By Samantha Palans, The Boomer Blog Editorial Content Manager; Fleishman-Hillard Account Supervisor
Current news coverage indicates baby boomers are not only delaying retirement, but also contributing to workforce growth. According to a recent AARP study referenced by Linda Stollings in the Herald Courier, workers aged 55 plus will account for almost 50 percent of projected labor force growth between 2002 and 2012.
And just today, Indiana’s Department of Commerce released a report examining how aging baby boomers are currently affecting employers and the issues they will face when older Americans finally do retire.
But, as Linda Stollings reports, we are already facing pressing issues that must be addressed before boomers mass exit the workforce. That is, our ever-graying boomers will affect employers in ways far beyond the obvious— ranging from rising health insurance costs to boomer job performance and productivity.
These projections only underscore the importance of prevention. More explicitly, prevention measures are capable of delaying or stopping the onset of many diseases that can potentially hinder job performance. This makes prevention an unquestioned must-do for baby boomers far and wide.
Some experts even think we may be able to actively prevent mental decline.
How?
Keep your brain moving, engage in new activities, exercise and play some word games, say the Mayo Clinic and WebMD. And, as USA Today reported earlier this year, some doctors are even issuing unusual prescriptions calling for healthy doses of brain games to help people protect their mental capacities.
Looking to get a head start on brain preservation measures? ProProfs – a company that develops online brain games – is a good place to start. Through its Web site, you can play a variety of games or create your own at no cost. Learn more by visiting http://www.proprofs.com/games/.