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Aging Doesn’t Have to Lead to Ageism

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wall sign with phrase oh the places you will go speaking out against ageism

Age discrimination, or ageism, remains an issue for employees. According to a study from Hiscox, the number of age-related discrimination charges filed by workers over age 65 doubled in the past decade. I wish I could say that there was some magic solution but unfortunately, I don’t have the answer. 

What I can say is that when you look at employer defenses in age discrimination claims, many of them mention that the employee’s skills were out of date and they lacked creativity and curiosity. Don’t misunderstand my comment. I’m not saying these employers have a valid argument. I don’t know the specifics. But as someone who reads about discrimination cases, I do find this an interesting trend. 

On the flip side, when I talk to older workers who have been fired or laid off, they always respond that it’s because of their age. It couldn’t possibly be for any other reason like violating a rule or the person’s position becoming redundant or the business not doing well financially. Again, I don’t know the specifics of the employee’s departure, but the trend is interesting. 

One of the things that both employees and employers should realize is that aging is inevitable, and aging doesn’t have to lead to ageism. 

Forget the Term “Boomers” and Get Ready for the Young Old

“Young Old” (aka YOLD) individuals are working longer, staying healthier, and represent a significant consumer market. This should not be a surprise to anyone. Regardless of the unemployment rate, organizations need the best talent and YOLD individuals are willing to work a few more years because they want to, and they can save up a few extra dollars. The time to think about how you want to spend your YOLD years is now. Because you want to spend them your way.

3 Ways You May Contribute to Your Own Ageism

Regardless of your physical age, if you act like the stereotype then people will assume you are one. As we age, we have some decisions to make and one of the biggest is deciding how we will accept aging. If we want others to see us as contributors, then we need to act like it. Please notice I didn’t say we need to act “young”. People need to accept our age for what it is. But that doesn’t mean we’re not able to bring value. We need to send the message and demonstrate that we can. 

While I can’t control what others do or say, these two articles remind me that I have some control over my aging journey. I can still enjoy nostalgia and also explore new things. 

In addition, we recently published an article about “Healthy Aging is Trendy Thanks to Global Shift”. Demographics are changing the way marketers look at older persons. This could have a huge impact on the way aging is viewed. 

Hopefully, the shift in demographics and our own views about aging will create a much needed shift in perceptions about ageism. 

Healthy Aging is Trendy Thanks to Global Shift

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wall art with the sentence the time of your life while healthy aging

We know that healthy aging is important. Harvard Health reports that more seniors are opting to age in place rather than pursue other options. They recommend a checklist of potential health-related issues that should be considered for successful healthy aging. These include strength, flexibility, sharp thinking skills, and endurance among others.

Right now, only 15 countries have more than 20% of their population at an age of 65 or above. That number of countries is expected to grow to 44 by 2030 and to 61 by 2050. For the first time globally in 2018, the number of people over 65 has surpassed those under 5 and that number has only grown since.

The growing numbers of aging adults has prompted AARP to partner with the University of Michigan to create the National Poll on Healthy Aging (NPHA). The goal of the survey is to tap into perspectives of older adults and their caregivers to help inform the public, health care providers, and policymakers on issues related to healthy aging.

With the onset of COVID-19, NPHA has focused many of their surveys around the risks for older adults. Shifts to telehealth visits and patient portals showed lack of medical information access at a time when it is needed most. 

The healthy aging trend has not been lost on Madison Avenue and other leading marketers throughout the globe. As a result, many brands are viewing seniors as a prized demographic. They are expanding their product offerings along with their marketing budgets to reach the over-65 consumer. And even a few brands that target a much younger audience are developing new product lines with healthy aging in mind.

For instance, a company which makes infant formula has now launched a product in China that it says contains ingredients to boost the immune system in aging consumers. Another company introduced a powdered milk drink targeting older adults which it says enhances mobility during aging.

Swedish furnishing retailer IKEA has expanded its product line to include upright armchairs with higher seating to make it a little easier for aging adults to rise out of their chairs. Proctor & Gamble Co. has started selling razors  that they envision for caregivers in Canada, where company data shows one in four people helps someone with aging-related needs.

Not surprisingly, this product expansion has extended to skin and beauty products and the trend is expected to continue longer-term. It’s too early to tell the outcome of marketer focus on mature consumers. For now, we can probably just be thankful that executives want us to stay healthy later in life.

