The Senior Transition

by Bill Stelz

As little as fifty years ago, average life expectancy was in the low-to-mid sixties. Today, it is in the high seventies and, according to the Cencus Bureau, the number of people aged sixty-four to eighty-four will increase by nearly forty percent this decade alone. In the face of such overwhelming numbers, the time is nigh to turn attention to The Senior Transition and to find the opportunities, solutions, and outlooks that will facilitate a high quality of life for our aging population. The Senior Transition is a highly personal and extremely insightful examination of the challenges that lie ahead as the nature and perception of old age continues to change and transform in our culture. Through profiles, anecdotes, and commentary, The Senior Transition brings into dramatic light the often ignored or quickly dismissed realities associated with aging. It has been assumed that in life a person will transition from childhood to adolescence, from adolescence to adulthood, and from adulthood to parenthood. With each turn, one assumes greater levels of responsibility, while reaping commensurately larger rewards. For the fortunate, that means reaching one's "golden years" in a loving relationship, financially secure, and in good health. However, many modern day seniors are not as fortunate as they enter into The Senior Transition. In the next twenty years, nearly eighty million "baby boomers" will retire. Social Security and Medicare appear headed for bankruptcy. Real estate and retirement portfolios are significantly devalued. Perhaps most disturbing, seniors across America remain frightened about nursing homes based on pervasive negative perceptions. But there is hope. Over the past twelve years, author Bill Stelz has lived in senior communities where he has met thousands of people and conversed with hundreds, while befriending many others. The Senior Transition is his rousing call to action to improve not just the nursing home environment, but also to promote a more pleasant retirement in general.