Written by J.J.

Change is the only constant. People have been saying that since recorded history began. Heraclitus is known to have uttered it in 500 BC and I'm wondering why mankind hasn't adapted yet? I haven't. I'm still surprised and sometimes upset when I'm faced with change so I've been listening carefully to people who seem to be more evolved. I hope I'm learning something because the process of aging is all about change.

I love the tag line a local therapist uses: "Shift Happens." It reminds me that I'm certainly not alone in struggling to cope with some changes. It also tells me that our health/medical field makes a good dollar off man's inability to manage change. So does the drug industry. We may fail over centuries to adapt to the changing world we know we live in but, in doing so, we're supporting  jobs.

In fact, on the Internet I learned that change management is a big business. I could attend a 3 day seminar to earn a change management certificate for around $3,000. It sounds complicated. I'd learn to: define the change, prepare, develop a sponsorship model, conceptualize my plan and take action. It's no wonder executives earn millions of dollars to effect organizational change. According to change management theory they need to know about all kinds of things including Prosci's research, Nudge theory, the Johari window model. Change management theory though is about being in control of change; planning it.  The difficult nature of change is that we don't have control over it and I don't see any certificates offered for that.

The people I know who deal well with change don't develop models or plan their reactions. Most of them cope by understanding that they don't have ultimate control or by viewing control as an attachment of mind. That seems to work especially well for resolving big changes that shock or prompt a search for meaning. Faced with challenges like that, people of faith may take comfort in the workings of a higher power or renew confidence that life is part of a larger spiritual journey. Others may come to a resolve with the fact that man's power is limited as the Governor of Washington state did when he flew over the Oso Landslide, in March, and concluded, "Nature is in charge here."

Consciously or unconsciously we're dealing with changes all day long. Our lives, our environment, our thoughts---all things are constantly changing. "Shift happens." Life is fundamentally unpredictable. That's something we forget when we slide into a comfortable routine and our foundation stays constant. As we age, though, we never have to go farther than the mirror to be reminded. Whether we're aware of it or not, being alive is being a manager of constant change. Think of the experience we gain as we deal with all the variables of a day: the weather, our aches and pains, our family experiences, the things that break down or stand in our way, the strangers and acquaintances we meet, and the time that flies by minute after minute. We don't need a 3 day seminar and a certificate to prove our mastery. We're all skilled and accomplished change managers.

I have to believe that "Shift" doesn't just happen to me. Doesn't it also present new potentials or opportunities? Could it, for instance, make me stronger? Could it build self confidence if I coped better than I had before? Could it bring me closer to someone or something? Could I become more spiritual, more flexible, more self-aware in trying to manage the change? Centenarians who've lived much longer than I tell me that it's all in the way you look at it. "Go with the flow,"my older friends counsel. Shift doesn't "happen" Shift makes growth possible.

Every time I face change I either harness the wisdom of my daily experience as a change manager or seek help coping. I'm gradually improving that ratio: wisdom/seeking. Guides and older friends help by assuring me that I hold the ultimate trump card---the ability to change the way I look at the changes in my life. Sometimes I can play that card and sometimes it eludes me. One thing I know for sure....Shift happens. When it does I'm guaranteed another opportunity to improve.

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Updates:

Written by J.J.

In just over 15 years 20 million Americans will be 85 or older. For perspective, 20 million are enrolled in Obamacare today, 20 million live in the state of Florida, and only 19 cities in the world have a population of 20 million people.  With less than 1 million of the 85+ population seeking housing in senior care facilities today it's clear that the majority will be aging in place. Aging in place or living out our years at home is a comfortable and wonderful idea that used to work until cognitive or physical limitation occurred. However, today we can take advantage of new resources such as: innovative civic programs, local grassroots movements and aging in place communities, Universal Design, mobile apps, and telehealthcare advances to help us live an independent lifetime at home.

