Health care & research VS. REAL talk

Everybody needs a little time away. Such a simple thought, captured beautifully in the hit ’82 Chicago song Hard to Say I’m Sorry.

I took a little time away this weekend. I joined a group of Northern California outdoor and birding enthusiasts for a hike through the Sutter Buttes as part of the annual Snow Goose Festival.

Sutter Buttes; Northern California

Each year thousands of migrating birds pass through Northern California giving those of us ‘looking up’ incredible views and a chance to get out and detach.

Even while immersed in the calm of mother nature the topic of caring for our elders still came up.

Julia Yarbough/Keeping it REAL Caregiving

During a short break a fellow female hiker asked, “What do you do for work?” I told her about the Keeping it REAL Caregiving concept and welcomed her to join our KIRC family.

The mere existence of the KIRC space seemed to instantly give her permission to ‘exhale.’

Without skipping a beat, she shared that she had taken care of several now-deceased elders and was currently managing her elderly father’s affairs (It was tiring and emotionally challenging).

She recalled how hard it was trying to figure out medical, insurance and on-the-ground care issues for previous relatives. She said her father; being a stubborn and hard-willed man made caring for him tough because he didn’t want to admit he needed help.

And she said she now is an informal ‘caregiving educator’ to other friends who are finding themselves in the role and have no idea of what to do. She was happy to learn about a place where we Keep it REAL.

I hope she has SUBSCRIBED and will join future discussions – welcome aboard!

It was so easy to begin talking with my fellow hiker and caregiver, because it was REAL talk. Not science.

Join the discussion to share YOUR ideas

What’s in a name?

But flip the script and toss out words and concepts like gerontology, health metrics, care outcomes, etc. Most people’s eyes glaze over. FAST.

Why this thought? This week I took part in the first of a series of courses as part of the American Society on Aging ASA Rise Program. Part of the official ASA description reads:

The field of aging needs more leaders of color—and a modern, sustainable leadership program to support them.

I am proud to say I am one of 30 people selected from more than 120 applicants for this leadership training experience.

In our opening session, we talked about gerontology. The definition from the The Gerontological Society of America defines it as ‘The study of aging processes and individuals across the life course.’

There is plenty of clinical and scientific research in this field. Some of that research then helps drive services and programs to help everyday folks care for elders.

Across the country, both students moving into the field of gerontology and working professionals are in short supply. But our population is growing older. We need MORE gerontologists not fewer.

Government studies indicate we’ve known this as far back as 2011, and some of the disconnect may come from lack of awareness rather than lack of interest.

One of my fellow ASA Rise cohorts, who is a gerontologist, tossed out this idea: maybe the word itself – GERONTOLOGY – just doesn’t sound inviting to folks. Especially younger students thinking about future careers.

In a far from scientific poll, I decided to ask my social media family, “What is the first thought that comes to mind when you see the word GERONTOLOGY?”

I think the answers are telling:

“Geritol commercials“

“Arduous”

“I used to work as a Senior Certified Nursing Assistant and worked with the elderly! I learned more on that job than I did on any other job! I absolutely loved it. Their stories and histories fascinated me so much.”

“History book – time well spent; precious…”

“…the first thing I think of when I see that word is I need a cup of coffee before I can think of that word.”

Upgrades & Make-overs

I can’t help but wonder… just like other products and services that undergo makeovers, is the field of aging overdue for something similar? Could our KIRC platform (with all of your voices) now be poised to drive more REAL talk and direction for companies offering products and services within the aging space?

  • Perhaps we must shift our focus and highlight the people, capture their stories, and their life-lesson’s learned as part of our ‘research?’

  • Maybe we talk more about the thoughts and feelings people experience along the aging process?

  • Perhaps we use technology to share these experiences in an immersive fashion to help younger generations learn?

What do you think… any other ideas – are we on to something? Let’s take this conversation to the next level!

Until next time~

Julia

*Header Image Courtesy: Getty Images/We Are

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