Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

ACL Study Gives Aging Boomers A Leg Up
Rita Zeidner
www.washingtonpost.com

Overview: “Tears of the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee are common among athletes of all ages. But those older than 40 often avoid reconstructive surgery because of concern that risks exceed benefits. Now research shows people can benefit from the surgery well into their 60s.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/28/AR2008032803126.html

The Medicare Puzzle Confuses Many Boomers
Barry Abisch
www.wistv.com

Overview: “Baby Boomers who turn 62 during 2008 may opt for early retirement and apply for Social Security. But many of those same boomers don't seem to know how they will pay for medical care - an important consideration before giving up a job that offers group health insurance.”

http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8095492

Aging Boomers Most Lucrative Market For Just About Everything
Shannon Proudfoot
www.canada.com

Overview: “‘It's absolutely booming,’ says Michelle Pratt, a research associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's AgeLab. ‘The fact that someone turns 62 every seven seconds means that this segment of the population is the fastest-growing, the most lucrative market. Companies know this demands a new approach to old age.’”

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=224c6059-2926-4edf-802b-0bb5c59b9c51&k=87784

In a great synchronicity of minds, boomer experts of all stripes are looking forward to what’s next for the boomer generation. You hopefully saw the research on which FH Boom collaborated with Natural Marketing Institute’s proprietary Healthy Aging/Boomer™ (HAB) research project of 3,193 Americans, in which we took a sneak peak at 2016, when the first boomers turn 70.

"For the rest of today's blog, continue at The Boomer Blog"

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Living Longer: The Pros And Cons Of Aging
Myrna Toledo and Sara Holmberg
www.abcnews.com

Overview: “It won't surprise you to learn that some of the country's top young comedians draw humor from the topic of aging — and most often, the audience responds with big laughs. While racist jokes are taboo in this country, ageism is still fair game.”

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Longevity/story?id=4559457&page=1

Gainesville Virtues Draw Retirees
Anthony Clark
www.gainesville.com

Overview: “Gainesville may be on the brink of a senior surge. Retirees are a growing demographic and are increasingly drawn by the town's culture, climate, costs and health care. And they have the time and spending money to enjoy what the city has to offer.”

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20080401/NEWS/804010320/1002/NEWS

Baby Boomers Urge Conversation About Aging Parents
Jane Glenn Haas
www.sun-sentinel.com

Overview: “There is a new generation of caregivers — the Boomers — adult children now responsible for their aging parents. And, as they always have, Boomers are going to do it just a little bit differently.”

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/entertainment/tv/sfl-tvcaringpnapr02,0,6241324.story

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Living Longer: The Pros And Cons Of Aging
Myrna Toledo and Sara Holmberg
www.abcnews.com

Overview: “It won't surprise you to learn that some of the country's top young comedians draw humor from the topic of aging — and most often, the audience responds with big laughs. While racist jokes are taboo in this country, ageism is still fair game.”

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Longevity/story?id=4559457&page=1

Gainesville Virtues Draw Retirees
Anthony Clark
www.gainesville.com

Overview: “Gainesville may be on the brink of a senior surge. Retirees are a growing demographic and are increasingly drawn by the town's culture, climate, costs and health care. And they have the time and spending money to enjoy what the city has to offer.”

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20080401/NEWS/804010320/1002/NEWS

Baby Boomers Urge Conversation About Aging Parents
Jane Glenn Haas
www.sun-sentinel.com

Overview: “There is a new generation of caregivers — the Boomers — adult children now responsible for their aging parents. And, as they always have, Boomers are going to do it just a little bit differently.”

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/entertainment/tv/sfl-tvcaringpnapr02,0,6241324.story

Now that we know what’s in store for boomers 7 years from now here’s a highlight from the MetLife and AARP study of boomers 20 years hence.

