Proposed leadership program would aim to engage older adults
By Roy Ockert Jr.
Jan. 26, 2014
Having been retired from newspaper editing for almost two years, I haven’t suffered from a lack of things to do. Once you step down from full-time work, many people, starting with your spouse, can find worthwhile activities for you. Free labor, it turns out, is invaluable.
I’ve been able to continue writing this column once a week, maybe twice, thanks to The Sun and the Arkansas News Bureau. I have one deadline a week, about right for someone who had a career of daily deadlines.
I also had the advantage, though, of already being involved in a number of other organizations and having plenty of sources who are glad to give me as much work as I want.
A community of Jonesboro’s size has many needs for volunteers and part-time workers . No one who wants to be active in the community should sit at home and waste wisdom, talent and energy.
Leaders of three Jonesboro-area organizations are studying a potential community project that could tap a great resource while at the same time matching people with community needs.
The organizations — the Center on Aging-Northeast (affiliated with St. Bernards Healthcare and other agencies), the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Arkansas State University Department of Continuing Education and Community Outreach — hosted a focus group of about 15 people Wednesday to explain the idea and gather feedback. Most of those attending, like me, are retired from full-time careers but actively engaged in various community activities.
The proposal is to create what might be called a reverse Leadership Jonesboro program. Whereas that popular, long-running program sponsored by the chamber is aimed at young working people with potential for leadership, the proposed program would be aimed at older adults who still have much to offer.
That’s not a complete description. What is an older adult anyway? The focus group leaders stepped carefully around labeling any of us senior citizens. My father-in-law, the late J.Y. Montgomery, was always offended when someone offered him a “senior discount.” On the other hand, I’ve had “Jr.” attached to my name so long that I’m glad to have finally reached senior status.
Let’s just say we’re talking about people of about age 55 and older. Moderator Beverly Parker, director of education for the Center on Aging, pointed out that the 50-plus population forms a prime engine for commerce and jobs. With more and more Baby Boomers reaching retirement age each year, we may leave the job market but continue to be an important part of the economy. Boomers hold 80 percent of the U.S. net worth, and because we tend to be in better health than previous generations, most of us have potential for a more active, longer retirement.
The question for many people nearing or reaching retirement is what to do with ourselves. The question for many communities is how to replace us.
For some people, leaving the workplace is an end in itself. A common attitude is: “I’ve worked all my life. Now I want to do nothing except what I want to do.”
But others want to feel needed, to do something positive that helps other people. Still others may want or need to supplement retirement income by working part-time.
For that reason Parker titled her presentation: “Wanted: More Than Bingo.” Not that there’s anything wrong with playing bingo, but rather that some people want to use their abilities in other ways.
The focus group leaders believe an organized program could help acquaint older adults with resources and needs in the community, perhaps matching them with something that interests and engages them.
They’d have to do it differently from Leadership Jonesboro. For one thing, the latter costs $1,500 for each participant, a fee usually paid by an employer, who hopes the experience will help develop a key employee. The expense for this program, hopefully, would be no more than the cost of an occasional lunch.
Sessions, spread out over a period of weeks or months, would probably need to be shorter than the full-day sessions of Leadership Jonesboro.
Different resource people would be needed. While Leadership programs acquaint participants with community institutions as they affect the workplace, “More Than Bingo” participants might spend more time learning about nonprofit organizations, service agencies and educational opportunities.
A better model for the proposed program is an organization called EngAGED in Waynesville, N.C.
A flyer describes the community need: “Our society has never experienced an aging cohort so well-educated, financially successful, healthy and active, and likely to prefer involvement in decision-making roles.”
There is also a return for those involved, the flyer says: “Seniors who become EngAGED are more likely to stay healthy and happy. Linda P. Fried, M.D., director of the Center on Aging and Health at Johns Hopkins, says, ‘Giving back to your community can slow the aging process in ways that lead to a higher quality of life in older adults.’”
The local organizers haven’t decided whether to proceed in developing such a program yet, but the focus group offered mostly positive comments. If you’d like to learn, contact Parker at the Center on Aging, 303 East Matthews (phone 870-207-7595), or by e-mail at bparker@sbrmc.org.
Roy Ockert is editor emeritus of The Jonesboro Sun. He may be reached by e-mail at royo@suddenlink.net.