The Pew Research Center recently reported that "young adults in [the] U.S. are much more likely than 50 years ago to be living in a multigenerational household." Pew Research Center indicated that "A quarter of U.S. adults ages 25 to 34 resided in a multigenerational family household in 2021, up from 9% in 1971. ... In 2021, 68% of 25- to 34-year-olds in a multigenerational home were living in the home of one or both of their parents."

Pew Research Center also notes the following: "The growth in multigenerational living among 25- to 34-year-olds has been especially pronounced among those without a college degree. Multigenerational living has tripled among these young adults, compared with doubling among young adults with at least a bachelor’s degree. ...financial issues are a major reason why adults live in multigenerational households."

From the research cited above, it seems pretty clear that young adults are not necessarily choosing to live with their parents; rather it is circumstance, i.e. financial reality, that drives them into the multigenerational household.

Now imagine if there were a silver lining in this perhaps forced co-habitation. Could it be that such living arrangements turn out to be beneficial for both parties? Is such a living situation conducive to a new kind of family closeness and harmony -- or does it result in unpleasant interactions?

Some Boomers may recall childhood memories of grandparents living under the same roof with them, or perhaps, very close by.  When I was very young, I had a grandmother who lived with us for a time, and I remember treasuring the feeling of being spoiled by her! Is this a bad thing for three generations to be integrated into one household?

The fact is, multigenerational living arrangements are far less common in the United States than they are in other parts of the world. The Japanese culture, for example, has long been known for its belief in multigenerational living. This also translates into a respect for older adults that we seem to lack in the United States.

Financial circumstances may present some families with what could be a challenging choice. It is interesting to think about the dynamic that occurs when parents and adult children live in the same household -- and whether they can forge a new kind of relationship that's different from their previous parent/young child interaction. Who knows? Maybe accepting this new reality and accommodating each other's needs and wants may end up being an unexpected benefit to everyone.

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Discover How World War II Helped Launch "Boomer Brands"

My last post regarding "everyday ageism" got me thinking about the kinds of actions ordinary citizens could take to combat ageism on a local level. Turns out there are communities around the United States that have launched local campaigns for just that reason. I'm highlighting two such initiatives here as examples of what can be implemented locally.

Changing the Narrative

Changing the Narrative in Colorado builds on five years of national work initiated by eight leading aging organizations that recognized a shared challenge: that what they were seeking to communicate about aging and ageism, and the social challenges and opportunities posed by demographic change, was not getting through in the way intended to the general public. A core strategy of the Initiative is the use of Change AGEnts—trained volunteers of all ages who will “call-in” ageism, educate their networks in reframing aging, and recognize individuals and organizations that are advancing a positive view of aging and eliminating ageist practices.

Changing the Narrative sponsors numerous anti-aging campaigns, among them:

• Anti-ageist birthday cards
  Changing the Narrative has selected a diverse group of Colorado artists to design anti-ageist birthday cards. The designs defy negative views of aging and celebrate the joys of getting older
• Age-friendly workplaces
  Changing the Narrative encourages Colorado employers to become Certified Age Friendly Employers
• Age-friendly healthcare
  Changing the Narrative created an age-friendly healthcare guide for both individuals and health care providers and offers a list of academic and other sources that go into deeper detail about topics related to ageism and healthcare
• Intergenerational conversations
  Changing the Narrative partnered with the local PBS television station to produce "on the same pAGE," a series of facilitated intergenerational discussions; this was expanded through virtual conversations
• Changing the Narrative partnered with organizations in Douglas County, Colorado to sponsor an "Every Age Counts" poetry contest to raise awareness about ageism and how it negatively affects everyone in the community.