"For the rest of today's blog, continue at The Boomer Blog"

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Baby Boomers Hang Out On Own Social Networks
Leanne Italie
www.msnbc.com

Overview: “Rose Campbell was widowed after 26 years of marriage. John Souza's wife died after 44 years and five children together. Both Campbell and Souza were looking for friendship and fun, not a second chance at love, when they bumped into each other online last October on a social network called Eons.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23917896/

Albion Community Foundation Joins National Effort To Tap Boomer Experience
Elizabeth Schultheiss
www.battlecreekenquirer.com

Overview: “In Albion as in other communities nationwide, the baby boom generation is reaching age 60. It’s the largest, healthiest, and best educated group in history to move through and beyond their sixth decade. National research shows that tens of millions of boomers are looking to change the world. With a $25,000 grant, the Albion Community Foundation will study how we can take full advantage of this interest locally.”

http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080402/NEIGHBORHOODS08/804020345

Gardening Industry Targets Baby Boomers, Their Wallets
Gwyn Mellinger
www.basehorinfo.com

Overview: “The fact that aging boomers are embracing gardening in great numbers, viewing it as a charming way to spend their golden years and their 401(k)’s, is having a predictable impact on marketing. The National Gardening Association reports that people age 45 and older now account for 64 percent of the retail gardening market.”

http://www2.basehorinfo.com/news/2008/apr/03/gardening_industry_targets_baby_boomers_their_wall/

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

For Baby Boomers, 'Retirement' May Just Mean A New Job
M.S. Enkoji
www.sacbee.com

Overview: “John McGinness, the 50-year-old sheriff of Sacramento County, jokes that if he had to chase a criminal the bad guy would have to help him out of the patrol car first. It's no joke that he could be making more money if he retired and quit the force he joined in 1979. But he isn't.”

http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/836129.html

Dementia-Dreading Baby Boomers Spur Race To Invent Brain Games
Rob Waters
www.bloomberg.com

Overview: “It's 1 p.m. at the Heritage Estates' Brain Gym in Livermore, California, and the gym rats are starting their workout.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601124&sid=a.u9pPbC3qYM&refer=home

Make Way For The U-Boomers
David Court and Diana Farrell
www.forbes.com

Overview: “Conventional wisdom says that the emerging economies of China and India are the biggest opportunities for global consumer companies. But a much bigger opportunity is emerging here in the United States--the 24 million middle-class American households approaching retirement with lofty lifestyle aspirations, a thirst for new products and brands, and limited financial resources.”

http://www.forbes.com/opinions/2008/04/02/mckinsey-uboomers-demographic-oped-cx_dcdf_0403mckinsey.html

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Sixty And Starting Over
Sarah Treleaven
www.canada.com

Overview: “For previous generations, the idea of ending a marriage after several decades may have been unthinkable. But Baby Boomers, particularly women in their 50s and 60s, are advancing a new social trend - the grey divorce.”

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=7cbcb596-0273-457d-829d-a2a387120f90&k=85893

Boomer Business Owners Expected To Hold On Tight
Crissa Shoemaker Debree
www.phillyburbs.com

Overview: “Boomers — the oldest turn 62 this year — own an estimated 12 million businesses nationwide that are worth a combined $10 trillion. Over the next 15 years, eight million businesses are expected to sell — twice as many as have sold in each of the past 15 years, studies show.”

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/147-04072008-1515053.html

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

The Boom, In All Its Cohorts, Hits Homes
Lori McLeod
www.theglobeandmail.com

Overview: “Whether for gays and lesbians or pub owners, niche markets being planned for those seeking a place to retire.”

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080408.PRRETIREMENT08/TPStory/Business

Survey Of Baby Boomers
Tom Mills
www.napavalleyregister.com

Overview: “Harris Interactive, a major international research firm, recently published a report about how aging Americans feel about their approaching retirement. The study was comprised of a survey of Americans between ages 45 and 65, and it had some interesting results.”

http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2008/04/07/business/tom_mills/doc47fa88834caaa598485247.txt

I promised a lowlight from a study predicting the future of boomers twenty years hence. Reviewing my notes, I realized that the lowlight was actually in a presentation that was part of a sneak preview of the study—and may not actually have made it into the study, itself.

"For the rest of today's blog, continue at The Boomer Blog"

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Companies Find Ways To Retain Expertise Of Older Workers
Marsha King
www.seattletimes.com

Overview: “A serious health scare a decade ago convinced Dave Gromala that there's more to life than work. Someday, he'd find a way to retire early from Weyerhaeuser so he and his wife could explore more of the fun stuff in life before growing old.”

