Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
(N/A)
FAYETTEVILLE,AR 72703
Performing Department
Human Environmental Sciences
Non Technical Summary
Recent political debates over the adequacy of the U.S. and state governments to provide financial and social services in their current form to future generations of older adults is grounded in the recognition that the Baby Boom generation is moving rapidly toward eligibility for these services and benefits. The Baby Boomers are the largest cohort in history. Ten thousand Baby Boomers become eligible for Medicare every day in the United States today. Therefore, many are concerned that they will drain the budget designated for benefits and services owed to future generations while increasing the deficit and leaving the costs of their benefits to be paid by their children. Simultaneously, the Baby Boomers have created a wave of change at every age across their adulthood. One of the most substantial changes occurred in family structure. The Boomers began the movement toward divorce, single parenting, remarriage creating step children, living together without marriage, choosing the single life across adulthood, having fewer children, etc. However, the demands from both the younger and the older generations for support from baby boomers, has led to complex multiple generational expectations for Boomers as they move into retirement. These family structure changes and demands have transformed the retirement lifestyle for many from one of leisure to one of potentially high demand. Further, due to the lack of adequate financial planning and the current economic recession, many boomers will remain in the workforce past their retirement eligibility age in order to be able to maintain the lifestyle they want. By remaining in the workforce they may be taking jobs that might otherwise go to young adults and teens. The demographic profile of the Baby Boomers has also dramatically changed across the past decade. The aging and retirement of the Boomers will clearly be shaped by the changing demographic profile of Americans. The lifelong political and social power the Boomers have wielded across adulthood raise concerns for the economic, social, and political stability of communities and states. In spite of all the concern and fear expressed by younger individuals, very few had conducted research to examine the potential resource this large number of relatively healthy individuals might provide. Likewise, little research has examined the validity of the threat many feel from this large aging cohort. This study examines these issues through the use of large national data sets, statewide data we collect ourselves, and interviews and focus groups to clarify issues raised by the secondary data analysis. From this multi level research approach the study will determine the true threat and/or resource of the new group of older adults and retirees. This knowledge will facilitate individual, family, community, and national preparation for managing both the resources and the challenges the aging Baby Boomers bring.
Animal Health Component
40%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
40%
Applied
40%
Developmental
20%
Goals / Objectives
Recent political events have highlighted concerns over the rapid aging of the Baby Boomers, individuals moving toward being eligible for Social Security benefits and Medicare. Ten thousand individuals reach age 65 in the United States every day (Bartzokis, 2011). The leading edge of the baby boom generation (born between 1945 and 1955) is rapidly moving into retirement age. Because of the size of this cohort, their aging and retirement ignites political, social, economic, and familial concerns. The first wave of the boomers has been described as a "bridging generation" because of their impact on social change across adulthood and their influence on the lives of the generations before and after them (Leach, Phillipson, Biggs, & Money, 2008). Their aging and retirement experience is expected to be different from that of generations past. These individuals provide both a resource and a threat to family, community, and economic stability. Little research has examined the potential for resource or threat this cohort provides, especially within Arkansas and the United States. This study examines the impact of Baby Boomers on intergenerational families with diverse family structures; the effect of their retirement decisions; the demands on the health care system due to their increased lifespan; their challenges to the social and political systems providing support for older and younger individuals. The study provides insight into the force of the Baby Boom generation and assists individuals, families, communities, and the nation in understanding and preparing for the aging Boomers. The specific objectives of the project include: 1. To determine a) the attitudes about retirement and specific work/retirement plans of the oldest Boomers and b) how their attitudes and plans differ from earlier aging cohorts and younger cohorts. 2. To examine the diversity of family structures within this cohort and a) the quality of the relationships and b) bidirectional support within and across generations. 3. To explore generational differences in perceptions and expectations of the family support network across adulthood. 4. To assess the economic and social impact in rural communities due to generational differences in family expectations and retirement decisions. 5. To investigate a) trends in retirement decisions, family relationships, location decisions, and intergenerational support networks in Arkansas and compare them to national trends; and b) determine the characteristics of Boomers in Arkansas that contribute to the differences from national trends found. 6. To examine the impact of family life decisions over time on the aging and retirement experience of older adults. 7. To investigate trends among Arkansas' intergenerational family relationships and the expectations for bi-directional support across generations. 8. To collaborate with other aging researchers to increase understandings about the network of family care across generations, especially among the leading edge of the Baby Boomers, and their importance for both pre- and post-retirees.
Project Methods
Over 5 years, this research project will examine how the ethnic, financial, educational, and family structure diversity issues of aging baby boomers will change the nature of growing older and affect the social, political, economic, and family systems of older adults. Using a multi-method research approach, the research project will combine secondary data analysis, primary data collection, and qualitative data collection such as interviews and focus groups. The samples to be used in all of these data collection formats will include members of all adult cohorts. For example, the secondary data analysis will examine attitudes toward aging as well as planning and expectations for retirement among current young adults, individuals in midlife, the leading edge of the Baby Boomers, and current retirees. Likewise, primary data will be collected from multiple generations of the family as well.