My First Virtual or Telehealth Doctor Visit

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robotic man looking into a mirror simulating a virtual or Telehealth doctor visit

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

We all read the same headlines. COVID-19 infections are reaching record highs throughout the country. And, while the vaccine is starting to roll out earlier than expected, most Americans will experience the impact of COVID-19 at least for several more months. Winter is a particularly difficult time since it’s historically our cold and flu season.

That’s why I decided to change my last doctor visit, just before Thanksgiving, to a virtual one.

Telehealth is not new (believe it or not, medical professionals wrote about using the telephone in 1879 – just 3 years after Bell invented it), but it is gaining significantly in popularity. A July 2019 survey reported that only 9.6% of U.S. adults have used telehealth options. By May 2020, that number had grown to 42%. 

The biggest obstacle to telehealth appears to be lack of knowledge about virtual medical visits. I was fortunate that my family doctor advertised on his website that he offers virtual visits. I just called to convert my in-person office visit to telehealth. Here are a few things you should probably know:

  1. Telehealth is more than just a telephone conversation. The doctor will probably want to see you as well as talk with you. Think of it more like a Zoom meeting. Because of video, there may be limitations on the type of technology your doctor can accommodate so ask about your specific phone or computer when you make the appointment.
  1. Just like at an office visit, your doctor will want to know a few things about your current health up front. I was asked to provide my temperature, blood pressure, weight, and blood oxygen level. Fortunately, I own a blood pressure monitor and a finger pulse oximeter. And different offices may request different things so find out up front what information you need to provide.
  1. Not every insurance company accepts telehealth visits, so make sure your insurance will cover it. The major insurance companies all offer some form of coverage, but options can vary depending on specific plans. State laws also cover telehealth differently. 

My doctor’s assistant called me fifteen minutes before my appointment to make sure I was able to log-in. You will need a high-speed internet connection and video access via a smart phone, tablet, or computer. Don’t worry, if you can stream movies you have enough technology to get through a telehealth visit.

The actual doctor part was pretty much the same as an in-office visit, except that it was through video. We talked about my bloodwork, discussed my general health since my last appointment, and he answered a few of my questions. I didn’t really have anything that I needed him to look at or listen to, so my experience may differ from yours.

A recent survey shows that 48% of adults say that they or someone in their household either postponed or passed up medical appointments since COVID-19. Telehealth visits may offer an effective solution. We all just have to get comfortable with it. Once we do that, it could be a great solution that extends far beyond the pandemic.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Caregivers Get Help from Amazon Alexa Care Hub

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wall art Lovin Life for caregivers

According to AARP, 3 out of 4 adults age 50 or older want to stay in their homes as they age. Yet less than 50% anticipate that they will be able to remain in their current residence. We’ve written before about how smart home technology can help loved ones age in place. Now Amazon is introducing a new feature that help aging friends and family members live out their lives at home.

The Care Hub is a free Alexa feature that gives family members or caregivers the ability to “check in” on someone via a connected device. The Care Hub feature provides a high-level summary of a loved one’s recent interactions with Alexa or other connected smart home devices. Before you start thinking that this is a bit too “Big Brother”, please note that the feed is just a generalized view, lacking specific details to maintain privacy.

In addition to showing general activity around the house, caregivers can set up alerts to receive notifications, access other features like Alexa Calling or Drop in, and enable emergency contact calling when a loved one says “Alexa, call for help.”

To give you an example, Care Hub can show the time of a first interaction with an Alexa device each day. Types of actions will be displayed such as requesting music (not the specific songs) or asking for the weather. If a person has  multiple devices, Care Hub will identify which Alexa was activated. An alert can include notification if a loved one hasn’t used their Alexa device for a certain number of hours. As you can see, the goal isn’t for a caregiver to see the full extent of activity – just that there is activity (or not).

Many caregivers and older persons can immediately see the usefulness of this kind of service. Individuals can age in place. Caregivers can have peace of mind. In addition, it can be particularly helpful now that the COVID-19 pandemic is reducing personal interactions.

There are a few limitations. Only one caregiver can access the Care Hub feed and you can only support one person. At this time, the Care Hub service is only available in the United States. Lastly, Alexa calling does not support calls to emergency services numbers like “911”.

There is no cost to use Care Hub and all that is required for set-up is an Echo or Alexa-enabled device and a WiFi connection. Security and privacy are top of mind. This new feature is double-opt in, meaning that both the caregiver and the loved one need to first establish a connection between their Alexa accounts through an invitation process. Again, this isn’t designed to be something sneaky. In addition, the Drop In feature can be disabled if a higher level of privacy is preferred. And family members can delete activity information in the Care Hub feed at any time.

