Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1468601
Healthcare is changing to meet baby boomer needs As with any relationship, our relationship with the healthcare system evolves throughout our lives. Change is constant. The population's age, cultural makeup, and preferences shift, and the medical communi- ty must adapt. As this community's nonprofit hospice, Hospice of Santa Cruz County is taking a thoughtful look at the future of healthcare in our corner of the world. According to the US Census, all baby boomers will be 65 or older in the US by 2030. By 2060, Latinos will make up 28% of the population. Meanwhile, better health care is extending lives, and due to record low birth rates, older adults are projected to outnum- ber people under 18 in the coming decade. "These shifts impact how, where, and by whom care is provided," says Cathy Conway, CEO of Hospice of Santa Cruz County. "We're evolving to meet our community's needs." Putting decision-making in your hands. Baby boomers are educated and tech-savvy, no longer relying solely on their doctor's advice to make informed choices. They are more engaged in discussions about their health care than the gener- ation before them. For this population, options like telehealth are important. Hospice of Santa Cruz County's telehealth system is designed to supplement, not supplant in-person hospice care. Through telehealth, pa- tients can choose to share and receive information and quality support that enhance in-person visits from their care team. For seriously ill people not ready for hospice, Hospice of Santa Cruz County can provide palli- ative care. Their interdis- ciplinary team of doctors, nurses, and social workers partner with a patient's primary care doctor to provide an extra layer of support to address symp- toms and practical needs. This is often done along- side curative treatments. Together, they create plans to help people enjoy the things that matter most. For children of baby boomers, caregiving is becoming a second job. Homes are the new healthcare centers. The palliative care team equips caregivers with infor- mation and support that builds their confidence to provide care for a loved one. Working on improving the healthcare system. The healthcare industry has been preparing for this moment, but there's still work to do. In 1982, hospice became a nation- ally guaranteed Medicare benefit. That Medicare de- duction on your paystub? It also pays for hospice care. Taking advantage of this benefit you've already paid for can help you and your loved ones manage symptoms and the physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges that come with end of life. Since 1982, great strides have been made in medi- cine, but no changes have been made to the Hos- pice Medicare benefit. Healthcare policies require updates to respond to the wave of aging Ameri- cans. Hospice of Santa Cruz County is part of the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), a group of 80 communi- ty-based hospices nation- ally that are addressing what baby boomers care about. "We're working closely with NPHI to modernize the hospice benefit," says Conway. "We're part of a committee advocating for changes that will sustain the viability of non-profit community-based hos- pices. Making services more accessible. Conversations about quality of life, death, and what's important to us as we age should be woven into the very fabric of our lives. Having these discus- sions can improve health outcomes and decrease family stress. Hospice of Santa Cruz County meets people where they are. Through movie nights, education, and partnerships with spir- itual leaders, they facilitate meaningful conversations that begin to break down barriers and normalize talking about death, dying, and grief. They are committed to expanding their reach and reducing barriers to access, offering culturally sensitive services in the Spanish language, and now extending service further into northern Mon- terey County. Words matter. They can comfort or strike fear. Draw close or create distance. As part of identifying and removing barriers, Hospice of Santa Cruz County will soon an- nounce a new name. One that reflects their breadth of services, including hos- pice, transitional and palli- ative care, pediatric care, and grief support. With a commitment to equity and inclusion, names that are welcoming to English and Spanish speakers alike were considered. "Everything you've learned about Hospice of Santa Cruz County isn't changing. Just the name," says Conway. Staying put. Baby boomers are work- ing longer and staying put in their communities. Hospice of Santa Cruz County is too. "At Hospice of Santa Cruz County, this work is personal. We've been here since 1978, so we know the people we serve. They are our friends, family, and neighbors. Knowing our patients and being known by them is what sets us apart," says Con- way. "We're anticipating their changing needs and adapting our services to meet them." By Sally Green Bigstock photo Pros and cons of early retirement Retirement is a mile- stone that is often the byproduct of decades of hard work. Though a growing number of work- ing professionals have no intention of ever retiring, the vast majority of adults look forward to the day when they can call it a career. The prospect of early retirement is enticing to millions of people. Though retiring early may seem like a no brainer for individuals in position to do so, a careful consider- ation of the pros and cons of early retirement can ensure people make the best decision. Benefits of early retire- ment For many people, early retirement is less about finding a beach to relax