DISARMING THE BABY BOOMER TIME BOMB Disarming the Baby Boomer Time Bomb: The Role of Associate-Level

Human Service Professionals Donald Spears

Donald Spears, MA, HS-BCP, is Assistant Professor and Chair of the Human Services program at Ivy Tech Community College-Northwest. He has worked in positions helping families and patients cope with Alzheimer's disease, assisting separated children and parents to be reunified, and has served as Assistant Program Director at a homeless shelter. His research, teaching, and publishing interests include aging, poverty, cultural diversity, and sociology of the family.

Abstract This article reviews the literature that demonstrates the myriad challenges posed to the human service profession by the aging of the Baby Boom generation in America. Among the challenges presented are the economic, social, and psychological consequences of such a large cohort entering retirement age. To meet the unique needs of this group, human service professionals need to be trained and mobilized quickly. Community colleges are well positioned to rapidly train Associate degree-level human service practitioners to directly enter the field and provide effective services. To meet the immediate short-term needs of the aging Baby Boomers, more human services departments at community colleges need to offer credentials in gerontology and aging, as well as make their students more aware of the importance and significant job-growth potential of this specialization.

Key words: aging; baby boomers; community colleges; gerontology; human services

DISARMING THE BABY BOOMER TIME BOMB The Graying of America and Its Consequences America is today on the leading edge of a dramatic shift in the demographics in its

population, which will impact nearly all Americans over the next thirty years. The existence and importance of the Baby Boomer generation is common knowledge. Due to their sheer numbers, this generation has had a dramatic influence on the American culture and economy since the end of the Second World War. This paper will demonstrate that as Boomers age into their seniority, in a time that presents unique challenges to the elderly, there will be an unprecedented demand for human service professionals. This demand will present exciting opportunities for community colleges to train Associate-level human service workers in a fast-growing field. The Boomers comprise a large cohort, born between 1946 and 1964, which significantly outnumbers the generations following it; and now that the oldest Boomers have already turned 65, the average age of the American population will begin to change dramatically. According to the Department of Health & Human Services Administration on Aging (AoA), in 2009 there were 39.6 million people in America over the age of 65, which was 12.9% of the total population. By 2030 it is estimated that there will be 72 million people over the age of 65, accounting for 19% of the population. The projections for those over the age of 85 are perhaps more staggering. In 2006 there were 5.3 million Americans over the age of 85, and by 2050 it is estimated that there will be 21 million of these oldest seniors (Administration on Aging, 2012). The aging of our population has been anticipated. In fact, this issue has been well documented in the literature (Nelson, 1987), (Hausler & Hausler, 2001), (Wright, 2005). An aging population presents any modern society with a wide range of challenges, such as access to health care; affordable, elderly-accessible housing; and economic support for retirees who are

DISARMING THE BABY BOOMER TIME BOMB enjoying an average life-expectancy well beyond what was anticipated when pensions and other mechanisms of financing retirement were planned and implemented (Powell & Cook, 2009). The challenges likely to be faced by an aging America are significant, and the consequences will be felt on many levels. Increased life-expectancy; the smaller size of the Generation X, which will be financing Social Security benefits for the Baby Boomers; and the longer life-expectancy of women, who tend to pay less into Social Security over their lifetime than do men, leaves women particularly vulnerable to economic deprivation in their later years (Gonyea & Hooyman, 2005). There is also concern and much debate about the long-term viability of Social Security (Hudson, 2005) and the impact of this generations eldercare needs on the general economy (Knickman & Snell, 2002). The medical and physical challenges faced by the elderly are relatively apparent. In fact,

the vast majority of Americans health care expenditures are incurred in the last few years of life (Lynn & Adamson, 2003). Less obvious to some are the social and psychological consequences of our aging population. Berkman, et al. (2005) describe, the interrelatedness of aging, physical and mental health, and intergenerational family processes. Berkman recommends that social workers and other human service professionals take a systems approach, which recognizes the importance of psychological, socioeconomic, cultural and political influences on the lives of seniors. She also points out that while medical advancements have prolonged life, they have consequently created an extended period in which older adults live with an increasing number of chronic ailments, adversely effecting functioning and quality of life. Medical professionals can help manage the physical aspects of these chronic illnesses, but there are limitations. The medical field has little to offer seniors as they attempt to maximize the quality of their significantly longer lives. Human service professionals can fill this need.