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004336246_olderworkers09m.html

Boomers To Seniors: ‘Can We Talk?’
Jack Cross
www.wickedlocal.com

Overview: “If you’re 40 or over and your parents are 70 or over, its time to start the conversation about some of these difficult topics: driving, finances, living arrangements and even romance. We call this the 40 – 70 Rule.”

http://www.wickedlocal.com/medford/news/lifestyle/columnists/x1056544846

Boomers Eye Trendy Hearing Aids
Kathy Haight
www.centredaily.com

Overview: “Manufacturers are banking on flash like that to attract baby boomers who have punished their ears with loud concerts and music played through headphones. Of 78 million boomers, one in six is estimated to have hearing loss.”

http://www.centredaily.com/living/story/509203.html

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Rich Baby Boomers Are Buying Online
www.emarketer.com

Overview: “It seems to happen every generation: while advertisers and marketers focus relentlessly on young consumers, someone realizes that older consumers actually have more money to spend. Now it's the baby boomers' turn as the richest generation.”

http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?id=1006165

More People Choosing Unconventional Farewell
Allison Walker
www.cfnews13.com

Overview: “More and more baby boomers want to exit this world in a way you may have never imagined.”

http://www.cfnews13.com/Community/GenerationToGeneration/2008/4/9/more_people_choose_unconventional_farewell.html

Did You Sign Up For Social Security Too Soon?
Emily Brandon
www.usnews.com

Overview: “The first baby boomers, born in 1946, can claim Social Security benefits this year, and almost a third of them plan to do so, according to a MetLife Mature Market Institute survey. But filing at age 62 pays out a reduced benefit, compared with holding out until what the Social Security Administration deems their full retirement age—in this case, 66. (Boomers born after 1946 can find their full retirement age here.) Waiting until age 70 produces an even bigger monthly check.”

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/planning-to-retire/2008/04/09/did-you-sign-up-for-social-security-too-soon.html

An upbeat book about the future of boomers in the workplace has crossed my desk from Harvard Business Press titled “Retire Retirement.” Given the relationship to Harvard Business, I think we can all be officially optimistic about the prospects for boomers to retain their jobs, find new work, be valued, create flexible workplaces, etc. etc.—or, on the other hand, does the fact that the book was written before the dark shadow of the dismal economy inflicted its dimming of the light upon us, mean there should be second thoughts?

"For the rest of today's blog, continue at The Boomer Blog"

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Boomers Have Their Own Style
Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon
www.desertnews.com

Overview: “Now that our children are gone, we need a bigger house! This is a sentiment we, as architects specializing in residential remodeling, hear a lot. Though it may not make sense on the surface, many "boomer" couples and individuals are experiencing this phenomenon.”

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695268955,00.html

Senior Citizen Fraud: How To Protect Yourself
www.nothcountygazette.com

Overview: “A Canadian couple is arrested for allegedly bilking victims across the U.S. by selling bogus credit card protection plans over the phone. A Maryland financial planning/estate lawyer pleads guilty to defrauding his own clients. A California man is convicted of stealing nearly $5 million from residents of a retirement home through an investment scheme. What’s the common thread here? All of the victims were elderly, and many lost their life savings. Why are the elderly such an attractive target for con artists? Many seniors have a ‘nest egg.’”

http://www.northcountrygazette.org/2008/04/10/senior_citizen_fraud/

The Medicare Puzzle Confuses Many Boomers
Barry Abisch
www.wfmj.com

Overview: “Baby Boomers who turn 62 during 2008 may opt for early retirement and apply for Social Security. But many of those same boomers don't seem to know how they will pay for medical care - an important consideration before giving up a job that offers group health insurance.”

http://www.wfmj.com/Global/story.asp?S=8095492

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Baby-Booming Without The Body Blowout
Eugenie Jones
www.kitsapsun.com

Overview: “If 40 is the new 30, and 50 is the new 40, and 60 is the new 50, that leaves even more opportunity for baby boomers to live their fit, active best! After all, the baby-booming 42 to 60 age group is accustomed to leading active lifestyles, and they're not going to let 10 years here or there stand in the way. Thankfully, they don't buy into the ‘I'm too old to get into shape’ mentality.”

