Boomers & Beyond To Examine Trends, Attitudes on Aging

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The idea of “growing old gracefully” is a thing of the past. Today’s mature adults, led by the first wave of baby boomers who turn 60 this year, are grabbing old age by the horns and forcing it into submission.

Newspapers across the country have taken notice of this new attitude toward aging — how can you miss it when the boomer population is nearly 80 million strong? — and The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register are among them. Today, we are launching the monthly Boomers & Beyond special section, which replaces the Senior Life section. Boomers & Beyond is our newspapers’ answer to keep readers in the 50 and older age bracket abreast of news, information and trends that are relevant to the way they choose to age.

How do they choose to age? By continuing to rock with the Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney rather than whiling away the time in their rocking chairs. By skiing, hiking, mountain biking and surfing rather than working crosswords and waiting around for their next doctor appointment.

They are highly aware of the health risks they face and, more and more, they are taking preventive steps to thwart them. They are tech savvy and information hungry, and they constantly are seeking out ways to do things outside the box.

That’s not to say the members of the Greatest Generation haven’t been great role models for the younger generations. Many of them are staying active in their so-called “golden” years and paving the way for the boomers.

“We certainly aren’t the first generation to refuse to let a few years slow us down but, more and more, I think our culture finally is beginning to recognize that gray hair doesn’t necessarily mean you’re ‘over the hill.’ Society finally is beginning to recognize that growing older doesn’t mean you’re old. That, in a nutshell, is the philosophy behind Boomers and Beyond,’’ said J. Michael Myer, executive editor of The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register.

Boomers & Beyond will take a look each month at a specific topic and will deliver compelling stories to readers of boomer age … and beyond. This month’s focus is on homes and housing, with articles on how boomers are driving the housing industry, things to consider when buying a retirement home, how to update your home with “intelligent design” so you can age in place, and popular vacation home options. Upcoming issues will look at grandparenting, work and retirement, health innovations, fitness and nutrition, finance, lifestyles and more.

In addition, a rotating slate of local columnists will ‘‘Sound Off’’ each month regarding issues relevant to their peers. And the regular columns on which our readers have relied in Senior Life for valuable information about local happenings, Medicare, Social Security and estate planning will continue to be featured in Boomers & Beyond.

“Baby boomers are an exciting part of our community as they continue to enjoy life to the fullest, rebel against society’s rules for aging and reshape a mindset regarding retirement just as they reshaped a mindset regarding their adulthood in the ’60s,” said newspapers’ General Manager Perry Nardo.

“As a baby boomer myself, I find this age group intriguing, compelling and at times a bit confusing, which is why we decided to take a more in-depth look in Boomers & Beyond each month at the issues they face and the realities they are creating for themselves.”


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By BETSY BETHEL


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Source : www.news-register.net


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