LETTER FROM
THE PRESIDENT
A recent Time magazine article fascinated
me — it suggested that in an “evolutionary
blink of an eye,” Americans are flourishing
into their 80s, 90s and beyond.
Most people want to live longer, but only if
their quality of life is not compromised. This
raises important questions for all of us,
especially those of us in health care. What
are the ramifications of an extended life
span? How are health care institutions
addressing our aging population?
People can thrive at advanced ages. But
living longer and well requires thoughtful
preparation. To address the growing
phenomenon of living longer, the Stanford
Center on Longevity gathered research on
trends associated with healthy lives, focusing
on three practices: healthful living, financial
security and social engagement.
Healthful Living: We are making
progress in some areas. For example,
smoking rates continue to decline. But,
diseases that would hardly have been
considered public health threats 50 years ago
are on the rise. Today, Alzheimer’s is on track
4
to become an epidemic. In past years, when
many in our society performed physical labor,
obesity was hardly a problem. Now, it is.
Sitting is a significant risk factor for diabetes,
which is strongly associated with dementia.
Financial Security: Regrettably, there is
no age group that is better off financially than
it was a decade ago. Ten years ago, 67
percent of Americans owned a home. Today
that number is 62 percent. We must save
more and/or work longer. Most Americans
haven’t figured out how to finance a “30-year
retirement with just 40 years of work.”
Social Engagement: Research has made
clear that strong relationships are linked to a
better outlook and reduced stress. These
items are directly correlated to the quality of
aging.
However, society is changing. Unlike our
grandparents, many don’t grow up and grow old
in the same place — profoundly changing our
communities.
How Baylor Is Making It Better: Baylor
is implementing innovative, proactive
programs, like the Baylor AT&T Memory
Center, to aid with this generational
transition. Doctors on the medical staff at
Baylor are strong advocates in coordinating
care to meet long-term needs, improve the
quality of life and maintain independence as
long as possible.
Rowland K. Robinson
President
Baylor Health Care System Foundation
[email protected]