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Elder Care vs Child Care
June 20, 2008
You never get to choose the shoes you walk in, and they all hurt when they're new.
-Kristen Hall
-Kristen Hall
"America's baby boomers number 77 million. When they leave the workforce, they will constitute the largest generation of retirees in American history.... It is clear...that we will see tremendous increases in the number of older Americans starting at about 2010. By 2030, those 65 and older will make up 20% of the American population. Adding to the financial challenge will be the 85-and-older population, which is expected to have doubled by that same year.
"Unlike young children, senior citizens vote. Aging baby boomers will press hard for policy changes that expand elder care benefits. The huge senior population is likely to push for improved health care services and for expanding Medicare to include long-term care. Any financial response to these demands will involve a commitment of public funds that could otherwise be spent on the education and care of young children. My own estimate is that public investment in ECE services must triple if the nation is to provide good quality ECE programs for all of the children birth to 4 years old whose parents require and deserve those services for their children. Elder benefits have already risen to 33% of the federal budget — a per capita expenditure for the elderly 11 times that for children. Given the projected boom in retirement over the next 25 years, competition for a public pot of finite size can only become more intense than it already has been over the past several decades."
If you want to advocate for better services for young children, we have just the guidebook you need. Stick Your Neck Out — A Street-Smart Guide to Creating Change in Your Community and Beyond provides powerful, practical and upbeat advice on how to become an effective advocate.
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Comments (18)
Displaying 5 of 18 Comments [ View all ]United States
Perhaps one bright spot is the number of young voters that have turned out for Barack Obama. Let's hope that they continue their involvement and advocate for their own children's welfare and for policies that support families, the earth, diplomacy and not war. Let's hope (and vote).
Playing for Keeps and Discovering What\'s Next
Newtonville, MA, United States
Thank you for beginning a dialogue on an issue that we must address in a broader framework - namely: The Reinvention of Neighborhood and Community. The emphasis in the reinvention should be focused on the many ways communities/neighborhoods have uncovered what for me is the major theme: SHARING AND CARING. We should begin to focus more heavily in demonstrating how the quality of life effects all generations as we connect and reconnect in our local settings. This is not limited to early childhood or the 55 to 155 year old population but all generations and the "infra-structure" of the local neighborhood that we have created. Perhaps together we should examine what our common needs are if we were to share and care for one another. Of course we have in the past created such models as the Kibbutz, Co-housing, Cooperative Housing, and now condominium living, as well as retirement communities. The majority of the developments do not address the humane quality of life aspects. Can we begin to create a common examination with such groups as NAEYC, AARP, GENERATIONS TOGETHER, Child Welfare League and other. Why not devote an Exchange Issue looking at the promising SHARING AND CARING practices in this country as well as abroad. I will be glad to work with a group examining this issue.
Thank you Monchrief for beginning the conversation. And thank you Bonnie and Roger for making it possible for us to speak out!
I look forward to the continued dialogue....
Ed Klugman
United States
A number of people have expressed concern about the excerpt from my book "Finding Our Way: The Future of American Early Care and Education", in which I flag the possibility that the elders making up the 'baby boom' generation may compete with young children for scarce public resources. Unfortunately Exchange Every Day did not include the full quote from my book. The piece they excerpted (without asking me) was followed by the following:
"Although the challenges posed by greater demand for early care and education and increased competition from elders for scarce public resources are great, the graying of America also represents a window of opportunity. Many of these seniors will have grandchildren, whose welfare will be of great concern to them. If addressed sensitively, these sentiments could be translated by early care and education advocates into a powerful voice for improvements in the ECE services available to young children."
I agree with all those who responded by saying that elders and children can both be supported with public resources, and that the oldest generation can be a wonderful resource to the youngest. However, this will require very intentional planning by all of us. In the absence of such intentionality I worry about the possible consequences of gnerational competition, especially given the fact that children don't vote.
Australia
Retirement is not necessarily a happy time for many people - the loss of sense of worth and social connections can bring on depression when it's least expected. There are many studies showing the health benefits of maintaining part time or voluntary work in retirement - so couldn't they greying generation be a great souce of part time childcare staff? Most of them will have raised their own children, they have unbeatable life experience, and it provides the kids with an intergenerational connection that may be missing from many of their lives. Going to daycare could be just like going to nanna's!
Round Rock, TX, United States
I would like to see a response from the author. Why does she believe that funds for elder care specifically are threatening ECE funding, rather than other big ticket expenditures (ex: current military debacle; plans for erecting a wall between the US and Mexico, etc.)? Would not many of the measures pursued by older voters also aid young children, such as "improved health care services"? Knowing that many of our nation's grandparents either provide full-time care for children or fill in the gaps where working parents cannot afford full-time paid care, I feel that it only benefits children when their caretakers are also physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially healthy as well.
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