SeniorTruth

A pioneer in the field of aging has died – an exceptional visionary, scientist, humanist, scholar, agent of change and communicator.  This champion was Dr. Robert N. Butler, who died July 4 at age 83.  He worked up until three days before his death.

Dr. Butler was the leading voice on issues of longevity and served as the moral compass for aging. Here are some of his accomplishments:

• In 1968, he recognized prejudice against older people and attributed this stereotype to a lack of knowledge and contact with older adults.  He wrote, “This deep and profound prejudice is found to some degree in all of us.”  It had no name; he coined the term “ageism.”

• In 1975, Butler wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, “Why Survive? Being Old in America” (Harper & Row).  He described the downside of aging in our nation and then proceeded to write what we could do about it: “Human beings need the freedom to live with change, to invent and reinvent themselves a number of times through their lives.”

• He made aging research and the specialty of geriatrics legitimate as founding director of the National Institute on Aging and founding chairman of the nation’s first department of geriatrics at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. Yet our problems are not yet solved.

• In 2008, the American Geriatric Society reported that there were approximately 7,500 board certified geriatricians.  That’s one for every 2,500 Americans 75 and older and one for every 5,300 people 65 and over.    The discouraging news is that in 2007, only 92 medical doctors who graduated from U.S. medical schools entered geriatric fellowship programs.

• Butler helped start, and led, the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, the Alzheimer’s Disease Association and the International Longevity Center.

• He promoted aging before Congress and the United Nations and advocated to increase the dollars devoted to the basic biology of aging.  In an essay appearing in “Longevity Rules:  How to Age Well into the Future” (Eskaton, 2010), Butler wrote “The National Institutes of Health is funded at $28 billion in 2009, but less than 0.1 percent of that amount goes to understanding the biology of aging and how it predisposes us to a suite of costly diseases and disorders expressed at later ages.”

• He called for Congress to invest $3 million annually, or about 1 percent of the 2005 Medicare budget of $309 billion.  He noted that if we could slow the aging process by seven years, we would cut in half the risks of death, frailty and disabilities at every age.

• Butler co-authored the book “Sex After Sixty.” The original edition was published in 1976 when few, if any, acknowledged that sex after sixty even occurred.

• And finally, Dr. Butler influenced journalists.  He established the Age Boom Academy, which provided education on key topics about aging for reporters.  The 11th  academy was held in June.

Butler insisted that society value older adults in its policies and programs.  He advocated that the extension of a healthy life creates wealth for individuals because they can accumulate more savings, remain productive and engaged in society, and can spark economic booms in industries such as financial services, travel and hospitality.

On a personal note:  In 1985, I had some work in Hawaii.  Having a few leisure hours I decided to go to the beach to read a small book I had recently purchased entitled “Productive Aging:  Enhancing Vitality in Later Life” (Springer, 1985).  Co-edited by Butler, it was a series of essays presented at a seminar in Salzburg, Austria.

I was “blown away” by Butler and his colleagues’ discussion of their research and perspectives on age and vitality.  That small book had a profound effect on my view of aging and has served as one of the underpinnings to my career.

The aging experience — as it affects our health, wealth, work, play, family and community lives — is all the better because of this pioneer’s vision and achievements.

Thank you Dr. Butler.

Copyright 2010 Helen Dennis. All rights reserved.

Over the years I have received many questions about caregiving which resonate in the broadest sense.

Former first lady Rosalynn Carter reminds us why.  She said, “There are four kinds of people in this world:  Those who have been caregivers, those who currently are caregivers, those who will be caregivers and those who will need caregivers.” Read more »

Question: I am 81 years old and never managed money. My late husband, a retired surgeon who passed away 10 years ago, made all the financial decisions in our 52-year marriage. Fortunately, my health has been good this past decade. Now I need some help with driving and tasks at home. My oldest son manages my money and insists I cannot afford the services. His siblings disagree. I am not sure what to do. Any suggestions? Read more »

Question: I have a friend who is talking about her bucket list.  Exactly what is it and how do you create it?   I am 80 and expect to be around for a while.  Read more »

Question: My healthy and independent 86-year-old mother was in a car accident and is recovering at my home. Her arm is in a cast, which limits what she can do. She is still a bit unsteady on her feet and clearly cannot shop, cook, drive or navigate stairs on her own. My brother, who manages her finances, insists she belongs in an assisted living facility. I think such a move will be the beginning of the end. Mother wants to return to her home with some in-home care. I agree.

How can I convince my brother that my mother’s voice should be heard, and where do I begin to find a good agency? Read more »

Dear Readers:

This week’s column focuses on growing older in a large context. The Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan think tank, published a research report in July 2009 on “Growing Old in America: Expectations vs. Reality.”  The report concludes that growing old isn’t as bad as people think.  However, at times, it’s not quite as good. Read more »

Question: On April 3 I turned 80 and find that I am not taking “old age” very well.  I should be lucky because I went to school to learn to use my cell phone and also learned how to text.   But the number “80” scares me to no end.  Thanks for listening.         Read more »

Question: My 83-year old mother took a serious fall in the street that landed her in the emergency ward, intensive care, the regular hospital and finally in rehabilitation.    She is a fiercely independent fabulous lady who walks two miles a day, takes classes at a university, drives and goes to movies, the ballet, museums and more.  I recently told her that she is doing too much.  I think she fell because she was fatigued, even though I cautioned her that she needed to slow down.  At what point do you take over for an older parent?  I feel somewhat responsible for her fall.            Read more »

Dear Readers:

We have reason to celebrate.  We are living in a time of extraordinary opportunities to age successfully. Here is a confession:  I did not invent the concept “successful aging.”  Read more »

Question: I recently retired as an occupational therapist.  It’s work that I always have loved.  I now am a full time nanny to my darling baby granddaughter.  My daughter and her husband can afford child care but feel more comfortable with me.  I am just sorting out my own transition and really did not envision this full-time role.  How does one change this situation without guilt? Read more »