Challenges and Opportunities for Wisdom in an Ageing Society

This discussion follows from the previous article 'Opportunities of an Aging Population' where there is an overview of the basic issues. The entire three part paper is at the bottom of this page for free download.

Challenges

There is very little awareness amongst the public in NZ. There have been many warnings over the past 10 years from various concerned departments and agencies. Politically it has not risen to the top of most agendas. Worldwide, it has just started to be recognised as a serious concern. Consequently, most commentary about this issue has been about negative consequences rather than the opportunities.

• Generational split and civil unrest

The Global financial crisis has exacerbated the employment problem. The question of jobs has now become a major issue in countries where there is simply not enough work for those who need to stay working longer and those starting out in the workforce. France and other European countries have recently been in the news as for outbreaks of riots over job availability and pension payments. Will there be enough jobs in New Zealand to satisfy the growing number of people who need them?

• Extra pressure on health systems

An inevitable increase (some call it the coming tsunami) of dementia will hit health services as more and more people live to be older and they are kept alive. It is a simple fact that we all deteriorate physically as we age; some of us also deteriorate mentally. Cases of dementia rise exponentially after the age of 80 and many more of us are living to that age.

• Pressure on managing work and family

Pressure on parents and grandparents will be increased; working while having responsibility for parents and older relatives will be added to the stress of caring for children and grandchildren. Many younger generations could be overwhelmed by all caring for children or grand children and parents.

• The economics of paying pensions

Most countries are struggling to see how they can fulfil a promise to pay made many years ago. In some countries, politicians have appropriated (or stolen) money set aside for this purpose to use on more imminent political needs. Many people over 60 simply are resigned to get a reduced pension paid later. Many over 60’s are insecure about their futures. On the other hand, paying pensions and supporting this expanded dependent group could bankrupt or seriously compromise whole economies.

• Cultural barriers

Despite the fact that most people over 60 say they would like to work – there are very few ‘jobs’ for them. A culture of ageism and lack of internet and modern technology know- how in people over 50 combine to disadvantage them. In addition, most also want to change pace and have a different type of work which uses their wisdom of experience rather than their raw energy and full-on dedication.  Elders are getting stuck between a rock and a hard place.

In addition to the ‘myths’ of the older worker, younger people are becoming aware that they will bear the burden of earning to support older people and eventually supporting them literally as they become infirm. After years of adaptation to work and wealth prioritisation, western cultures seem poorly adapted to supporting family members. The emphasis is on government and employer support rather than extended family.

• Voting and power

The over 60s may be at a difficult cross roads at work, but there are a disproportionate number of us in the population who can vote. Many say that unless a law is passed to prevent voting over a certain age, there will be far more power in the ‘oldies’ vote. This may not be a good thing if this power is simply used for self serving gain. Politicians will certainly be focusing on the aged voter as a group. Alienating younger voters would be a sad outcome for our culture as a whole.

Time to focus on the opportunities

Continuing to focus on the problems of the ageing population may lead to self fulfilling prophesies. There are many opportunities. Whether or not we take them will depend upon awareness and leadership by everyone. 

Some potential opportunities

These are my views. I am greatly optimistic about the future. I believe that this time is one of enormous shift to a better way of working and living together.

• More older leaders and influencers

The world is changing. The recent economic collapse and the build up of communication about global survival has lead to a great deal of openness to change. Leaders are emerging with new ethical, human and sustainable approaches; they are mainly elders over 60. This is the great opportunity of a population with many older people. With age we have the ability to develop empathy, a sense of ethical altruism, a desire for collaboration rather than competitiveness and an ability to mentally ‘connect the dots’.

Nelson Mandela has started ‘The Elders’ – a group of elder statesmen from around the world who work for peace; Film stars, are stepping up following a long line of influencers from Sir Bob Geldoff to the recent actions by George Clooney and others - they continue to make a stand for peace and humanity; business people such as Bill Gates and Warren Buffett are successfully encouraging their peers to donate a percentage of their earnings willingly towards a greater good while many companies are following the example of Anita Rodick of the body shop by looking for more ethical ways of doing business in third world countries.  In New Zealand, Lisa Err (Ex Lisa’s Humus) has started a new political party called the Awareness party to gather people together for contributing to the change in a positive way.

You may see these people as ‘nutters’, extreme optimists, or even opportunists taking advantage of the present circumstances, but you must admit that we live in exciting times and people are emerging to promote a peaceful revolution. Personally, I think it is interesting that these leaders are almost all over 60.

• Rethinking work

Managing change has been the ‘holy grail’ in business for the past decade. Now it is happening and cannot be avoided. Work simply cannot be ‘tweaked’ to adapt to the changes that are accumulating around work and employment.

The concept of ‘a job’ is relatively recent, dating from the Industrial Revolution and depended on a large number of employers creating specific roles. ‘Jobs’ may no longer be a real option for the future in New Zealand. Around the world as ‘jobs’ migrate to developing countries where labour is cheaper, the concept could be moribund soon as well. As always, as a small country we are facing the problems of the world first.

• Taking and building personal responsibility

Research and knowledge about health and ageing is growing along with survival rates. We know how to offset dementia; we know how to build a brain that gets wiser; however, the existing culture has been focused on external responsibility ‘the government will provide’, ‘I have a right to my pension’, ‘the culture is to blame for the lack of jobs’, business needs to step up and create more jobs for over 60s’….and so on.

It is only by us taking personal responsibility for ourselves and our families that we can move forwards. Government and business can provide fair and effective frameworks but we must preserve our health and develop our brains to be as fit and effective as we can to serve the community. Very few people know much at all about their brain or care much (other than the odd trip to the gym) about their bodies. We can do better and we can help our parents and employees to do better. Rights and responsibilities must be better balanced.

• Wiser communities and workplaces

We should be able to create far wiser workplaces and communities with the knowledge, experience and compassion of elders amongst us. We just need to use our potential well and all take responsibility for contributing. Focusing on wiser workplaces and communities is the first step towards building them. 

See the next post for some practical suggestions.