My Thoughts on Turning 60
The Savvy Senior
By Robert Goodman, MSW
After working as a geriatric social worker for 37 years, I am now preparing to enter senior citizenship. During that time, I have been a case worker, writer, volunteer coordinator, program director, senior center director, community organizer, advocate, and lobbyist. I am particularly grateful to the many people Broward and Palm Beach County whom I have worked with over the years. These include colleagues at the Lighthouse for the Blind, University of Miami, the Broward County Commission, the City of Hollywood, the Broward Legislative Delegation, the many networking groups I have been involved with, the advertisers who supported my printed resource guide and website, and the vendors who support my health fairs. A special thanks to Kin-Care for helping me establish a presence online.
The accomplishments that I am most proud of include developing a program for students with disabilities at Florida State University and bringing the non-drivers ID card to Florida. I am also proud of the work I have done in bringing information to the community.
Of course defining a senior citizen is not easy. AARP defines a senior as one over 50. The Older Americans Act defines a senior as one 60 and over. Social Security says you are eligible for reduced Social Security benefits at 62 and Medicare at 65. However, the retirement age is going up. Some programs are for people over 70. Senior citizen discounts range from age 50 to age 65.
There are benefits to turning sixty, more senior discounts are available and I am covered under the Older Americans Act (OAA) of 1965. The Older Americans Act funds home and community-based services, caregiver support, long-term care ombudsman programs and senior employment programs. I am now entitled to attend a senior center or day care center, receive meals, legal services, case management services, subsidized employment, transportation, prescription drug discounts, energy assistance, and other services. In Palm Beach County, the Area Agency on Aging uses the funding to plan, develop, and coordinate systems of supportive, in-home and community-based services. To find out more about these services contact the Area Agency on Aging at 866-684-5885. To find out what benefits you may qualify for log onto www.benefitscheckup.com.
I have always told my clients that age is a number and a state of mind. I am always being reminded of how young I am since moving to Century Village.
Benjamin Franklin once said, “All would live long, but none would be old. What should we actually expect of ourselves after sixty years? Must we eventually become senile and mentally old, or can we have a long life and remain alert and bright with opinions others respect? The answer is simple. Age itself creates very few mental problems; it simply makes us more transparent and reveals the way we have actually been all of our lives.”
We have been called older adults, mature adults, greedy geezers (remember the fight over Medicare in the 80’s?), older people, young at heart, and golden agers. What we are is a part of America that won’t take being pushed around by elected officials or anyone else. We need to stand up for our rights and the services we need.
Working with a population and living with that group is very different and you become aware of things that you never learned in the classroom or working in the field. Every day I see how youthful and active “seniors” are. My field of social work was community organizing, so I always knew the ability of older adults to be active and involved in their communities.
We have some wonderful people living and working in Century Village–from the volunteers at We Care to the people teaching courses in the clubhouse. I see people going on with their lives every day in spite of disabilities, health issues, and mobility limitations.
I am happy to be entering into the third age of mankind. As a young social worker clients told me that time goes faster as we grow older. Now that I am entering the third age, I believe them. I look forward to many productive years as an active and concerned member of this community.