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/apr/12/baby-booming-without-the-body-blowout/

Men, Baby Boomers Opting For Cosmetic Surgery
Belinda Goldsmith
www.canada.com

Overview: “Despite many Americans starting to feel an economic pinch, the amount spent on cosmetic surgery continues to rise, with more men and Baby Boomers paying to keep wrinkles at bay, new annual figures show.”

http://www.canada.com/topics/bodyandhealth/story.html?id=51d35b8e-6d94-48d5-bc0a-7d00b24e6aac

Baby Boomers, Canadians Like Yuma's Winters
Joyce Lobeck
www.yumasun.com

Overview: “It wasn't a record year for northerners wintering in Yuma's sunshine, but still they left behind warm reports of a ‘really good’ season. They seemed to start arriving earlier, stay longer and have a really good time, according to businesses that cater to the area's winter visitors and seasonal residents. Many of them were new faces: baby boomers who are starting to hit early retirement age and looking for fun in the sun.”

http://www.yumasun.com/articles/yuma_41000___article.html/baby_northerners.html

In the 1930s, despite the fact that dollars were sparse, many Americans still managed to eke out enough pennies to buy a movie ticket—their small passport to the serene, dark space where dreams still lived and breathed. In that Golden Age of cinema, the likes of Clark Gable and Marlene Dietrich momentarily tugged people out of their despondence into a realm of vast possibility, one where even the all too elusive creature, hope, dared to stay for awhile.

"For the rest of today's blog, continue at The Boomer Blog"

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Study: Boomers to Flood Medical System
Randolph E. Schmid
Associated Press
Apr. 14, 2008

Overview: “Millions of baby boomers are about to enter a health care system for seniors that not only isn't ready for them, but may even discourage them from getting quality care.”

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iPg5BOlKnQd1U8Z2-EGHAf-trQfwD901PLDG2

Luxury cruising is the next big thing
Anita Dunham-Potter
msnbc.msn.com
Apr. 14, 2008

Overview: “The challenge is to attract those affluent baby boomers who have been cruising on the lower-scale, so-called ‘premium’ cruise lines like Princess, Holland America and Celebrity, and persuade them to upgrade to the luxury lines.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24110511/

18 percent of all boomers expect to develop Alzheimer's
Kathleen Fackelmann
Baxter Bulletin
Apr. 15, 2008

Overview: “The report, 2008 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures, states that one out of eight boomers will be diagnosed with Alzheimer's, the most common type of dementia, at some point. If no cure for Alzheimer's is found, the nation will be faced with a half-million new cases of Alzheimer's in 2010 and nearly a million a year by the middle of the century.”

http://www.baxterbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080415/NEWS01/804150349/1002/NEWS01

Top News From Today's "Boomiverse"

AARP Services and Focalyst Release Third Quarterly Boomer Report: How Well Do You Know Boomers?
PRNewswire
Apr. 15, 2008

Overview: "AARP Services and Focalyst exposed a number of common myths about the Baby Boomer generation in the third Quarterly Boomer Report released today. The report, 'How Well Do You Know Boomers? Counting Down the Top 10 Boomer Myths,' identified and investigated the top myths associated with Boomers in order to separate fact from fiction."

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/04-15-2008/0004793155&EDATE=

Men arm themselves with anti-aging weapons; Market for skin care grows as guys try to look younger
USA Today
Laura Petrecca
Apr. 15, 2008

Overview: “In the drive to look youthful — ‘distinguished’ is out — guys are slathering on anti-aging lotions, potions and serums.”

http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20080415/track_male_aging.art.htm?loc=interstitialskip

Boomer Men: Looking at Gray in a New Way
PRNewswire
Apr. 16, 2008

Overview: "As the Boomer Generation embraces its 50s and 60s, it is saying forget what tradition says about this age, we're the generation that refuses to get old. Gone are the days when approaching 60 signaled men were over the hill. Instead, the first wave of Baby Boomers is embracing this stage of life not only on the inside through exciting life experiences but also on the outside through new grooming products developed specifically for them that make them feel their best.”

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/04-16-2008/0004793696&EDATE=

In my last blog, I provided the thesis from an upbeat book about the future of boomers in the workplace from Harvard Business Press titled “Retire Retirement.” Our whitepaper “Boomer Wanted: The Next Great Workplace Revolution” echoes Tamara Erickson’s optimistic assessment of boomer prospects.

