ADVOCATES FOR THE NEW OLD AGE

The Pioneer Network is a remarkable coalition of individuals and organizations who are actively engaged in what has been come to be known as "Culture Change" in long-term care. The vision of this organization and its members is value-laden, based on values of honor and respect for the individual and belief in the potential for continued growth and development in every stage of life.

This coalition has a short (perhaps five minutes) video at the following URL. You may want to view it. I have transcribed some of the dialog here that reflects such basic, wholesome, positive views on aging and conditions in the present dysfunctional system of long-term care that beg to be "fixed."

http://www.pioneernetwork.net/getinvolved/


ADVOCATES FOR THE NEW OLD AGE

We are all aging from birth. Boomers are living longer, healthier lives. But like previous generations we shrink in fear of our own aging and the thought of being cared for by others.

Joanne Rader, RN, MSN author, "Bathing Without a Battle"
"Dependency and loss of control are the biggest fears that we have. Many have observed their parents experiencing lack of choice, dignity, and privacy in care settings. Fifty percent of those over 65 will, at some point, need assistance. And for many the nursing home is the only available choice right now. But the present does not have to be our future if Baby Boomers take action now. Seeing what our parents experience is a powerful catalyst for change because we know we are next."

Transforming how we grow old.
Imogene Higbie, age 89. Independent 89-year old living alone in her own home not far from her daughters. Four years ago she became ill and had to move to a nursing home and to assisted living. Her experiences encouraged her to fight not only for improving conditions there, but for transforming how we grow old in America.

"I went in as a person. I expected to become a patient, but I didn't expect to lose myself – which is what happened to me. And I realized that the system I was in was dysfunctional and needed fixing."

Jennifer Macial, daughter
"The experience was intense on every level and even though she was safe and sound physically, it didn't seem to be the place to heal, to grow, to evolve, to move forward and to contribute."

Pioneer Network is taking on the culture of aging in America.

Beth Baker: author of "Old Age in a New Age"
"There are 4,000 more nursing homes in America than McDonalds, not to mention thousands of assisted living centers. So change will take time. But I found (in researching for her book) a lot to be hopeful about. I found places that look and feel like home. I interviewed dozens of workers who are excited to come to work every day. And best of all I found that a lot of these places were solving costly problems and were affordable to everyone.

"This movement is grounded in values of honoring individuals and creating strong communities. If you can bring those values and that vision to all settings, wherever elders live that will be a very exciting future for all of us, for our loved ones and for ourselves as we grow old."

Since its inception in 1997, the Pioneer Network is showing change can happen. Wherever we choose to live our older years, the fullness of life is possible. Pioneer Network is working to replace the traditional nursing home with settings that are really home in both environments and relationships

Pioneer Network is also promoting new alternatives to live at home and in the community where generations can thrive together.

Imogene Higbie elder, activist, consumer
"I realized that old people, if they are informed and want to change things have a lot of power. I found that in my old age that my activism has been effective because I'm old and informed. And I think that is what happening. I hope people realize that when they get old they can speak up, share their experiences and make things better for their children who happen to be our Baby Boomer generation."


Steve Shields, President/CEO of Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community, Manhattan, KS
"As boomers we can dispel the notion that aging is just a time of loss. Aging is a time of self actualization and growth and hope."

--- And to ponder ----
Do I see my own aging as a time of self actualizaion, growth and hope? If not, why not?

How would life in a nursing home you may know and visit look in the programs of daily life, policies, relationships, organizational structure, rate of staff turnover, quality of life and well-being of those who live and work there, if every person who has power to impact an elder's life, starting with the administrator and the board of directors believed in the concept of aging as a time of self actualization, growth and hope and that s/he will one day be old and perhaps dependent?