Forever Young
The City’s Forever Young Awards Honor Seven Individuals Older Than 65 Who Are Working And Making A Positive Impact On Hawaii, And Changing The Way We Look At Aging. Are we headed to a perfect storm regarding our aging population? We see all the warning signs: Elderly population will double by 2030.
Del.icio.us
|
Are we headed to a perfect storm regarding our aging population?
We see all the warning signs: Elderly population will double by 2030.
78.2 million baby boomers reach retirement age by 2011.
Rising health care costs. Diminishing Social Security funds.
Massive depletion of the skilled work force.
The answer to these problems has supposedly been sitting in nursing homes for too long.
Sociologists say we expect too little from the 65-plus age group. An increasing number of surveys, studies and stories say seniors are an invaluable resource to our communities when given the opportunity.
“When given the opportunity.”
That’s the key to calming the storm of controversy regarding our elderly population.
Do our public and private policies accommodate the changing business landscape and demographics of the 65-plus population to encourage instead of deter seniors from employment?
Joan White of the Oahu Workforce Investment Board notes that boomers currently make up more than 50 percent of the City’s work force, and by 2012, 27 percent will be eligible to retire.
Nationally, there is an anticipated loss of about a third of the American work force, creating a skilled labor shortage that will cost U.S. businesses hundreds of millions of dollars.
When it rains, it pours. But there are signs of hope.
AARP reports that 79 percent of baby boomers say they don’t plan to stop working at age 65. It is a time for new beginnings, they say.
Recognizing this trend, our City administrators hail the new age workforce of seniors and celebrate their ongoing achievements.
The City & County’s Honolulu Forever Young campaign aims to change the deeply rooted public sentiment against employees 65 years and older who wish to remain in or return to the work force.
Changes in public perception and business practices encourage retaining elderly workers in the work force and provide opportunities for seniors to become socially engaged in the community.
Social engagement is highlighted as a health benefit. The MacArthur Study of Successful Aging showed that social interaction is effective as physical activity in maintaining and improving health. Participants who worked, volunteered and socialized regularly with friends showed less physical deterioration than those who didn’t.
The study also showed that increased exercise and socializing produced health benefits, even for participants with chronic health conditions.
“The vibrancy of Honolulu follows in the footsteps of our community’s best role models who happen to be over the age of 65,” says Mayor Mufi Hannemann. “They are the ones in our workplaces teeming with energy, ideas and purpose born from years of experience. They are change masters and they are reshaping how we think and plan for our later years.”
To showcase senior role models, Mayor Hannemann and program sponsors will honor seven winners of the 2008 Forever Young Awards at a luncheon Tuesday, Oct. 7, at the Hawaii Prince Hotel.
We asked the seven awardees their secret to successful aging. What they told us is priceless, and ageless.
Dr. Satoru Izutsu, 80, senior associate dean for administration, University of Hawaii School of Medicine.
Career: From young plantation worker on Kauai to highly respected psychologist and medical school administrator. His current duties require meticulous attention to detail, personnel nurturing and mentoring, and maintaining strong relationships with local and international healthcare providers.
Successful aging: Attributes his physical and mental fitness to regular walking and aerobics, tempered with a weekly tea ceremony to “practice the precepts of harmony, respect, purity and tranquility.” (Profiled in MidWeek July 18, 2001).
|
Daniel B.T. Lau, 89, chairman and corporate secretary, Finance Factors Ltd.
Career: Started Finance Factors in 1952, which grew from a loan company to one of the state’s largest financial services companies. Continues to put in 40-hour weeks.
Successful aging: Integrates the Chinese tradition of “respect” in his business practices - a value that earned Finance Factors the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for business ethics. Also plays and coaches senior softball every Friday.
Mary M. Matayoshi, 78, executive director, Volunteer Resource Center of Hawaii.
Career: Founder and full-time executive director of VRCH, a nonprofit corporation established in 2002. Formerly state director of Volunteer Services under Gov. Ben Cayetano. Believes in the power of social capital; works tirelessly on educating and training volunteer leaders. MidWeek cover subject
Page 1 of 2 pages for this story 1 2 >
E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS
Most Recent Comment(s):
