New Year's 2011 signaled not only the beginning of a new year, but also the year the oldest of the baby boomers begin to turn 65 at the rate of 10,000 people each day. Geri-boomers, as the LifeGoesStrong.com website calls them, have begun to hit what has long been considered the introductory age for senior citizenship. A recent survey reveals that the boomer generation that is so rapidly graying
A recent survey reveals that the boomer generation that is so rapidly graying is less concerned about the wrinkles and gray hair that accompany the aging process as the potential for declines in health. This is not to say that baby boomers aren't somewhat occupied with cosmetic beauty; 55 percent of midlife women admit to dyeing their hair to cover the gray and 66 percent of that same group of women admit to using anti-aging products, reports LifeGoesStrong. The responses in this poll indicate that cosmetic surgeons won't be banking much boomer many as only 19 percent of those surveyed indicated they might consider going under the knife for the sake of their looks.
The LifeGoesStrong survey was conducted along with the Associated Press, June 3 through June 12 via online interviews with over 1,400 respondents. Baby boomers revealed their greatest concerns to be the degeneration of health--physical and/or mental--to be at the top of their list, followed by loss/changes in physical strength and endurance, then financial health concerns, and finally, the cosmetic changes of aging.
The midlife respondents expressed optimism about the expected length and quality of their senior years. Sixty percent of survey participants believe they will live at least a little longer than their parents did; 49 percent anticipate their senior years will be better than their parents'.
Baby boomers aren't simply wishing on a star for the improved quality and quantity of life they expect in their senior years; 90 percent have changed their diet in at least one way to improve their health and 61 percent revealed they have made five or more healthy changes to their diets. Physical activity is also important, with 58 percent of those polled admitting to working to improve their physical fitness through activities such as walking, strength training, various outdoor activities and participating in sports, reports LifeGoesStrong.
A poll reported by LifeGoesStrong in November 2010 revealed that persons in the age group 45-65 years of age--baby boomers--were the most dissatisfied with their sex lives among all age groups. It would be interesting to see the survey repeated in the future, when the optimistic midlifers have had a period of time to improve their health through their new dietary and physical activity practices. Might the improvements in other areas of baby boomers' health result in improvements in their sex lives and satisfaction?
Smack dab in the middle of the baby boomer generation, L.L. Woodard is a proud resident of "The Red Man" state. With what he hopes is an everyman's view of life's concerns both in his state and throughout the nation, Woodard presents facts and opinions based on common-sense solutions.
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