For the rest of today's blog, continue at The Boomer Blog

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

AARP report disputes 'boomer myths'
Jennifer Harper
Washington Times
Apr. 16, 2008

Overview: “Baby boomers are not a bunch of annoying, self-absorbed, aging hippies with too much money and a penchant to call attention to themselves. Really. So says a report released yesterday by AARP meant to dispel persistent ‘boomer myths’ about the 77 million Americans born between 1946 and 1964.”

http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080416/NATION/289310923/1002

For baby boomers, retirement may just mean a new job
M.S. Enkoji
Times Free Press
Apr. 17, 2008

Overview: "Either by choice or necessity, many boomers intend to work beyond traditional retirement, employment services say. Proposed federal laws that could shore up health coverage and a U.S. Senate hearing this month will focus new attention on older workers. Employee incentives such as flexible schedules, and a lot of buzz, are creating an inviting atmosphere for longer work lives."

http://timesfreepress.com/news/2008/apr/17/baby-boomers-retirement-may-just-mean-new-job/

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Focalyst: Baby Boomer Misconceptions Die Hard
Karlene Lukovitz
Marketing Daily
Apr. 18, 2008

Overview: “Media stories about those born between 1946 and 1964 are ubiquitous, but most treat the generation as a 77-million-member ‘monolith’ that thinks, acts, behaves and buys in a single way, using headlines that paint either a very positive or very negative picture.”

http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.showArticleHomePage&art_aid=80815

BoomerTowne.com(TM) Listed as Number One Site for Baby Boomers
Center Daily Times
Apr. 17, 2008

Overview: “In response to continued growth of Internet use by baby boomers comes an increase in the number of sites that target them. At the top of that list sits BoomerTowne.com. In a recent feature on PCMagazine.com, BoomerTowne.com, the informational Web site for all things baby boomer-related, was featured as the top destination for social networking, jobs after retirement, travel recommendations and more -- all specifically designed to cater to the boomer set.”

http://www.centredaily.com/business/technology/story/532808.html

Looming Baby Boomer Health Care Crisis; GSA Bolsters Call For Stronger Workforce
Medical News Today
Apr. 18, 2008

Overview: “America's aging citizens are facing a health care workforce too small and unprepared to meet their needs, according to a new report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) titled ‘Retooling for an Aging America: Building the Health Care Workforce.’”

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/104571.php

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Baby Boomers Make Largest Positive Impact on Business for U.S. Paint Contractors
BusinessWire.com
Apr. 21, 2008

Overview: “In a study conducted by Frost & Sullivan’s Competitive Benchmarking Services team, 2008 U.S. Paint Contractors’ Choice: Evaluation of Architectural Coatings & Paint Equipment, it is revealed that 52 percent of U.S. paint contractors believe baby boomers have a positive impact on their business. Some of the reasons for this include baby boomers being at the income level where they can afford home decorating by professionals, and they may appreciate their time more than holding onto disposable income.”

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080421005204&newsLang=en

Navarrette: Baby boomers, stop coddling your kids
Ruben Navarrette Jr.
The San Diego Union-Tribune
Apr. 20, 2008

Overview: “A recent USA Today story made clear how much harm some well-meaning baby boomer parents are doing to their college-educated 20-something kids by coddling them, enabling them and — in many cases — supporting them financially as they wander through the post-college wilderness deciding what to do with their lives.”

http://www.statesman.com/opinion/content/editorial/stories/04/20/0420navarrette_edit.html

Who needs a surgeon to look good?
Amelia Hill and Joanna Walters
The Observer
Apr. 20, 2008

Overview: “The self-help category has a new niche: beauty books instructing baby-boomer women how to love those bits that sag, droop and give away their advancing years. The backlash against 'rejuvenation surgery' - the plastic surgery and chemical injections that promise to turn back ageing - has begun.”

http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/health/story/0,,2275089,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

AARP Financial Inc. Survey Finds: When it Comes to Financial Jargon, Americans are Befuddled
PRNewswire
Apr. 17, 2008

Overview: “Most Americans find the language of Wall Street technical and confusing and may be making investing mistakes and missing opportunities as a result, according to a nationwide survey released by AARP Financial Inc.”

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/04-17-2008/0004794987&EDATE=

New Robots Can Provide Elder Care For Aging Baby Boomers
Lauren La Rose
ScienceDaily
Apr. 21, 2008

Overview: “Baby boomers are set to retire, and robots are ready to help, providing elder care and improving the quality of life for those in need.”

