One of the great and most reaffirming things about pursuing a Master of Science degree in Gerontology is confirmation of the suspicions and hunches I — and millions of other people — have had experientially about the need for more Grand Planning as we age. Anyone who has gotten to the place of “oh my word, wtf” in a caregiving journey can relate. My final master’s seminar, “Critical Issues in Aging” underscores the critical need to pursue aging mindfully and get prepared for the incoming storm stat.

Here’s a quote from my professor Dr. Caro’s lecture notes:

“People are living longer and, in some parts of the world, healthier lives. This represents one of the crowning achievements of the last century but also a significant challenge. Longer lifespans mean many more years in retirement, putting pressure on individuals who will need to plan and save accordingly; on a healthcare system that will be used more heavily; and on federal, state, and local budgets to pay for programs that will have to serve more people for more years, especially those with insufficient retirement savings. As the baby boomers turn 70 at the rate of 10,000 a day, America is becoming a “gerontocracy.” Are we prepared? Are leaders, especially in government, addressing this “age wave” and offering innovative solutions? We are living in truly unchartered territory and longevity is humanity’s new frontier.”

We are in uncharted territory, ya’ll! Time to wake up and get ready for it. And I’m not talking about people who are in their 70s, 80s and 90s. No, this storm alert is for adults of every age. The earlier we can get real about what’s ahead, accept it and prepare for it, the better life will be for us, our loved ones and the generations after us. This video demonstrates what’s going on here and what challenges and opportunities all adults face in aging today:

I was also greatly relieved to know I’m not the only one shouting this alert from the rooftops. Known gerontologist Dr. Ken Dychtwald, has been preaching this message for more than a decade. His opening remarks at the 2010 Aging in America conference is a harbinger of what we are all facing today:

As I prepare to issue a similar edict on the need for mindful aging at the upcoming 2026 TEDxJacksonville conference this January, I am grateful to know others have been out there waving the warning flags. It is a relief to know so many others see the same storm I do. Now, more than ever, we simply MUST make a better effort to get prepared for aging. As I will discuss in my TEDxJacksonville talk, aging isn’t a decline — it’s a design challenge.