End Ageism

The San Francisco Reframing Aging Campaign is a collaborative effort to increase public awareness of ageism, disrupt negative stereotypes of aging, and connect residents with supportive resources and services. The campaign is a partnership between the San Francisco Department of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS), the Community Living Campaign, the Metta Fund, and numerous community-based organizations and neighbors. Together, they are embarking on a multi-pronged approach to increase public awareness of ageism and help San Franciscans of all ages recognize implicit ageism, connect residents with valuable aging resources, and foster inter-generational connections.

A comprehensive website features capsule biographies of five older San Franciscans, offers the opportunity to take an anti-ageism pledge and become a volunteer, and provides links to resources, articles and videos.

These are two excellent examples of what can be accomplished on a local level when ageism is acknowledged as a serious community issue. Find out if your local area is doing something productive and join the fight against ageism!

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Discover How World War II Helped Launch "Boomer Brands"

New research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association examined the prevalence of everyday ageism, demonstrating that exposures were "associated with multiple indicators of poor mental and physical health." The study employed a newly developed multidimensional "Everyday Ageism Scale" to measure exposures.

Among 2,035 adults ranging in age from 50 to 80 years old, most respondents in the study (93.4 percent) reported regularly experiencing one or more forms of everyday ageism. Internalized ageism was reported by 81.2 percent of respondents, ageist messages by 65.2 percent of respondents, and interpersonal ageism by 44.9 percent of respondents. Mean Everyday Ageism Scale scores were higher for several sociodemographic groups. For example, ages 65 to 80 experienced higher exposures than ages 50 to 64, women experienced higher exposures than men, and White and Hispanic adult respondents experienced higher exposures than Black adult respondents.

The study showed that everyday ageism was associated with poor physical and health across four outcomes examined: Fair or poor physical health, Chronic health conditions, Fair or poor mental health and Depressive symptoms. Odds of negative health outcomes increased and the associated number of chronic health conditions also increased. The researchers stated:

"Everyday ageism may affect health outcomes via multiple pathways. Ageism may hamper quality of older adults' interactions with health care clinicians. Ageist cues, beliefs and interpersonal interactions may serve as stereotype threats, primes for stereotype embodiment, and models of normative expectations for older adults, all of which have been associated with poor health outcomes. Accordingly, everyday ageism may be a chronic stressor in the lives of older adults. ... Older adults with poor health may experience more ageist messages and discrimination (and discrimination based on health and disability) and personally relevant evidence supporting negative beliefs associated age with health."

While major incidents of ageism have been shown to be associated with poorer health and well-being among older adults, this study is unique in its focus on routine types of age-based discrimination, prejudice, and stereotyping that older adults encounter in their day-to-day lives, known as everyday ageism.

We should all be vigilant in recognizing all forms of ageism, whether external or internal. As we age, we should speak up when we are confronted with ageist attitudes, not practice ageism toward others and not beat ourselves up for being old. As this study indicates, everyday ageism in all of these ways can negatively affect our physical and mental health.

If you are interested in the full report of this study, click on the PDF link below.

Download JAMA-Ageism

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Discover How World War II Helped Launch "Boomer Brands"

During the month of July only, a select group of eBooks written for Boomers will be on sale for half-price. This special promotion is only available at Smashwords.com, where you can select your choice of eBook format, including Kindle (mobi), EPUB and PDF.

To take advantage of this half-price sale, click on the eBook titles below that interest you. When you check out, simply use the code SSW50 to get the eBook of your choice at half price. Offer good through July 31.

World War Brands: World War II and the Rise of the Modern American Brand
by Barry Silverstein
Regular price: $5.99 Sale price: $2.99

This book explores the interrelationship of World War II and American brands, showing how the war itself was "branded," how brand advertisers leveraged the war, and how the post-war economy helped birth the modern brand. Included are 38 vintage ads and scores of stories about some of the best-known brands of the '40s and '50s.

This unique book takes a fresh look at the impact of World War II on America from a marketing perspective. History and brand buffs alike will be enthralled by WORLD WAR BRANDS!

