.  However, with economic uncertainty and an aging population, many families are forced to reconsider having grandmom and granddad move in.  Often the elder family members are able to help with some of the expenses as well as the childrearing duties.

Establishing a multi-generational family is not easy.  Is there enough room for one or two more people?  Will an add-on room or separate unit be needed?  How are finances and other responsibilities to be split up?  What about privacy issues?  And, most important, will the various personalities be able to get along?

Assuming all parties involved are willing to make an extended family household work, it can be a great experience for all.  The grand parents bring family history and years of personal experience to the table.  Mom and dad get some help and hopefully ask for advice.  And the grandkids get the opportunity to receive adult guidance from someone other than their parents while learning about the roles of different generations.  All-in-all, this is the kind of arrangement that can do much to re-establish family values in America.   

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The government is spending money faster than it can be borrowed or printed.  Social Security, which came in to being about the time many New Seniors were born, is broke.  Medicare came on the scene when we were in our twenties or thirties.  It never was properly funded and is a drain on the national budget.  With the baby boomers starting to turn 65, think of trillions of dollars these entitlements will cost taxpayers.

Flashing back on the early ‘40s, shows a different scene than we find ourselves in today.  Although the government was racking up lots of debt, people were confident it was the right thing to do and citizens put aside their differences to support a greater common need.  Our fathers, uncles and cousins volunteered for military service or took defense jobs.  Moms, aunts and neighbor women served too.  They worked in plants, did Red Cross and other service work.  America was committed.

Rationing was in place so we didn’t have meats, poultry and eggs even if our families could afford them.  Gas was scarce and rationed as well.  New cars were not being manufactured.  Many other products such as kids’ sneakers, appliances and clothing were just not available.  People volunteered to plant Victory Gardens and these provided a good portion of the vegetable consumed at home during the war years.  We saved papers, tin cans and anything else that could be used for the war effort, which was probably the first time many Americans recycled.

To deal with the financial crisis we all face today, the spirit of patriotism we had back then must prevail once more.  Forget about political labels and wanting to get what we want before anyone else and keep it until the bitter end.  Don’t let politicians play the games they do just to get re-elected.  New Seniors need to show the rest of the nation that we put our country and future generations first.

This is the time for us to let the politicians know that we are willing to do our fair share rather than wait for them legislate it.  We should be willing to submit to some kind of sliding scale to reduce Social Security benefits according to our overall financial situation and pay more for Medicare on the same basis.  All we ask in return is for the government to start spending responsibility and that other Americans make sacrifices too.

Let’s be among the first to tell our Congressional representatives that we are ready to volunteer in the fight against the national debt.  This country has been good to many New Seniors.  Those of us who have been so blessed might consider giving something back so future generations can have the same opportunities we had.  Do you have a better idea?      

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First consider the short-term market attitudes.  Following a survey conducted in mid-April by Rasmussen it was reported that 15% of homeowners thought their homes would go up in value next year, 33% expected they would be worth less and 50% said they would retain their current value. 

Of course, by maintaining a home’s market value today means it may sell for 20% less than just a couple of years ago.  That’s a big loss of potential income for anyone, especially New Seniors who expected their homes would help finance retirement expenses.  Many of these 65+ homeowners hoped to sell the house and move to smaller quarters.  Some wanted stay put and get a reverse mortgage.  Others planned to wait until it was time to go into a retirement community before placing their homes on the market. 

In the meantime, those who are decades away from retirement continue to worry about making monthly payments and hope things will eventually turn around.  However, their attitudes suggest a bleak picture going forward.  In April 2009, 55 % of respondents said the value of their home would increase in the next 5 years.  In April 2011 the number dropped to 39%.  This is down by 5 points in a single month and represents the highest negatives in a 2 year period.

Men have a more positive attitude toward home values increasing over the next half-decade (45%) compared to women (33%).  For prices remaining the same, 31% of men said they would as did 42% of the women.  Among those believing prices will continue to fall, men and women were about equal at 18% and 19% respectively.  And, attitudes tended to become more negative with age; nearly half (49%) of those 30 to 39 saying prices will go up in the next 5 years while only 37% of those 65+ shared this belief.

Waiting for the market to get healthy can be an expensive proposition.  Energy costs are on the rise as are the prices for building materials needed to keep a home looking good.  All the while, many homeowners are faced with rising property taxes.  So owning a home has become less attractive to some.  This makes the potential buyers pool even smaller.

Nonetheless, most Americans dream of owning a home and still consider it a good investment.  This means saving for a down payment rather than getting into a place for nothing down and interest only for several years.  Smaller homes at lower prices are growing in popularity.  Multi-generational families (grandparents living with their adult children and the grandkids) may influence marketplace dynamics.  One thing is certain; there will always be a real estate market in this country.  We just don’t know what it will look like as changes occur in the months and years ahead.

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In childhood the focus was to have fun.  No one said this was my purpose, but early on I discovered that doing the things boys do was most enjoyable.  These things almost always involved other kids such as playing ball, roughhousing and just hanging out together.  These activities, even board games and cards, were all stimulating and usually had one common goal: to win.

As an only child I did things on my own like read, listen to the radio adventure series or later watch TV, practice various sports and, of course, do homework.  But being part of a group and succeeding within that community and competing with other communities is what I liked best.  The team was my family and my support group, yet I wanted to be the star that shined above all others and receive the attention that goes with it.

