August is Boomers Making a Difference Month: Five Baby Boomer Facts You Might Not Know

August is Boomers Making a Difference Month, which celebrates the contributions the Baby Boomers generation has made to the world. Baby Boomers are the generation born between 1946 and 1964. They are so named because record numbers of babies were born shortly after the end of World War II. By the time the boom ended, there were 76.4 million Boomers in the U.S., which was about 40 percent of the country’s population! As of 2011, the first Boomers turned 65 and became senior citizens. Perhaps your parent is a Baby Boomer. If so, August is a good month to learn more about what it means to be a member of their generation. Doing so might help you to understand how they think and what you can do to make your parent’s senior years the best that they can be. Here are five facts about Baby Boomers that we hope will help you get to know your parent even better. #1 Cause of the Boom Historians have suggested different reasons for the start of the baby boom. Some say that people just wanted to return to a sense of normalcy after the depression and war, and starting a family was a good way to do that. Other historians have said that the baby boom was a reaction to communism, and that Americans were simply trying to beat the communists by outnumbering them. Still others say that the cause of the boom was the result of those people who had waited to start families due to the war and poor economics having babies at the same times as younger couples who were just starting out. #2 Boomer Values and Attributes Baby Boomers were influenced by having grown up in a post-war economic upswing. Because of the changes in the economy and a general feeling of prosperity, they were taught that they could achieve the “American Dream” and they actively pursue it. They typically value equal rights, involvement, optimism, and they want to make a difference. Most view them as competent, ambitious, and capable of handling difficult situations. Knowing these attributes may help you to understand how difficult it can be for your senior Boomer parent to give up control to family caregivers and senior care providers. They are used to handling their own problems and being able to deal with anything that comes their way, so when they can’t, they may feel frustrated and angry. #3 Famous Boomers Boomers certainly have made a difference in the world! The first Boomer president was Bill Clinton. George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump are also presidential Baby Boomers. Other famous Boomers include George Clooney, Oprah Winfrey, Condoleezza Rice, Madonna, and Bill Gates. That’s the extremely short list! There are so many more notable Boomers who have made major contributions to science, medicine, technology, and much more. #4 Communication Style Each generation has their own style of communication, and Boomers are no different. They prefer in-person communication and like to be included in making decisions. They do not like feeling manipulated or controlled and appreciate people getting to know what is important to them. As a result, your parent is likely to expect to be included in the decisions that are made about their health. If you’re considering hiring a senior care provider, including your parent on the decision may make the change easier for both of you. If your Boomer parent has reached their senior years and is showing signs of needing some help remaining independently in their home, hiring a senior care provider can help. Senior care providers can help with light housekeeping, cooking, and personal care, such as dressing, toileting, and bathing. Sources http://www.history.com/topics/baby-boomers http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/06/us/baby-boomer-generation-fast-facts/index.html http://www.wmfc.org/uploads/GenerationalDifferencesChart.pdf http://www.boomerslife.org/well_known_boomers_famous_people_celebrities.htm IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED-ONE ARE CONSIDERING IN-HOME CAREGIVERS IN WESTCHESTER, IL, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT BRIGHTSTAR CARE OF LA GRANGE. CALL TODAY 708-551-2500. About Linda Kunicki, CMP, Marketing Director Linda has been with BrightStar Care of Chicago and BrightStar Care of La Grange since 2013. Her background includes a lengthy tenure in health care as well as a strong business background. While her primary focus has been management, training and marketing, Linda has taken on and succeeded at roles in Sales, Human Resources, and Project Management. Every position she’s had has allowed her to fulfil her passion to service others from children to seniors, which gives her joy each day. Her experience has led her to being on the board of the Chicago Chapter of the Case Management Society of America for multiple terms and serving on many committees for Aging Care Connections and local Health and Wellness groups. Linda’s pathway to BrightStar began as being the caregiver for her mother and grandmother. Her personal experience has given her perspective into the growing need for high quality care in our society, from pediatrics to senior citizens. And she takes great pride in the Gold Seal of the Joint Commission Accreditation earned by BrightStar. It confirms her decision to make this company her employer of choice. Linda has also owned Shetland Sheepdogs aka Shelties most of her life. For many years, she has been involved in activities with Shelties that have guided her to earn championship and performance titles on many of her own dogs and help others do the same. Linda’s favorite quote, “You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.” Zig Zigler