Who We Are

Boomers are those who were born between 1946 and 1964. Those interested in the medical care issue can be anyone on the cusp of either end – or our kids or our parents. This is an issue that affects anyone whose body will eventually break down.

You don't need to be a Baby Boomer to be part of us! All are welcome to join with us to change the future of medical care.

We don’t like to face the idea that we will have to be dependent upon anyone, but those of us who have been struck with even benign illnesses, as if any can really be called that, can testify that it happens and it happens even to those who have taken good care of themselves.

A Snapshot of the Boomers

According to a Census Bureau Profile, as of July 2005, there were 78.2 million of us. The insurance giant, Met Life, sponsored a telephone survey of representative 61 year olds in November 2007. The Met Life Survey found that the average Boomer makes $71,400 and is worth about $257,800, not including a principle residence which is typically worth $297,900.

We are forward looking in that we have health insurance, life insurance, CD/saving accounts, IRA, and 401(k)/403(b) plans, but we are concerned about having enough money saved for retirement. The average Boomer is planning to retire at 66 years and 4 months and and a great number of us plan to take Social Security benefits earlier.

Boomers are pretty comfortable with with the way we've lived our lives and are more politically conservative than in our younger days. Health wise, we are in good to very good health. We don't think we are going to be "old" until were almost 78.

The Wesley Enhanced Living Summit on Aging was held in Philadelphia in September 2008. It included a detailed portrait of the Boomers and our coming effect on the health care system. Access Geoffrey Meredith's presentation at the Summit Boomer Report.

We Have An Opportunity

• to dream

• to brainstorm

• to create medical care that will recognize our dignity, our individuality and the potential of technology.

As the Sandwich Generation, watching our parents age is watching them deteriorate piece by piece: A pain here, a fall there, dementia (or worse, Alzheimer's), painful joints,a  mouthful of pills several times a day, bodies that move very slowly, the trips to the doctor and the placement in a hospital or rehab. There they wait – for the aides, for the pills, for assistance and reassurance.

The help comes because there are caring people in our long term care facilities, but there are not enough. The experience for everyone involved is difficult. It’s only going to get more difficult as more people enter a system that is creaking.

We care about our parents, but it’s too late for them. The system is firmly in place that leaves them few choices about how to live out the end of their lives gracefully. What are we going to do about it, so that we don't undergo the same thing? Please click on Tell Us Your Story and help us all get a clear picture of what the issues are that we need to address.