What happens when we're too old for chores?

Americans born in the heady years after WWII — the Baby Boomer generation — are beginning to retire. In two or three years, the first of them will hit 70. Not long after that, America will face a social problem the likes of which it has never seen before. Unless we start working on solutions now, it could be a disaster of unprecedented proportions. 

No, we’re not talking a Social Security or Medicaid crisis. We’re talking about replacing light bulbs.

Imagine: millions of our neighbors, suddenly too old to wash their windows or drive to the grocery store or clean leaves out of their gutters. They’ll still be vibrant and alive and a long way from ready for a nursing home; just not functioning as well as they once did physically, and in need of a hand from time to time.

If there’s no family nearby, and no neighbor who can step in, where in the world will they turn?

Those who live below the poverty level will be lucky in a way. For them the government has programs to help. But for hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, there will be no children or grandchildren in the neighborhood, and in this mobile society of ours, the neighbors will be newcomers whom they barely know.

Enter the “virtual village” concept. It’s a smart, early start on solving a problem we’re all going to face sooner than we think. And what an excellent idea! Check it out at the link above.

Who knows? Maybe there’s one in your neighborhood already where you can get involved. And if not, maybe you’re just the person to get one started.