The Aging in place boom is inspiring new industries and new ideas of community. Cities are beginning to plan supports for aging in place. In fact if you live in San Diego, Chicago, Alexandria, Louisville, Kansas City, Phoenix, Memphis or Oklahoma City you may be part of innovative aging in place programs sponsored by Met Life Foundation. County by county, Colorado is implementing model aging in place civic renovation and public commons design. Grantmakers are also helping by refocusing money to empower localities to meet the wave of aging needs. Research, such as this study from AARP, is helping communities understand the particular needs of boomers and showing them how to support the overwhelming majority that want to live a healthy independent life at home.

Boomers aren't waiting for local governments to develop support they're creating their own innovative local grassroots support networks. These local volunteer networks are particularly exciting because they provide needed help around the home and simultaneously widen social networks by organizing a corp of neighborhood volunteers that care. Supportive "villages," as they're called, are developing across the United States ensuring longer stays at home, and valuing the knowledge and presence of long time residents.  In Chicago, a different kind of caring community is developing. Dr. Brenda Krause Eheart envisioned and now leads a diverse, purpose driven, multi-generational community called Hope Meadows. Seniors pay reduced rent to live in the community and join with others to help and guide foster children. Hope Meadows honors the commitment of elders by establishing "Hope Houses" within the community where elders can age in place. The possibilities for aging in place support are unlimited and the need is upon us. If you don't have something like this in your community already consider using the resources and models now available to gift to your neighborhood or town with aging in place support. If you have a village in your community already--- consider joining. Annual memberships generally run below 500$.

If you're a homeowner then a modification analysis can help you identify minor architectural adjustments that will accommodate potential functional or cognitive changes. If you're building a house or multi-unit structure explore incorporating universal design principals. Home modifications range from adding heightened lighting and installing touch switches or levers that are easy to operate with arthritis to more significant alterations like collapsing thresholds or widening doorways. Use resources online to conduct your own modification analysis and try to add one or two every few years or turn to a Certified Aging in Place Specialist for guidance. If you're building a new structure tap into Universal Design (UD). UD has been used for years in the design of cities. You notice it when you use walk signs that cue with video and audio or approach cut out sidewalks that provide access for people with canes, wheelchairs and bicycles. Now UD is adapting to architectural design and helping us to age in place.  UD products are more readily available and UD design has evolved into stylish interiors that add value to our houses such as this bathroom design from Europe's Ponte Giulio featuring walk in shower, stylish grab bars, and wheelchair accessible toilets.

At home or out in the world technology touches our lives and its quickly becoming a foundation that ensures safer aging in place. Telecare and Telehealthcare, the merger of health monitoring and technology, is solving issues like missed medications, wandering, and monitoring of blood pressure or oxygen readings. Other advancements such as smart home functions empower care providers with the ability to remotely program and monitor a home environment. Today's technology dwarfs early telecare systems such as LifeLine pendants. Tomorrow's technology will offer even greater security and safety enhancement features geared to accommodate aging in place. Of course mobile devices already empower us with personal health care apps offering help from sleep support to iTriage which aids in identifing health problems and locating a doctor.

Today, external resources are available to help us age in place but ultimately successful aging is in our own hands. Taking care of our physical and cognitive health is perhaps the most important step toward attaining independence and health in later years. You know that exercise is an important life giving habit but did you know that simple low cost investments in our minds through reading, gardening, writing poetry, laughing, or taking a free class at the library or college in our community supports cognitive health? Current research urges us to exercise mental health just as we do our physical health. Aspire to 20 minutes of physical exercise a day and establish a strategy for strengthening your mind. Research tells us that regular mental exercise and stimulation can even help delay dementia or improve coping if it develops. Maintaining clear mental health and physical well being costs little yet it lays a strong foundation for later life independence.

Aging in place is a process that's becoming more of a reality even when functional or cognitive limitations are present. Our chances of successfully aging in place increase when we equip our lives with:

• Exercises that support mental and physical health
• Strong social communities
• Grassroots aging in place support networks
• Flexible design modifications in our houses
• TeleHealth monitoring or health management apps

Cities are striving to meet the need and ours is a time with tools and resources that enable us to succeed. Ultimately it's what we do to prepare that maximizes our chance of safely and peacefully living out our lives in the place we call home. Commit to your intentions. Won't you begin preparing today?

I