To Gerontologists: Keep Showing Up…

We all learn as we go along…so keep showing up! Keep refining your thoughts within the Aging career you are developing. Everyone within our field is in a progression of learning and adding to their expertise. Be one of the newest Gerontologists who are ever-seeking to find answers to the age-old questions within gerontology. Some pertinent questions: “How do we age more successfully?”; “What is ‘successful aging’ to a particular individual?” and “What application of gerontology fits what I do best?”

“Ship it imperfect” is a business concept that means getting to the marketplace earlier than later is important. Apple iPhones employ this strategy; that’s why Apple cheerfully upgrades its technology customers. Buzz is all about getting to the marketplace first.

“Fix it in the mix” is a music-studio term meaning that the music editor can cut and splice imperfections out of the finished track. Movies and taped TV shows employ the same strategy; that’s why “live” awards shows are tricky. Reality is not always pretty to watch.

“Photoshop” is both a computer program and technique employed to correct minor (and sometimes major) imperfections in photos, and “to photoshop” something is a term meaning to clean-up imperfections before that product is viewed by the general public.

These are terms that most of us understand but are not in touch with in our own practices. Although I recoil at “ship it imperfect” as a “usual and customary” way of doing business, the idea that “something is better than nothing” when fixing a short-term human-needs problem that could become permanent without intervention is also important. A 24-hour stop-gap measure in a fall prevention or housing situation is critical.

Find your place in the sunshine (oh, I hear Clapton and Cream in the background!) of your love for older adults in what you do best. Whatever you choose, remember that you cannot truly make decisions for your elderly loved ones or anyone else who is older until you have faced your own aging hopes and fears. One day, you will be old, and better to start earlier than later! Ask yourself these questions, and answer them honestly (yes, get out a pen and write out what you really think and feel):

What does “quality of living” mean to you?

What does your elderly loved one or client look forward to in life?

What three things do you consider “must haves” in old age?

So keep showing up…it’s not only your life and your career. You have a unique chance to improve the lives of many older adults and the younger people they love. Cheers!

© 2010 Diane Alexander Patterson, MSG, CPG “If good real estate is about location, location, location, then ‘success in aging’ is about attitude, attitude, attitude!” www.SeasonofLife.net