The Case for a Longevity Perspective

By Marla Fronczak

The Stanford Center on Longevity reports that life expectancy in the U.S. has increased more in the 20th century than in all prior millennia combined, with as many as half of today’s 5-year-olds expected to live 100 years. AgeGuide’s goal is to identify ways to enhance the quality of those century-long lives, so that people experience good health for more years, as well as a sense of belonging, purpose, and worth at all ages and stages of life.

To make these longer lives the best they can be demands bold ideas and new ways of thinking about the human lifespan. It is time to rethink aging. What does it mean to age well? How do we want to use these additional years we’ve been given?

Well, older adults are not shy about sharing how they want to use these years. They want to age at home, and in their own communities. Through the pandemic we saw why this is so important to them. Wherever we provide inclusive community-based services to older adults or their caregivers and provide quality care when they need it, their health and longevity improves. As our region’s aging population becomes more racially and ethnically diverse, we urgently need to address the social factors that contribute to health inequities such as where we live, our access to fresh food, safe housing, availability of transportation, income, and education.

In 1965, the Older Americans Act made it the responsibility of the federal and state governments to assist older adults in maximizing their quality of life. The act created the Area Agencies on Aging, like AgeGuide, to deliver comprehensive community services through a coordinated continuum of care designed to prevent abuse, neglect and exploitation, and to support caregivers, older adults, and their families.

This was already a bold vision in 1965, but today we realize that funding and careful service design are only the beginning. Even before the pandemic, and before the renewed national conversation about systemic racism, AgeGuide asked how its Older Americans Act services could better reach a greater diversity of older adults.

AgeGuide’s network of local partners keeps people safe and connected to the resources and supports that make the aging journey rich and fulfilling. But, the aging journey isn’t just rich and fulfilling for older adults. Our extra years bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and economic resources to our communities.

The AARP Longevity Economy Outlook reports that adults 50 and older are a dominant force in the U.S. economy. They own 83% of assets (driven by home ownership), and contribute 56% of consumer spending. They are the fastest growing segment of the workforce and the most active volunteers. The study projects that economic contributions of the 50-plus age group are on track to triple, from $8.3 trillion in 2018 to $28.2 trillion in 2050. In addition, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls. gov), older adults contribute $8 billion worth of annual volunteer hours, providing an essential boost to the U.S. economy.

AgeGuide’s services capitalize on the economic and personal contributions of older adults by keeping them engaged, socially connected, active, and vitally integrated into their communities. This is where our advocacy work becomes critical. As more people live well into their 70s, 80s, and beyond, traditional views of communities, health systems, and work duration are not feasible. We must reduce ageism in the workplace and find ways to optimize the age diversity of future workforces.

A longevity perspective is needed for the U.S. economy to flourish.

Life has always been a journey, but suddenly our itinerary has gotten a lot longer. As our life expectancies increase, we need to ensure that the extra years ahead of us are healthy, and include a sense of belonging and purpose.

According to AARP, 90% of Americans want to continue living in their own homes and stay rooted in their communities as they age. Many haven’t considered what needs to be done to achieve aging in place. We need agefriendly communities and health systems that advance health equity for older adults, as well as support for family caregivers.

From the moment we take our first breath to when we breathe our last, caregiving connects us all. If you have experience in a caregiving role, assisting a family member friend or neighbor, you know this is true. While the experience of giving and receiving care is deeply personal, it is also a key structural challenge for our society. AARP estimates that 1.5 million family caregivers provide $1.4 billion of unpaid care annually in Illinois. Family caregivers often experience tremendous financial, emotional, and physical stress, which can lead to burnout and other seriously negative health effects. needs depend solely on family and friends for assistance. Another 25% supplement family care with services from paid providers. Only a little more than 5% rely exclusively on paid services.

We are living in an unprecedented time when our aging population is expanding, and the need for care has become more visible and challenging. This situation is here to stay as most care work cannot be outsourced or automated. Half of the ten fastest growing occupations are in care fields, and there are more projected job openings for home health aides in the next decade than for any other occupation, putting it on track to be the largest occupation by 2029.

Despite the increasing demand for care, the current systems and policies to support the older adult care economy and unpaid family caregivers are inadequate. Care workers remain underpaid and undervalued, contributing to high attrition rates and reduced quality of care. As a result, two out of three family caregivers report being stressed while trying to balance work and caregiving.

The longevity perspective requires substantial investment in essential aging services like home delivered meals, social connection programs, affordable housing, transportation, and new and innovative caregiver supports. This assistance will help families keep loved ones at home as long as possible.

Informal caregivers, family members, friends, and loved ones have been the mainstay of the long-term care system in this country. In fact, care provided by unpaid caregivers is the most crucial factor in avoiding or postponing placement in long term care facilities. Twothirds of older adults who live at home and who need assistance with personal care

It’s time for us to effectively unite around a new longevity agenda where we engage, empower, and advocate together to create communities that are pro-aging because we’re all aging. We support the health, well-being, and economic security of older adults by adopting a forwardlooking longevity perspective of an age-diverse population. One where older adults can contribute in more meaningful, significant, and measurable ways to social good and economic progress. By laying the groundwork for communities that are healthier and more equitable, we can share in the diversity of opportunities presented by healthy longevity.