If people were to routinely live to be over a hundred, society would need to adapt in many ways as this article points out. Aging and irrelevance often go together. The primary bread-winner and authoritarian patriarch finds himself without status when he can no longer get himself to the bathroom without help. But the loss of status and relevance happens in degrees as people are unable to adjust to their age and phase in life.
If a woman who once ran a large and successful business can bring herself to be the primary care-giver of her grandchildren without missing a beat, she may well elevate her status within the family. Her accomplishments in business did not offer benefits to a bawling three year old in a stand-off with a sibling over a toy. In her new role, she may be able to use her master negotiator skills to bring peace between the two and move the day along for all concerned. Knowing that grandma is in charge, the parents of these kids can focus on their professional and marital lives resulting in better outcomes for the family overall.
The aging population will need to learn continuously if they want to be useful to society. If Insta is the flavor of the moment, then grandpa must be able to retell his favorite parable, he uses to teach children good manners, in say a digital mood board format. This requires a tremendous amount of mental dexterity and openness to accept the new and alien. Escaping to do their own thing and trying to live a nuclear existence apart from those that could benefit from their skills and life experience will likely not serve aging populations well.
If a woman who once ran a large and successful business can bring herself to be the primary care-giver of her grandchildren without missing a beat, she may well elevate her status within the family. Her accomplishments in business did not offer benefits to a bawling three year old in a stand-off with a sibling over a toy. In her new role, she may be able to use her master negotiator skills to bring peace between the two and move the day along for all concerned. Knowing that grandma is in charge, the parents of these kids can focus on their professional and marital lives resulting in better outcomes for the family overall.
The aging population will need to learn continuously if they want to be useful to society. If Insta is the flavor of the moment, then grandpa must be able to retell his favorite parable, he uses to teach children good manners, in say a digital mood board format. This requires a tremendous amount of mental dexterity and openness to accept the new and alien. Escaping to do their own thing and trying to live a nuclear existence apart from those that could benefit from their skills and life experience will likely not serve aging populations well.
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