DISARMING THE BABY BOOMER TIME BOMB Specific and daunting challenges faced by the aging Baby Boomers, their families and society, that warrant more detailed discussion, include Alzheimers disease; the changing structure of the American family; identity issues related to long-term retirement and increasing marginalization; and facing diminished financial resources as a result of the Great Recession hitting just as this generation was preparing to retire.

Alzheimers Disease and Dementia Alzheimers disease is a devastating ailment that ravages entire families, and age is a major risk factor of developing this condition. According to the Alzheimers Association (2011), 5.4 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimers. By 2050, it is estimated that 16 million Americans will have the disease, largely because of the aging of the Boomers. For Americans aged 65 and over, the risk of developing Alzheimers is 1 in 8; for Americans aged 85 and over, the risk is nearly 50%. Alzheimers is a condition that impacts far more people than the patient. The Alzheimers Association says that 60% of patient caregivers rate the stress they experience as High or Very high, with one-third acknowledging symptoms of depression. As there is no cure or highly-effective treatment for this disease, patients and their loved ones require more than medical treatment. Patients and their kinship systems would benefit from social support; treatment for depression and caregiver stress; respite care; financial counseling; and help adjusting to the agonizing long goodbye experienced as the patient slowly slips further into confusion and helplessness. This disease requires a reassignment of roles within the entire family, which is painful and challenging (Epple, 2002). Dealing with the patients diminished cognitive functioning, caregiver stress, and the complex influence of this disease on the entire family system are all services that can be best provided by a trained human service

DISARMING THE BABY BOOMER TIME BOMB professional in collaboration with the medical team.

Changing Structure of the American Family A 2005 study by Putney & Bengston details the many ways in which the structure of the American family has changed during the lifetime of the Boomer generation. As Putney & Bengston point out, the Baby Boomer generation had significantly fewer children than did their parents. When Boomers did have children, they did so when older than their parents. This means that the adult children of now-aging Boomers likely have fewer resources available to care for their parents, as they are less likely to be at the prime of their earning potential. Boomers are more likely to divorce than were their parents, with nearly 50% of first marriages and 60% of second marriages ending in divorce (Emery, 1999). Additionally, families are likely to be more geographically dispersed than in past generations, so the children of Boomers may not live in the same region of the country as their elderly parents (Rogerson & Kim, 2005). These factors all put Boomers in a position of vulnerability, as their informal sources of support are less readily available than was the case for their parents, making it likely they will need to seek support from formal sources, such as Direct Service Professionals and other human service workers. Further, this situation puts Generation X children in a situation where they feel a great deal of stress and guilt about not being able to care for their parents as they would like, which can lead to their facing significant mental health consequences of their own (Chung, McLarney & Gillen, 2008).

Identity Issues Due to the sheer size of the Baby Boom generation, it has enjoyed a tremendous amount of attention and influence. As Gilleard and Higgs (2007) document, this generation has

DISARMING THE BABY BOOMER TIME BOMB experienced an unprecedented amount of attention in the realms of media, culture, economic consumption and leisure. This bubble in the demographics of the American population made this generation an attractive and efficient target for marketers throughout their lifetimes. This

