People have made careers studying Baby Boomers, and for good reason. Boomers have transformed industry—in the 1950s, it was ready-to-eat baby food, and in the 1990s, it was SUV’s. Now as Boomers reach their next milestone, corporations, researchers and marketers are gearing up for new demands from the generation that seemingly wants to stay forever young. Unlike previous generations who accepted the end-of-life slowdown, Boomers will not age as quietly as their predecessors. Their sheer numbers will affect policy as they remain politically engaged. They will stay in the workforce longer, demand products and services and influence the economy as consumers.
Just last month, two of our employees at the Foundation for Senior Living were asked to participate in a discussion of aging issues and trends with top-level executives at Kimberly-Clark, the global leader of consumer products. This forward-thinking company is one of several major corporations that will remain at the forefront of their respective industries because they are investing time and resources to understand the needs and desires of the Boomer population.
On the surface, the aging of Arizona’s population may not seem like a life-altering circumstance, but this shift will touch every aspect of our lives, such as retail, healthcare, home ownership and transportation. If we only respond to needs, rather than prepare for them, we miss the opportunity to define our state’s future.
Arizona has just begun to scratch the surface. The governor's 2020 Aging Plan, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, the Legacy Foundation and St. Luke’s Health Initiatives are working to study and plan for the impact of this inevitable change and the corresponding resources that are needed. Business leaders should pay close attention to their work and respond accordingly.

Considering that an estimated 2.4 million or 22 percent of
Arizona’s population will be 65 and older by 2030, we should
begin laying the groundwork now.

• Now is the time to begin designing homes that ensure safe and comfortable independent living.
• Now is the time to develop transportation systems that promote continued access to community life for our seniors.
• Now is the time to design training and establish a desirable career path for paid caregivers whose numbers will otherwise be insufficient to support our aging population.
• Now is the time for employers to shape employment policies that will encourage retiring Boomers to stay in the workplace and make their skills available.

We have the opportunity and the ability now to affect our state’s future by acknowledging the importance of this population shift. By investing the time and resources to prepare for the inevitable, aging will be a road enthusiastically traveled by us all.

Guy Mikkelsen is president and CEO of the Foundation for Senior Living.
www.fsl.org