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Eric Schubert
Eric Schubert is a vice president at Ecumen, an innovative nonprofit senior housing and services company based in Shoreview. He oversees communications, branding, public affairs and the Ecumen "Changing Aging" blog (www.changingagingblog.org). He writes about aging and change resulting from it in innovation, how we live, wellness, public policy and beyond.
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Good Advice from a Wall at Mayo's Innovation Center
Posted by: Eric Schubert Updated: May 24, 2012 - 10:30 AM
Would You Support Increased Taxes to Pay for Your Alzheimer’s Care?
Posted by: Eric Schubert under Society Updated: March 29, 2012 - 12:31 PMDo you know how you would pay for Alzheimer’s care or other chronic care needs?
Most Minnesotans have no idea how they’ll pay for supportive services to help with tasks most of us take for granted in our daily life, such as eating, bathing, or dressing. Nor do they have a plan for more intensive, continual care.
In fact a majority of Minnesotans (52 percent) say have no plan for how they’ll pay for supportive services. This according to a new poll conducted by The Long-Term Care Imperative (LTCI), a collaboration of Aging Services of Minnesota and Care Providers of Minnesota, which are membership associations of senior service organizations across the state.
As you look at the infographic below, one other thing to consider:
In 1965, when Medicaid was created (the federal-state program that pays for most long-term care costs after people spend into poverty) Alzheimer’s Disease was a phrase largely isolated to medical journals. Today 100,000 Minnesotans live with it. Absent a cure, by 2050, nearly a quarter million Minnesotans will have it at a cost of $20 billion according to the Preparing Minnesota for Alzheimer’s Report, prepared for the Minnesota State Legislature by the Minnesota Board on Aging.
It’s time for Minnesota to develop new ways for people to get the right services, at the right time, in the right place, rather than having to rely on a wing and prayer or impoverishing oneself.
Fun Video: Getting that Dang Thing to Work
Posted by: Eric Schubert Updated: October 13, 2011 - 11:09 AM
Many of us have been exactly where Bruce and Esther in this video have been . . . .trying to get that techno thinga-majingy to work. Only most of us didn't have our granddaughter share the experience with more than 8 million people and counting.
Bruce and Esther Huffman, who live in Oregon and stars of this video are great sports. While trying to get their laptop camera to work, they're unknowingly taping themselves. He makes faces, sings, burps, gets frisky. And she keeps focused on getting the dang thing to work.
Technology . . . today's candid camera.
This short video provides a quick glimpse at what we as Minnesotans and Americans face. It's an incredible opportunity for transformation in so many ways. What opportunties for change do you see?
Should the Phrase “Senior Citizen” Be Retired?
Posted by: Eric Schubert under Society Updated: August 11, 2011 - 3:30 PM
Katy Read had an interesting story recently in the Star Tribune asking about what language we should use to refer to older people. One thought that comes to mind is “people.”
She writes:
"Mature" could conceivably apply to a well-behaved teenager. "Retiree" refers to a job status, not a life stage. "Old-timer" evokes a long white beard and overalls outside the general store. "Elder" sounds, to some ears, a bit artificially tribal. But tack on a "ly" and it's far worse -- in many people's minds, "elderly" might as well be a synonym for "frail."
So what the heck should we call people who are, um, you know ... old?
It's an interesting question.
A few years ago Ecumen commissioned a statewide survey of baby boomers on a variety of topics related to their future and aging. One question tested a couple of phrases, asking which they found most appealing: senior, elder, older adult and third ager. We didn't include "senior citizen" because it just seems dated.
- 48% favored “senior”
- 40% favored “older adult”
- 9 % favored “elder”
- 2% favored “third ager”
- 1% said “none”
Does senior work for you, or do you have other ideas?
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