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080416212725.htm

Baby boomers turning to trendy and colorful hearing aids
Kathy Haight
The News-Press
Apr. 22, 2008

Overview: “Of 78 million boomers, one in six is estimated to have hearing loss. Now manufactures are giving these individuals a chance to better their hearing and express themselves at the same time by offering trendy hearing aids in a variety of colors and patterns.”

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080422/HEALTH/804220322/1013

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Boomers.com
Leanne Italie
PressConnects.com
Apr. 23, 2008

Overview: "Eons is one of at least two dozen social networks aimed squarely at Baby Boomers, the population bubble born between 1946 and 1964 that has defied traditional perceptions of aging and retirement. Many boomers jumped into the Internet mashup to keep track of their kids on Facebook or MySpace, then moved on to their own networks in search of more common ground."

http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080423/LIFESTYLE/804230303

Boomers have clout as voters, consumers in growing movement to live green
The Canadian Press
Apr. 22, 2008

Overview: "For some, the stereotypical climate change crusader may still be a youthful, shaggy-haired activist chained to a tree. But a new trend is emerging - while Generation Y is still the greenest demographic, the baby boomers are hopping on the environmental bandwagon in droves. And due to their enormous clout as consumers and voters, their support could provide the tipping point in forcing everyone else to go green too."

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5iB14ClcQJlozsJSYZjSrkEpbHKgQ

Boomers and Millennials; Solving Generational Conflict in the Workplace
Lauren Stiller Rikleen
RTO Online
Apr. 21, 2008

Overview: "Increasingly, Baby Boomers are expressing a frustration that signals growing generational conflict in the workplace. The complaints have a decidedly early 1960s ring to them, sounding like Paul Lynde, the beleaguered father in 'Bye Bye Birdie' whose song became a generational anthem, asking, 'What's the Matter with Kids Today'?"

http://www.rtoonline.com/Content/Article/Apr08/SolvingGenerationalConflict041808.asp

While in this deer-in-a-headlight housing market, boomers can only dream about downsizing to their next house in the perfect location, Barbara Corcoran’s book “Nextville” makes for inspiring armchair reading. For starters, I like a book that projects forward ten, twenty years for boomers and doesn’t even mention the word “retirement” anywhere on the front cover. It’s a gutsy move, but a smart one.

For the rest of today's blog, continue at The Boomer Blog

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Boomers lifting standards for patient care
Dale A. Anderson
Djc.com
Apr. 24, 2008

Overview: “As our population is continuing to age it’s interesting to note a shift in the delivery system, primarily as a result of patient expectations, and perhaps, demands. The largest population sector that has now reached the critical stage of health care needs is the most affluent in American history — the baby boomer generation.”

http://www.djc.com/news/co/11199986.html

Baby Boomers Redefining Food
Janet Helm
Sun-Sentinel
Apr. 24, 2008

Overview: “Born between 1946 and 1964, Baby Boomers have driven some of the most powerful cultural shifts in our nation's history, and that includes food, says Michelle Barry, an analyst with The Hartman Group, a market research firm in Bellevue, Wash. This huge demographic is behind a majority of today's food trends — everything from nutritionally enhanced foods and functional beverages to fresh local produce and artisanal foods.”

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/food/sfl-flboomerfoodsbapr24,0,7362339.story

Baby Boomers Go 'Bionic' as Body Replacement Devices Soar in Popularity
Paul Carton
Blog.changewave.com
Apr. 22, 2008

Overview: “Back then it was practically all fiction, but today cardiac implants, joint replacements and other ‘bionic’ limbs and devices are readily available. And according to a recent ChangeWave survey they're increasingly popular - particularly with baby boomers.”

http://blog.changewave.com/2008/04/baby_boomers_bionic_devices.html

Boomers and Beyond: Targeting the 50-Plus Audience Online
Hollis Thomases
Clickz.com
Apr. 22, 2008

Overview: “According to a survey by The Media Audit, the percentage of ‘graying and affluent’ households continues to rise higher than ever, with 30 percent of retired adults having cash, stocks, and CDs valued at more than $100,000. More than half of this 50-plus audience made at least one online purchase in the past 12 months, which was an increase of 65.6 percent over the previous term.”

http://www.clickz.com/showPage.html?page=3629204

You’ve got to love boomer expert Chuck Nyren’s “been there done that” take on word-of-mouth marketing. Chuck shared his provocative point of view with marketers during a recent International Mature Marketing Network (IMMN) webinar.