Caregivers are facing considerable challenges during this unprecedented time. Aging loved ones are sympathetic to caregiver restrictions but they also want to age in place. The Alexa Care Hub may be the compromise needed to give everyone in the family a little extra peace of mind.

6 Tips For a Successful Video Interview

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artwork showing blank cutout of a person in business clothing to imply a video interview

I wrote an article recently that featured a few tips for a successful phone interview. In it, I mentioned video and realized it might be a good idea to share some tips for a successful video interview. Like phone interviews, video is becoming increasingly popular given the pandemic. And I don’t see it going away anytime in the near future because employers are finding it to be very cost effective.

Like phone interviews, it’s absolutely essential to plan before a video interview. Here are a few things to consider:

  1. Confirm your technology. Generally, phone interviews are shorter and well, they’re on your phone. A video interview could be longer so you might not want to use technology that you’re going to have to hold the entire time. Make sure whatever tech you’re using is charged and ready to go. Test whatever software you’re using for the call in advance and make sure you know what to do if the technology doesn’t work during the interview. The recruiter should give you this information in advance. If they don’t, you should ask.
  1. Plan your background. I recently conducted a poll over on HR Bartender about video backgrounds. They do matter and people pay attention to them. As you’re testing out your technology (see number one above), look at the video background. Make sure that anything you see in the background you want a recruiter to see. As an HR pro, I’m going to tell you that candidates do not take enough time in this area and the number of NSFW items in video backgrounds…yowza!
  1. Think about your wardrobe. I’m not mentioning clothing because you need to dress hip or flashy. You be you. But video cameras can distort your clothing. For example, if I went to an in-person interview, I could wear a striped blouse, and no one would pause. It’s totally fine. A striped shirt on video can be distracting. You want the recruiter to be focused on your experience and strengths, not the pattern on your clothing. So, look at what you plan to wear on video to make sure it’s camera-friendly. And I shouldn’t have to say this, but just in case…wear pants.
  1. Have a pen and paper handy. You might want to take notes during the interview. A question might pop into your head during the conversation. Or you might think of something you want to share. Trying to remember this information will be reflected in your facial expression. Just jot a note – maybe a couple of words to prompt your memory – and stay focused on the conversation.
  1. Prepare your questions. Given what’s going on right now, it’s possible that you might have a phone interview and then a video interview. You will want to have some questions prepared for each. In fact, you might start with, “Last time we spoke, we talked about XYZ, I’d like to hear more.” It’s always good to ask what next steps will be in the interview process. Oh, and don’t be surprised if you’re asked multiple times about your salary requirements. Especially, if the position you’re applying for pays less than what you’ve been paid in the past.
  1. Check your security settings after the call. Many times, you will have to “allow or permit” your technology device to use the video and microphone to conduct the interview. It’s totally up to you, but you might want to turn those permissions off once the interview is over. The downside is that you have to remember to turn them on every time. The upside is you don’t have to worry about security risks.

While the format for interviews is evolving, the purpose of the interview hasn’t changed. It’s for the organization to learn about your skills and experience. It’s also for you to learn about the company. Don’t lose sight of that. This is an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to be flexible and resilient, two qualities that employers everywhere are looking for.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby off the coast of Nassau, Bahamas

Entrepreneurship and Retirement: Your Next Adventure

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adventure in entrepreneurship is waiting, build yours

I’ve mentioned before how Keith and I schedule time every year to talk about our life. We discuss our business, personal stuff, and finances. One of the reasons that we started doing this is because we own a company, ITM Group. We thought it was important to talk about what our retirement would look like as entrepreneurs.

Freelancing, contracting, consulting or entrepreneurship…whatever you want to call it, is far more popular today than it was almost 20 years ago when we started our company. Many individuals have side hustles in addition to regular full-time or part-time jobs. Which is why it’s so important to think about retirement (and unretirement) in the context of both regular work and freelance work. Because the transition could be different. 

That’s not to say that the transition would be bad or difficult. Frankly, having a side gig while transitioning to retirement could be fantastic. It could offer a huge about of flexibility while at the same time provide some financial security.

