Aging revisited

By Henry Tomes, PhD
Executive Director for the Public Interest

To no one?s surprise, the United States finds itself with a large, growing, aging population. It is estimated that the population of those 65 and older is 35 million, with projections of 80 million by 2050 given a considerable boost from the 'boomers' who will begin receiving Medicare cards in the next decade or so.

While the nation can continue to be characterized as being enamored of youth and youthfulness, that culture appears to be maturing, and the elderly are being seen in a light that is more positive than two or three decades ago. It is probably safe to say that during the 1950s and 1960s, the view of older persons was that their lives were characterized by infirmities, chronic debilitating illnesses, nursing homes and waiting to receive the services of some burial society. Even today, when more elderly people have political clout?according to some because they are more likely to vote than younger people?the elderly are continuing targets of discrimination in many important aspects of life.

Thus, it was with considerable delight that I read a recent book, 'Successful Aging,' by Drs. John Rowe and Robert Kahn. These authors summarize a 10-year multidisciplinary research effort, funded by the MacArthur Foundation that provides a broad look at aging from various behavioral and social science viewpoints, as well as that of the biomedical sciences. In a variety of ways, the authors also appear to look at the research findings and assign appropriate values to roles played by life styles, heredity and environment in the lives of older persons. They also drew attention to the data to call into question many of the myths held in the culture about the elderly and the aging processes?such as 'The secret to successful aging is to choose your parents wisely.' In this debunking of the heredity myth, it appears that environmental and lifestyle issues are as important, or more so, than genetic inheritance. If you are interested, read the book.

APA and issues of aging

Psychologists have been teaching, researching and practicing in areas associated with aging for some time. However, for reasons that psychosocial theorists may divine, with the exception of Div. 20 (Adult Development and Aging), there has been little focus on aging and the elderly with APA. Members and staff have participated in the White House Conferences on Aging. In 1992, APA, NIMH and the Retirement Research Foundation jointly sponsored a National Conference on Clinical Training: Improving Psychological Services for Older Adults. Until recently not much else happened.

High hopes of aging issues

What did happen recently is that Dr. Norman Abeles, during his presidency, encouraged the establishment of a governance group to provide a focus for aging issues. As president-elect he was able to get the Board of Directors and Council of Representatives to approve an Ad Hoc Committee on Issues of the Older Adult, which was chaired by Dr. M. Powell Lawton. During his presidential year the board and council voted to establish a Continuing Committee on Aging (CONA) which is chaired by Dr. Stephen Zarit and met for the first time in March 1998. CONA membership, as was true of the ad hoc committee, has been able to attract psychologists of considerable experience, eminence in research, teaching and practice in areas of aging, life span development and gerontology.

When council acted to approve the board recommendation to establish the committee, it also approved a mission statement which stated that CONA 'shall concern itself with furthering the major purpose of APA as a science and profession, and as a means of promoting human welfare by ensuring that older adults, especially growing numbers of older women and minorities, receive the attention of the Association.' CONA is also required to pursue goals that encompass science, practice, education and public interest, as well as serve as coordinating and consultative agent within the association. CONA is also asked to ensure that the concerns of older APA members receive attention. The committee has six members.

Certainly there are high hopes for CONA throughout APA. It is certainly better to have the newest committee focus on the issues of the oldest people. In response to the inevitable question of why it took so long, I suppose the answer is that once APA reached 100-plus years as an organization, the issue of aging became a reality which required attention. However, it is better late, than never.