attention inevitably contributes to a generational identity of power and importance. Exacerbating this sense of importance and agency, Rogerson & Kim (2005) describe how this cohort has spent a significant amount of time in the role of the sandwich generation, in which it has supported elderly parents as well as their own dependent children. While this role is undeniably challenging, it can also contribute to a strong identity of power, particularly in the context of the central location this generation has experienced in the events of the late 20th Century, and the first part of the 21st Century. As this generation moves into the later stages of life, it will likely face a significant crisis of identity as it finds itself confronting a new reality of decline and a loss of influence. This is an identity crisis that all generations must face, famously labeled by Erik Erikson as Ego Integrity vs. Despair (Erikson, Erikson, & Kivnick, 1994); but for one that has known such a position of privilege compared to its surrounding generations, this crisis may be particularly difficult. Another factor that will likely exacerbate this crisis is the reality of the global economic recession that has devastated the resources that many Boomers had accumulated, just as they were planning to retire. Helping Baby Boomers face these identity crises and adjust to significantly changed roles will require a coterie of trained human services professionals.

Diminished Financial Resources Following the Great Recession While there would never be a good time for a financial crisis to strike, the so-called Great Recession struck at the worst possible time for Baby Boomers, many of whom were in

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the last stages of preparing for retirement (Weller, 2010). It has been estimated that the financial crisis, which began in 2007-2008, has cost Americans $10 trillion in household wealth from loss of home values and stock market holdings (Rosnick & Baker, 2010). Since these two categories of wealth account for the most significant sources of retirement funds for the middle-class, it is now thought that many Boomers will rely almost entirely on Social Security benefits to finance their retirement (Rosnick & Baker, 2010), which is not the reality that most anticipated. Thorne, Warren and Sullivan (2009) document the fact that the average age of bankruptcy filers has been increasing for years. In 1991, they report, the average age of those filing bankruptcy was 36.5, while in 2001 it was 40.6, and by 2007 had increased to 43.0. Since 1991, Americans aged 55 and older have experienced the greatest increase in bankruptcy filings (Thorne, Warren & Sullivan, 2009). Bankruptcy is particularly devastating to older Americans, as they have less time to recover from financial disaster than do adults in their 20s or 30s. Shelton (2008) reports that by the end of 2007 there were 684,000 homeowners aged 50 and above who were significantly delinquent (30-180 days), in mortgage payments or were in foreclosure. These data do not cover the peak of the housing crisis period, and do not say anything about those older Americans who are current on underwater mortgages that are for amounts greater than the current value of their homes. It is a tragedy that all of the main pathways to a comfortable and secure retirement for the middle-class have been decimated just as the Boomer generation was beginning to anticipate their retirement. These seniors will have to adjust to additional unanticipated years in the work force, as well as a likely significant decrease in the standard of living than they had anticipated and planned for all of their working lives. This certainly puts seniors at risk for homelessness,

DISARMING THE BABY BOOMER TIME BOMB depression and other stress-related mental disorders. The last blow to the Boomers is that their children, who would be a natural informal safety net for them in their time of need, are also struggling financially and have fewer resources to share with their parents due to the recession. Human service professionals will be needed to help Boomers navigate more formal sources of

assistance, as well as provide psychological support to those who have seen the American Dream disappear, just as they were preparing to enjoy the fruits of their many years of labor.

DISCUSSION The Time for Action is Now Time is short for preparing skilled human service professionals to assist the aging Baby Boomer generation cope with the transition into their senior years. The first of the Boomers turned 65 in 2011, so the Graying of America is well underway. As has been documented throughout this paper, there is a very important role for trained human service professionals as the Boomer generation enters and adjusts to the new role of senior citizens. In 2002 Knickman and Snell urged for preparation to begin soon to meet this increased demand for services. Making the demand for new human service professionals now more acute is the fact that due to the large size of the retiring Baby Boom generation and the smaller size of Generation X, the increased demand for services will likely be met by a smaller human services staff. Because the leading-edge of the Boomer generation is already retiring and entering the phase of life where increased services are required, there is a need for a short-term and a longer-term approach to meeting this need.

