“I get all fired up about aging in America.” – Willard Scott

In recent years we have witnessed important celebrations marking the significant contributions from America’s Greatest Generation, those who grew up during the Depression and fought in World War II. While it is important for us to document their great successes, the next generation is now taking center stage — the Baby Boomers.

Born after World War II, Baby Boomers are huge in number and have greatly influenced every aspect of American culture.  From Dr. Spock to the hula hoop, from the Vietnam protests to the stock market explosion and implosion, Baby Boomers are leaving their mark.  Estimates are that this year, and every year for the next twenty years, some 10 million Americans will turn sixty five.  Given the budgetary constraints that our government is already experiencing, and the challenges to meet current Social Security and Medicare obligations, this is a profound economic issue that our country will have to face.  In addition, a recent study found that 40 million Americans rely on Social Security as their sole source of income.

As Baby Boomers are entering their senior years, I wanted to learn more about this emerging population.  In order to get an expert’s perspective I had the opportunity to briefly sit down with Gary Linker, Ph.D. a long time Santa Barbara psychotherapist, and the Executive Director of the Center for Successful Aging.

Dr. Miller:  What are some of the implications the aging process is having on our society?

Dr. Linker:  It has been estimated that as we live longer, 50% of people 80 years or older will be experience some form of dementia.  Many researchers are suggesting that a healthy diet, regular exercise and a sense of community seem to protect some of us; however, we have no verifiable medication or medical procedure to avoid or reverse this condition.   While tremendous resources are being devoted to Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s research, unless we find some kind of cure, we must begin to develop different social policies to handle this potential health crisis including new paradigms for how we treat and care for seniors.

Dr. Miller:   What are some of the social challenges that seniors are facing?

Dr. Linker:  As more and more people reach their 70’s, 80’s and even 90’s, they are outliving their partners and even many of their peers.  Due to our culture’s mobility, many end up living alone in communities where they have no immediate family or friends.  This demographic creates another social, psychological and even medical issue.  We know that when people are isolated, depression, substance abuse and suicide increase.  We must develop social institutions and organizations that reach people and turn the tide.  Santa Barbara is fortunate to have several organizations that provide social, emotional and physical support.  A few of these are the Center for Successful Aging, Jewish Family Service, Family Service Agency, Hospice of Santa Barbara and Visiting Nurses and Hospice Care of Santa Barbara.

Dr. Miller:  What are some of the positive steps taking place in our community to address these issues?

Dr. Linker:   One positive step is that our community, like many, has Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Associations that provide support, training and even respite care relief to those who are caring for those afflicted with these diseases.  In addition, people who care for these seniors are starting to organize themselves and are creating support groups to learn from each others experiences and not feel so isolated.  For instance, at our Center the staff facilitates a twice a month support group sponsored by the Parkinson’s Association at the Grace Lutheran Church.

Dr. Miller:  Please tell me more about the work being done at the Center for Successful Aging.

Dr. Linker:   At the Center for Successful Aging we are dedicated to helping seniors find meaning, purpose, connection and joy in their latter years.   Our belief is that the senior years should be meaningful, a time for reflection and harvesting of one’s life experience.  The Center offers an unusual program where seniors are trained as peer counselors to help and support other seniors.  This program combats some of the isolation and loneliness that seniors experience. Peer counselors go into facilities and people’s homes and spend time talking and relating with them.  Peer counselors also offer groups helping seniors to make connections with others just like them.   The Center has over thirty volunteer counselors and more enrolled in our eight week training course on an almost continual basis.  We have recently embarked on a phone reassurance program called CareLine for seniors who are frail and cannot leave their homes.  Our staff make a reassurance call each and every morning to check on these folks to make sure they are O.K. and have what they need for the day.  Anyone fifty or older can make use of these services, and there is a free forty-five minute assessment available to any senior who feels they may benefit from our services.

Dr. Miller:   Dr. Linker, thank you for your time, and for enlightening me on some of the challenges facing our aging Baby Boomer population, along with some of the services available to them within our community.

The Center for Successful Aging never charges for their services and sustains their programs through donations and community support.  It turns out the Center’s annual local fundraiser is actually taking place tomorrow in Carpinteria with an afternoon filled with fun, food and entertainment.  Information about the event can be obtained by contacting the Center at their number below.  I was happy, and proud, to hear that the Santa Barbara News-Press is one of the event’s major supporters.

Anyone interested in learning more about services for seniors in our local community can contact one of our wonderfully caring agencies:

Center for Successful Aging

(805) 963-8080

csasb.org

1528 Chapala Street, Suite 205

Jewish Family Service

(805) 957-1116

http://www.jewishsantabarbara.org/Jewish-Family-Service

524 Chapala Street

Family Service Agency

(805) 965-1001

http://fsacares.org/

123 West Gutierrez Street

Visiting Nurses and Hospice Care

(805) 965-5555

http://www.vnhcsb.org/

222 E Canon Perdido St