For the rest of today's blog, continue at The Boomer Blog

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Baby Boomers get Onboard With Boating
PRNewswire
Apr. 24, 2008

Overview: “The boomer generation is known for redefining every stage of their lives from adolescence to parenthood and retirement is no exception. For boaters, spending time with family, the feeling of freedom on the water and being active in nature are key factors that drive them to the boating lifestyle. It's no surprise then that as boomers look for ways to stay active after retirement, they are turning to boating.”

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/baby-boomers-get-onboard-with-boating,365361.shtml

Falling feared as baby boomers age
Cheryl Clark
San Diego Union Tribune
Apr. 24, 2008

Overview: “The growing risk of falls for baby boomers is the focus of public agencies and nonprofit organizations nationwide. Those groups are trying to prevent falls particularly for people in their 50s to mid-60s, unlike past programs that targeted only those 65 and older.”

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/health/20080424-9999-1n24falls.html

Boomers influence next generation of senior housing
Magen Force and Karen Jones
Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce
Apr. 24, 2008

Overview: “Senior communities are becoming more and more popular as the baby boomer generation strives for places they one day want to call home and feel comfortable watching their traditionalist parents move into. This new wave has transformed the old-fashioned nursing home into new senior living communities where emphasis is placed on sustainability, choices are welcomed and life is experienced to the fullest.”

http://www.djc.com/news/co/11200038.html

Top News from Today's "Boomiverse"

Scared boomers may save for retirement
Investment News
Apr. 28, 2008

Overview: “If there is a silver lining to the bursting of the real estate bubble, the weak economy and the attendant bear market, it may be that the great mass of baby boomers still 10 or more years from retirement might be scared into saving more for retirement while they still have time.”

http://www.investmentnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080428/REG/455604413/1003

Robots for old boomers
Eva Wolchover
Boston Herald
Apr. 27, 2008

Overview: “University of Massachusetts scientists have developed a new robot friend just for Grandma and Grandpa. The ‘uBOT-5’ can dial 911, do household chores, remind elders to take their meds and allow health-care workers and loved-ones to pay virtual visits via a built-in Web video monitor.”

http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1089897

Boomers can be an economic boon
Kevin L. McQuaid
Herald Tribune
Apr. 26, 2008

Overview: “Southwest Florida businesses are uniquely positioned to capitalize on the aging baby boomer marketplace, thanks to regional demographics, high levels of education and wealth concentration.”

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20080426/BUSINESS/804260640/-1/newssitemap

Who knew that when we sent out a press release regarding our predictions for Boomers seven years from now, when the first of us start turning 70, we would start a mini-firestorm? The press release was based on a study by Natural Marketing Institute, with which we collaborated.

For the rest of today's blog, continue at The Boomer Blog

Top News From Today's "Boomiverse"

Working Women Fare Better in Retirement
Emily Brandon
U.S. News & World Report
Apr. 25, 2008

Overview: “A new research report put out by AARP found that baby boomers and younger generations of women who rely on their own earnings and retirement plans rather than a spouse's will fare better in retirement than the current crop of elderly women.”

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/planning-to-retire/2008/04/25/working-women-fare-better-in-retirement.html

Job-market worries? Not for very long
Marshall Loeb
MarketWatch.com
Apr. 24, 2008

Overview: “Though we wisely worry about rising unemployment during this recession of 2008, there is another, quite different problem that soon will confront the nation: a shortage of workers. Americans of childbearing age simply are not producing enough kids to meet the economy's future need for workers. ”

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/weak-job-market-not-long/story.aspx?guid=%7BAF5372A0-F757-4D39-B771-BF3A677991BE%7D&dist=msr_5

Listen to This: Hearing Problems Can Stress Relationships
CNNMoney.com
Apr. 29, 2008

Overview: “In conjunction with Better Speech and Hearing Month in May, Energizer Battery, Inc. conducted a recent survey(1) of Baby Boomers whose spouses suffer from hearing loss to understand how a hearing impairment can affect a relationship.”

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/200804290800PR_NEWS_USPR_____AQTU007A.htm