The SCAN Foundation

If you want to hang out with baby boomers, go to Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Santa Ana in California; Chicago, Naperville and Joliet in Illinois; Houston and Baytown in Texas; or Phoenix Mesa and Scottsdale in Arizona. Those are the countywide metropolitan areas with the biggest concentrations of the biggest generation in American history, the people born in the years 1946 through 1964, according to a November 10, 2009 story in USA Today.

Falling in the home or in a care facility all too often leads to injuries or hospitalization for older people and the ultimate loss of independence, requiring costly long-term services and supports. Preventing falls can prevent injuries and assure a continued independent lifestyle. New technology, such as the use of electronic sensors, offers hope for reducing the rate of falls and injuries, according to a November 7, 2009 story in the New York Times.

Being able to drive can make the difference between an independent life and a need to depend on others for essentials such as grocery shopping, doctor visits, and other vital errands. With special classes for older drivers, AARP is trying to help maintain the safety and independence of senior citizens, according to this November 8, 2009 story in the Boston Herald.

For those who need long-term services and supports, the family is the bulwark, the source of the loving and compassionate help that is indispensable as people age. A November 8, 2009 story from The Tribune, provides anecdotal evidence of the key role played by family members in caregiving. However, it is not easy for the caregivers.