If life-extending scientific advances continue at their present fast pace, the big question for many people becomes:
What on earth to do with that extra 20, 30 or more years?"Over the next 10 years, there will be a lot of grappling with what being old chronologically is all about -- and what to do with those extra years," said Marc Freedman, author of a new book about living longer, "Prime Time."
Here are the views of some of the experts:
James Birren, associate director of the Center on Aging at UCLA, says most people haven't caught on yet to the huge change coming.
"Americans are living 30 years to 50 years longer than at the turn of the century, but society still thinks decrepitude sets in at 60," the energetic 80-year-old scientist said. "We've turned the age pyramid upside down, and our institutions are not ready for it."
Birren estimates that 10 percent of today's older people are what psychologists term "explorers" -- the elite group that moves into its 70s and 80s at full steam and in good health, driven by an intense interest in life. Even without further scientific advances, he predicts, by 2030 about 30 percent of elders will be in this active group.
Getting everyone into a new idea of what "older" means is a first step, Birren says.
Asked today, most people say they don't want to live to be 100 because they think that means toddering, forgetful and frail. But that is the old idea of old.
The new definition will come into focus as the good health and achievements of the . . . shall we say . . . "very experienced" people become commonplace.
Bill Arnold, director of Arizona State University's gerontology program, hopes not to see everyone as greeters at discount stores. He would like to see cultural changes to make sure older people are engaged in their careers longer or in new volunteer activities worthy of their experience and wisdom.
Anne Lindeman, executive director of the (Arizona) Governor's Advisory Council on Aging, says people ages 60 and older will have to stay on the job if we want to keep the economy growing. Employers won't have the option of phasing out all the 50something workers, she says, predicting that early retirement will simply disappear over the next 20 years.
Lindeman doesn't foresee the demise of retirement communities, but she predicts that aging baby boomers may be more interested in Soho lofts and nearby coffee houses.
Michael Fossel, a doctor at Michigan State University and editor of the Journal of Anti-Aging Medicine, predicts not just second careers and marriages, but third and fourth.
Dr. Evan Kligman, who directs the longevity program at Canyon Ranch health spa in Tucson, Ariz., predicts that there will be more intergenerational communities.
"More and more, we will get away from segregating older people," he said.
Kligman has a hard time imagining the baby boomers being pushed out of the mainstream, and he predicts that devices at home will monitor your health systems and tell you when to arrange a teleconference with your doctors.
Dr. Andrew Weil of the University of Arizona in Tucson suggests that future health care may be delivered in spalike settings, with some areas set aside for high-tech procedures and others for nutritionists, exercise trainers, acupuncturists and body work specialists.