on and more about pivoting to a second career. In fact, a recent report from the Employee Benefit Research Institute indicated that 74 percent of workers plan to get a new job after they retire. In such instances, early retirement is often about turning a long-time passion into a second career. That can help adults achieve a lifelong dream, making it one of the better reasons to retire early. Another advantage to retiring early is the chance to spend more quality time with family. One study from the American Psychological Association found that more than half of working pro- fessionals now check work emails after work hours, including on weekends. Forty-four percent even check their email while on vacation. Early retirement enables individuals to escape that round-the- clock career commitment, affording retirees a chance to spend more unfiltered quality time with the peo- ple they love most. Retiring early also provides an opportunity to escape a daily grind that many people have indicat- ed has become increasing- ly burdensome in recent years. The 2021 Work and Well-Being Survey from the American Psychologi- cal Association found that 79 percent of the roughly 1,500 adults surveyed had experienced work-related stress in the month prior to participating. Work is a leading cause of stress for many people, and stress has been linked to a host of health problems. Individuals who can retire early can benefit from less stress in their lives. Disadvantages to retir- ing early Retiring early can seem like a dream, but it could turn into a nightmare for people whose finances ar- en't as robust as they need to be to support a lengthy retirement. One report from the Boston College Center for Retirement Re- search found that around 50 percent of working families face a significant decline in their standard of living during retirement. Life expectancy has been on the rise in developed countries since 1900, so retiring too early carries some significant financial risk for people who have saved but not necessarily saved enough. Retiring early also could make people more vulnerable to cognitive decline than they would be if they keep working. One study from researchers at Scotland's University of St. Andrews found that people who wait until age 67 to retire experience less cognitive decline than people who retire prior to turning 67. Out-of-pocket medical costs are another signifi- cant disadvantage to retir- ing early. Employer-spon- sored medical insurance tends to cost individuals less than private plans, which is a significant consideration for individu- als at a point in their lives when they may need to visit doctors more often. Early retirement has its advantages and disadvan- tages. Individuals must consider both to make the best decision for them. By Metro Create Metro Stock photo Social media: It's not just for kids Perhaps due to the popularity of social media among a generation of young people who grew up with it, platforms such as Instagram and Face- book are often associated with people born in the 21st century. However, a 2018 study from the Pew Institute found that 65 percent of adults between the ages of 50 and 64 used Facebook and 68 percent used YouTube. Social media is often on the receiving end of negative attention, but it's also a potentially valu- able tool that can help men and women over 50 stay connected with their communities. That's not always so easy for adults who no longer have children at home. And as its name suggests, social media can help users connect with oth- ers who share their interests. Such connections also can be hard to make for adults over 50. Adults over 50 may be more comfortable with social media now than they were a decade ago, but it's still a good idea to brush up on basic security measures that can help men and women protect their privacy as they utilize platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. · Protect your personal in- formation. No social media user has the right to access your personal information, including your address, date of birth or other data unique to you. Avoid interacting with anyone who requests personal information, employing the function to block such users from connecting with you when possible. It's also important to keep information about travel plans private. For exam- ple, sharing details of an upcoming vacation can serve notice to potential criminals that no one will be in your house, making it a potential target for burglars. · Aim for quality, not quantity, when building social media networks. Avoid accepting friend requests from individuals you don't know. Cyber criminals often gain ac- cess to victims via social media, so limit your social media network to people you know and trust. · Turn off location infor- mation. The technology behind social media is im- pressive and even makes it possible to determine where users are when they tweet or post to other plat- forms. But many users, especially those concerned about their privacy, don't want to share location information with anyone, much less strangers. Turn off location information and routinely double check to make sure it's still turned off. · Discuss others' privacy concerns before posting to social media. Social media isn't for everyone, and some people may not want photos of themselves or their children posted to platforms like Facebook or Instagram. Prior to posting pictures or information about other people, con- firm that they're OK with you doing so. Adults over 50 are engag- ing with social media. But no matter how comfortable users become, it's still best to keep various social media safety protocols in mind. By Metro Create Metro Stock photo