This self centered, selfish attitude, which I preferred to call ambition, was with me during the growing years to college and beyond.  When I first got into the business world, my eye was not on my peers but on the presidency of the firm.  Being number one was not just a goal, it became an obsession.  I vowed to do whatever it took to reach the top.

Such a strong desire for money, power and recognition was profitable for the companies I worked for and the clients I served; but it did little for my relationships, both in and outside of business.  For a guy who once thrived on belonging to a community and being part of a team this misplaced commitment left me rather lonely.

One would think that these empty feeling lead to a change of spirit.  However, the result was to push harder and win no matter what the cost.  I finally received a degree of success, but it wasn’t enough because chasing after more always meant I wanted more.  After many years this realization finally sunk in, it caused me to rethink my life and the self-imposed goals I placed on myself, which were actually restrictions. 

Admittedly, I wasn’t a particularly good husband, father or friend for my first 50 years or so but have gotten better in all these areas, I believe.  The few business dealings I have now are meaningful, because I try to do what’s right and deliver real value to the other person or company.  And, I get real joy from just being part of whatever community I am in and make whatever contributions I can without expectations.

When it’s all said and done, today I’m pretty much having the fun like I did as a kid.  Now, however, there are no preconceptions of needing to be the best.  I am more than satisfied to be together with others and participate in life’s activities.  The big shift is with my goals.  I no longer strive to do great things; I just want to do good things.  

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Two of the four men had done well in the business world and had solid pension plans.  Both have been retired for two years.  Both belonged to country clubs and played golf on an average of four times each week.  And, both complained about being bored although one said he tried to spend time with his grandkids and the other had a couple of hobbies he dabbled in.  However, it was apparent that each man missed their jobs and the camaraderie they had in the workplace.

Of the other two men, one had been eased into retirement and was looking for some kind of work to supplement his resources, which he admits were barely adequate.  The other man was still working, although he was beyond retirement age.  He needed the money and was completely unprepared for living on what he called meager savings.  So he was fearful of getting sick or losing his job for any reason.  Each had worked a lifetime without much to show for their efforts.

The situations were somewhat different for the two women with whom I spoke.  One had a small business that she sold.  And with the money she brought to the table along with her husband’s retirement fund, there was no financial pressure.  However, in the year since she stopped working, she had not found a comfort zone in retirement.  The other women and her husband work part-time jobs to help make payments on a major asset, their home.  This was necessary, since refinancing for extra cash in the good times left them with a substantial monthly mortgage payment in retirement.

These situations are not necessarily projectable to the entire New Seniors population.  But there are likely many of those 65+ that may identify with the boredom, financial insecurity and confusion of life when it should be a time of joy.  The dream of freedom, time to do the important or fun things in life and being able to relax with a feeling of accomplishment for jobs well done have yet to materialize for many New Seniors.

Economic conditions in America and around the world have left even those believing they are secure to have concerns.  However, New Seniors have added financial worries such as the fate of Medicare and Social Security – programs that could see major changes in the benefits they provide.

Probably the best advice for all these folks is to accept their situation.  In fact, they should embrace it.  Once they realize where they are on life’s path, maybe living in the moment will have more allure.  And, with that fears lose power and life somehow seems better.  Then, they’ll be free to help others that are less fortunate or have special needs.  That’s when the real joy of living can be found. 

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The wholesale price of food increase is the biggest since 1974, with harsh weather and energy costs being blamed.  In the warmer months ahead, supply problems are likely to result in continued higher gas prices.  Some experts are predicting this trend will continue for the remainder of the year.  This means inflated costs for home heating next winter.

In the meantime, the Federal Reserve continues to print US dollars, which decreases the value of the dollar making the price of imported raw materials and finished goods higher.  So the Fed must deal with a double-edge sword of reduced consumer purchasing power and inflation.  Solving one issue requires lower interest rates while the other calls for raising them.

If demand for products and services diminishes, the slow recovery will become even slower and possibly come to a halt.  This could be when stagflation sets in, much in the way it did in the late ‘70s.  These problems are occurring in the second year of the cost of living adjustment (COLA) freeze on Social Security benefits.  So Americans on fixed incomes are feeling the bite in three vital areas: food, gasoline and energy costs.

On top of the apparent problems that can be seen at the cash register, there are hidden problems facing New Seniors  and other fixed income groups.  If the federal government does not get the deficit under control, entitlement programs such as Medicare and Social Security will suffer or taxes will go up.  Some states are raising taxes; others are trying to extend or make permanent those taxes and fees that were supposed to be temporary.  And local counties and municipalities are faced with similar financial problems.

Unemployment benefits continue for nearly 4 million people, the new health care program will provide insurance for about 33 million people.  The cost at the federal and state levels is enormous, since half the newly insured will be covered by Medicaid with the states picking up about half the costs.  Where will the money come from?

New Seniors must let their federal, state and local elected representative know how they feel about the financial situations that are causing our quality of life to be pushed to the breaking point.  They say our taxes won’t go up and our benefits won’t be taken away.  But paying higher prices for the things we need means we have less money to spend, so this is tantamount to a tax increase.

Remind the politicians that those 65+ accounted for nearly 25% of the vote in the last election.  Tell them if they don’t take appropriate actions now, we will take actions at the polls in the next election, which is only about a year-and-a-half away.