Boomer Brands: Iconic Brands that Shaped Our Childhood
by Barry Silverstein
Regular price: $4.99 Sale price: $2.49

This unique book is a stroll down memory lane, reminiscing about the beloved brands Boomers first met in the 50s and 60s. Brand maven Barry Silverstein shares “Boomer Brand Cameos” of over fifty of the brands Boomers grew up with: Disney, Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes, Good Humor, Howard Johnson, Hush Puppies, MAD, Ovaltine, Twinkies, WIFFLE Ball and many more. Most of these brands began during the Boomer era and are still around. Plus, Boomers will gain rare insight into how these iconic brands shaped their childhood and have a lasting impact on their life. BOOMER BRANDS is meant to be read by Boomers, shared with Boomers, and savored for the memories!

Boomer Brand Winners & Losers: 156 Best & Worst Brands of the 50s and 60s
by Barry Silverstein
Regular price: $4.99 Sale price: $2.49

This remarkable book features fascinating stories of 156 best and worst brands of the Boomer era. Readers can relive the days of Cap’n Crunch and Cocoa Puffs, E-Z Pop and Pop-Tarts, cap guns and comic books. They can recall the time when automobiles ruled the road and a transistor radio was “advanced technology.” They will learn how television played a key role in brand advertising. They will discover which brands blossomed and which were a bust. BOOMER BRAND WINNERS & LOSERS is a wondrous walk down Memory Lane!

Let’s Make Money, Honey: The Couple’s Guide to Starting a Service Business
by Barry Silverstein and Sharon Wood
Regular price: $6.99 Sale price: $3.49

By a baby boomer couple who start a small service business as a second career, this how-to guide covers planning, financing, outfitting, and launching a service business, as well as operations, marketing, sales, customer service, and managing growth. Included are useful tools to help couples assess their business interests and compatibility. LET'S MAKE MONEY, HONEY is a must-read for Boomer couples, especially those exploring encore careers. 

Take advantage of this limited time offer to get eBooks at half-price today!

Have you heard of the "Spend Safely in Retirement" strategy? It is a research-based approach developed by the Stanford Center on Longevity in collaboration with the Society of Actuaries to give the highest number of retirees the biggest amount of income possible that would last their lifetimes.

According to Stanford researchers:

"The spend safely in retirement strategy is designed to help middle income workers and retirees decide when to retire, how much to spend in retirement, and how to best deploy your financial resources. The main goal of the strategy is to help you turn your assets – Social Security, the ability to work, savings, and home equity – into the most retirement income possible."

These are the five components of the Spend Safely in Retirement strategy:

1. Delay Social Security
   "Maximizing the value of this benefit means waiting to start until at least your full retirement date. The longer you wait to start Social Security, the greater your monthly benefit will be."
2. Plan Your Withdrawals from Savings
   "The Stanford researchers recommend that your retirement savings be invested in low-cost mutual funds, target date funds, or index funds. And then, use the required minimum distribution (RMD) formula to determine your annual withdrawals from these savings."
3. Get Detailed with Projected Expenses
   "You need to see if the income from the above sources – as well as a pension if you are lucky enough to have one – is adequate to cover all of your projected expenses. The more accurate you can be with projecting your expenses, the more reliable your plan will be."
4. Explore Other Sources of Income to Fill Shortfalls
   "The spend safely in retirement strategy recommends you consider delaying retirement, reducing expenses, getting a retirement job, and/or tapping your home equity to fill in the gaps."
5. Explore More Sophisticated Withdrawal Strategies if You Have a Lot of Savings
   You could consider "annuities, a bucket approach, varying your withdrawal amounts based on investment returns (applying floors and guardrails), setting up a bond ladder, or establishing a more sophisticated allocation for your assets."

You can read more about this plan here.

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HappilyRewired.com is a Wearever Top 20 Senior Blog and a Top 75 Baby Boomer Blog

Discover How World War II Helped Launch "Boomer Brands"