FREE NEWSLETTER
Youth is not making the scene the way it used to. It has been said that baby boomers will redefine the concept and process of aging. America is growing older. “ Gerontology, the science of aging, is a booming field because so many of us are outlasting the biblical span of “three score and ten”. So writes James Chappel, author of “Golden Years: How Americans Invented and Reinvented Old Age.”
Our population is aging. This not only brings challenges to the elderly, but to their spouses, siblings and children. In the not too distant past, older people were viewed as frail, feeble, financially strained and not contributing to society—straining the country’s impoverished safety net.
But key findings show that many Americans now see aging as a time of growth and reinvention. What was once a distinct stage of life has evolved over time. So it’s no wonder that aging has become a major issue in what was once one of the youngest countries in the world.
To illustrate: past generations of millions of Americans watched as early TV, In the 1950s, portrayed older people as looking and acting like Fred and Ethel Mertz of the “I Love Lucy” show. Then there was the lovable oldster, Uncle David, of the original “The Goldbergs”show who was portrayed as mild and sweet tempered, but doddering and hard of hearing.
Over time, these portrayals evolved, and in the 70s and 80s we had shows like “All in the Family”with the irascible—usually wrong, but never in doubt—Archie Bunker character. It broke ground by bringing challenging and complex issues to the mainstream. Later, the randy older women of the “Golden Girls”set the stage for highly spirited and more vigorous seniors. We also had the capable and keen mind of the Jessica Fletcher character in “Murder She Wrote”, who outsmarts the town’s sheriff and other lead male investigators, with her perceptive crime solving
Even the sensitive topic of sex for senior men and women got a makeover, but here a certain reluctance to delve too deeply prevails. Concerning the explosive Kinsey Report, Mr. Chappel writes, “while its authors broke almost every taboo on the subject, they left this one unexplored, despite provocative data about the continued sexual appetite of older women.”
Fast forward to 2025 — we now have the Granfluencers. They are tech savvy older people making big money on TikTok and Instagram with their videos. I’ve only seen snippets of their videos, not being a fan of social media, but it’s reportedly fun to see them killing it on TikTok with millions of followers, and breaking old barriers. One of the most popular Granfluencers, Baddie Winkle, boasts in her slogan—“been stealing your man since 1928.”
Meanwhile, the aches, pains and memory losses that come with age are hard to accept, but the benefits of aging are available to all of us. Older people are able to control their emotions better—and to focus on how to get the most out of life. With aging, we gain better self acceptance of ourselves and others; along with a desire to connect more with others; and to use our life experiences to help us make smarter decisions.
Last, but not least, there is gratitude. I’ve become increasingly grateful for everything. I’ve become more effusive in my interactions with others; and I tell them how much I appreciate their qualities while I’m still here and glad to be alive.
The last batch of baby boomers(1946-1964) will turn 65 in just five years. The generation that coined the phrase. “Don’t trust anyone over 30” has a lot of rethinking to do
My husband shared this article from the Economist with me recently: https://www.economist.com/international/2025/01/02/why-people-over-the-age-of-55-are-the-new-problem-generation
It’s behind a paywall, but the gist is that Baby Boomers are getting into all kinds of mischief. I’m not easily shocked at my age, but I was gasping at some of the stats (about things like sexually transmitted diseases and so forth). The article said, well, yeah, this is the generation that inhabited the phrase “sex, drugs, and rock and roll.” Of course they’re re-inventing aging.
We realized that maybe we were surprised by this because we’re younger Boomers (born 1960). We were in elementary school when Woodstock happened. Birth control, more sexual freedom—we were still too young to “embrace” that. By the time we hit college in the late 70s, it didn’t all seem so revolutionary.
Thanks for your giving us your thoughts, Dana.
your perspectives are always interesting.
And thanks for the link—will read.
Thanks, Marjorie, for describing so well the pleasures and benefits of reaching this stage of our lives. It’s only a few more months until my grandson heads off to college (or a job and home of his own if he suddenly switches gears). Though we have definitely had our ups and downs these past six years, being an older “parent” meant less energy but also greater maturity, as you described, to deal with the inevitable emotions. I haven’t always been successful on that score, but I will always be grateful for the trust his parents placed in me, being given an important job to do, and the excitement now as the college acceptances are arriving. I know that I’ve helped get him to this point. Thanks to everyone here at HD who has helped me beyond measure with so many important financial and life decisions. My kids all know you as my Humble Dollar Virtual Friends.