Introduction to This Issue

Abstract

As the oldest members of the estimated 77 million members of the baby boomer population begin to approach "retirement" in whatever form that may take, career planning and adult development professionals will be looking for the most effective ways to help these people plan for the future. This special issue of the journal focuses on the unique needs and issues that pertain to boomers. Creating personal significance for the later years of life is necessary not only for the individual but for society as a whole. During the last century, individual life expectancy has increased more than 30 years, from age 47 to age 78 (National Vital Statistics Reports), and will continue to increase. Not only has life expectancy increased for individuals, the population in the United States has aged as well. Simply put, not only are we living longer, there will be significantly more of us over the age of 65. With the increase in life expectancy and the projected continuing increase in the number of older adults, it is important to examine how individuals can optimize the quality of their lives as they grow older. As a motto of the Geriatric Society of America suggests, the issue is "adding life to years, not just more years to life." In our youth-obsessed culture, the boomer population has an opportunity to "redefine" aging and replace traditional stereotypes, making it possible to create a next phase of life full of joy, dignity, and a sense of contribution and self worth. Professionals working with members of the boomer population can help them to create a next stage that not only will be professionally fulfilling, but will contribute to the larger population as well. The authors of this special issue present ways we can help boomers as they create their futures and chart new territory for aging, thus enhancing life for us all! Mary and Ken Gergen, editors of The Positive Aging Newsletter, provide an excellent introduction and framework for this special issue of the journal. The Gergens propose that "aging is not so much a state of nature as it is a state of social meaning." Because we define what aging means through our conversations and the questions we ask, it is important to explore The Prophetic Power of Positive Questions. This is a crucial "first step" in creating the next stage of life for boomers. Dick Goldberg, Director of Coming of Age, a Philadelphia initiative to promote civic engagement and lifelong learning for people age 50 and older, explores how boomers are constructing new definitions for aging and concludes, For the New Old, Old is Good! In Activity and Brain Health, Paul D. Nussbaum introduces the concept of brain health and discusses activities that can promote it. Through meaningful engagement with others and purposeful exposure to complex and novel stimuli, we can reduce the risk of dementia and increase the possibilities for brain health. In Helping Clients to Create the Third Stage of Life, Christina Robertson explores adult developmental theory and creativity. Research she conducted found creativity helps individuals manage the challenges of aging and promotes passion, awe, and wonder. She offers topics professionals can explore with boomer clients to evaluate their developmental process and how creativity can enhance their lives. Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi examines spiritual aging in his interview, a process of harvesting what one has learned form the past to develop meaning, spiritual awareness, and a legacy for future generations. Because we have been graced with an extended life span, he stresses the need for extended awareness if we want to live longer rather than die longer. As we age, we shift to spirituality productivity and become the wisdom keepers who will safeguard the welfare of the planet. Judith Kolva, personal historian, examines how telling one's life story can develop a sense of coherence, integrity, and fullness in Life Stories: Meaning Makers for Older Adults. …