DISARMING THE BABY BOOMER TIME BOMB Community Colleges Must Answer the Call Community colleges are in a unique position to relieve, in the short-term, the stresses presented by the initial phase of Boomers entering their senior years. Community colleges provide one- and two-year credentials which prepare students to directly enter the workforce or transfer to a university to continue their training. Being faced with Boomers retiring from their positions in human service agencies and the inevitable increase in requests for services, community colleges are needed to train reinforcements quickly. Associate degree and certificate programs in human services provide coursework and internships which can prepare students to face the impending aging crisis in America. There will of course be a longer-term need for Bachelor- and Master-level practitioners, but we have an immediate need for credentialed associate professionals to enter the field.

After investigating 112 college and university human service programs that are members of the Council for Standards in Human Service Education (CSHSE, 2011), it was found that 34% (n=38) identified gerontology or aging as a concentration within their programs. Several of those included merely mentioned working with the elderly as being a potential career for graduates, but did not provide a credential specializing in gerontology or aging. In very few of the college websites was focusing on gerontology or aging presented as a pressing need. These data suggest that colleges are not yet acting aggressively enough to prepare the workforce for the coming aging crisis. One possible reason for this apparent mismatch is that colleges may be responding to student, rather than societal, interestsfocusing on concentrations that are already popular with students who are unaware of the realities presented throughout this paper. In order to better serve the community and their students, community college administrators and human service department chairs need to proactively educate students and applicants about the great need for

DISARMING THE BABY BOOMER TIME BOMB professionals trained to work with senior citizens and their families. This is where the need is, and where the jobs will be.

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According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012) employment opportunities between 2010 and 2020 for Social and Community Service workers are projected to grow by 27%, and growth for Social and Human Service Assistants is anticipated to be 28% (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012). This compares to a predicted growth for all occupations of 14% during the same period. The Bureaus explanation for this significant growth is, due to the needs of an aging population. An increase in the number of older adults will result in growth in demand for social services. O*Net estimates that growth for Rehabilitation Counselors during this same period will be between 20% and 28% (O*Net Online, 2012). Rehabilitation Counselors function is to, [c]ounsel individuals to maximize the independence and employability of persons coping with personal, social, and vocational difficulties that result from birth defects, illness, disease, accidents, or the stress of daily life. These services will be in demand by aging Baby Boomers as they work to later ages while living with chronic illnesses that frequently afflict the elderly, such as arthritis, diabetes and heart disease, or as they reenter the workforce after a retirement cut short due to the loss of wealth that resulted from the Great Recession. President Obama has recently given community colleges long-deserved recognition for their value to society, and has identified them as a major resource in reinvigorating the economy (Johnson, 2010). He has demonstrated his belief in the crucial role of community colleges by appropriating $12 billion in funding to assist them to meet his goal of producing five-million additional graduates by the year 2020 (Khandaroo, 2009). In training human service professionals to meet the needs of the Boomer generation, community colleges will also be

DISARMING THE BABY BOOMER TIME BOMB helping to answer the Presidents call by producing trained staff for hospitals, retirement and

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assisted living communities, Area Agencies on Aging, Hospice, community centers, and various local Non-Governmental Organizations. These organizations are generally funded primarily by donor contributions or grants, so they would not be impacted by third-party requirements for licensed Masters degree credentials for all practitioners Community colleges can get graduates into the workforce after completing a one-year certificate or a two-year Associate degree, which often include an internship each year. This relieves the need very quickly because students will begin making a difference right away while serving their internships. After graduation, students will enter the workforce as full-time employees, work part-time while continuing their education, or transfer to full-time bachelor and master level programs to meet the more serious needs of seniors a few years later. In order to make all of this happen, community college administrators and department chairs need to discuss these issues, as well as the high potential for employment that these realities create, with students in their recruitment materials and presentations. Faculty should make these challenges known early in their human service curriculum so that students already pursuing a career in human services can make informed choices when they are selecting a concentration or internship host agency. If community colleges make a concerted effort to proactively recruit and train students to meet the needs of seniors, they can minimize the consequences of this crisis, be the catalyst of positive change that President Obama has requested of them and, in effect, disarm the Boomer time bomb.

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