In the book, “Your Next Adventure: Planning for Life After the Sale of Your Business”, the authors take the time to talk about five elements to consider when you have a business and you’re planning entrepreneurship in retirement. And as a side note: if you’re saying to yourself “I’m not really a business owner. I just do some speaking on the side. Make a few bucks each year.” Let me tell you – you’re a business. And you need to think about how you will manage that freelancing work during your unretirement journey. Here are the five elements to consider:

  1. Your social circles. When you own your own business or you have a side gig, you spend time networking and building relationships. At the point you start transitioning away from work, your social circles are going to change. Maybe not completely, but they will change. Are you ready to transition those friendships and build new ones? 
  1. Your family. Making the decision to work less, sell the business, or transition to doing different work is one that is best discussed with family and close friends. Especially if you have family members or really close friends who help out in the business. Keeping them out of the loop could create some unfortunate surprises.
  1. Your purpose. As a consultant, I spend a lot of time working. And I’m okay with that. But I’ve always been a person who likes a full plate. I honestly have no clue how I would spend my time if I was a full-time retiree. And it scares me a little. At some point, I will need to figure out how to provide purpose without owning a business. 
  1. Your wellbeing. A contributing factor to entrepreneurship is being physically and emotionally well. There are often long hours and sometimes sleepless nights. The last thing that anyone wants is for our failing health to drive our retirement plans. Finding time to take care of ourselves is important. 
  1. Your finances. Last and certainly not least, we have to think about our financial position. When you work on your own, there’s no pension plan. You have to finance your own retirement. Individuals will want to start planning for how their finances will be changing as the nature of their work changes. 

I think these five elements are great topics to keep in mind as you’re planning your transition toward retirement. Even if you don’t own a business or have a side hustle. But of course, we’re talking about entrepreneurship today. 

Even though the book didn’t mention it, that was one of the big takeaways for me. The things we need to consider for our transition to retirement are very similar regardless of our employment status.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while exploring the streets of Chicago, IL

Why Voting Matters – #Election2020

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wall art about voting saying just do it

I’d like to think that everyone knows there’s an election coming up in the United States. And like all elections, the outcomes are important. Some might argue that this year is even more important. I’m not going to get into that today except to say that even if you vote regularly, I hope you will take the time to finish reading today’s post.

I was a political science major in college, so I like reading and staying up on politics and the news. Which I will admit can be a bit challenging at times. A few months ago, Keith bought me a book titled “OMG WTF Does the Constitution Actually Say?” by Ben Sheehan. Whether or not you’ve read the Constitution, this is an educational and fun read. It contains both the actual text as well as a casual interpretation. I hadn’t read the Constitution in a long time and it was a good refresher. 

Shortly after finishing Sheehan’s book, I heard about another book…this one about voting. Kim Wehle is a professor of law and legal expert. She wrote the book “What You Need to Know About Voting and Why”. Needless to say, I had to get a copy.

While I’ve been voting for a long time, I really enjoyed this book for a few reasons. It’s a book that talks about both the mechanics and complexities of voting. The book delves into whether or not we have a “right” to vote, how to qualify to vote, and how voting impacts government. I’ve never questioned my ability to vote ever nor have I ever had anyone question my ability to cast a vote. (Yes, my white privilege is showing.) That’s not the case for everyone and this book does a good job of explaining how voter suppression has happened over time and still exists today. It also talks about money in elections and if you ever wanted to know the difference between individual contributions, political action committees (aka PACs), and Super PACs…this book will clarify it for you.

The book was also helpful in sharing how older Americans who need assistance can have a caregiver help them vote and how individuals with disabilities can make sure they’re able to vote with accommodations. Finally, the book offers suggestions about what to do if for whatever reason you’re turned away from a voting precinct (and it could be because of what you’re wearing – and, yes, they can do so legally). 

Voting is important. Our votes elect individuals who create laws that impact our personal and professional lives. I’m not just talking about major pieces of legislation like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Right now, an elected school board official is deciding whether or not our kids or grandkids should go back to school in person or online. That’s pretty darn important. 

I’m not trying to give you the hard sell on buying this book. I did think it’s really good and it will have a permanent spot on my bookshelf (next to Sheehan’s book about the Constitution). That being said, there is one quote from the book that I want to share.

“As far back as 1886, the Supreme Court has repeatedly declared that the right to vote is ‘fundamental’ because it is ‘preservative of all rights.’ Without the right to vote, individuals can’t hold government officials accountable for breaking other laws.” 

Wehle suggests thinking about our ability to vote as an accountability tool. Without it, government officials could feel – and act – as if they’re above the law. 

A recent AARP study showed that Americans 50 years of age and older would be the world’s third-largest economy if they were counted as their own country. You can imagine the economic impact of this demographic and the power they have in the voting booth. I’m not here to tell you how to vote. But I do hope you will take the time to learn the voting laws in your state, get educated on the issues, and make a plan to go vote. What happens on November 3, 2020 will have a long-term impact on us as individuals as well as our plans for retirement.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while exploring the streets of Gainesville, FL