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The Age of Dignity: Preparing for the Elder Boom in a Changing America
One of Time ’s 100 most influential people “shines a new light on the need for a holistic approach to caregiving in America . . . Timely and hopeful” (Maria Shriver).
In The Age of Dignity , thought leader and activist Ai-jen Poo offers a wake-up call about the statistical reality that will affect us Fourteen percent of our population is now over sixty-five; by 2030 that ratio will be one in five. In fact, our fastest-growing demographic is the eighty-five-plus age group―over five million people now, a number that is expected to more than double in the next twenty years. This change presents us with a new how we care for and support quality of life for the unprecedented numbers of older Americans who will need it.
Despite these daunting numbers, Poo has written a profoundly hopeful book, giving us a glimpse into the stories and often hidden experiences of the people―family caregivers, older people, and home care workers―whose lives will be directly shaped and reshaped in this moment of demographic change. The Age of Dignity outlines a road map for how we can become a more caring nation, providing solutions for fixing our fraying safety net while also increasing opportunities for women, immigrants, and the unemployed in our workforce. As Poo has said, “Care is the strategy and the solution toward a better future for all of us.”
“Every American should read this slender book. With luck, it will be the future for all of us.” ―Gloria Steinem
“Positive and inclusive.” ― The New York Times
“A big-hearted book [that] seeks to transform our dismal view of aging and caregiving.” ― Ms. magazine
In The Age of Dignity , thought leader and activist Ai-jen Poo offers a wake-up call about the statistical reality that will affect us Fourteen percent of our population is now over sixty-five; by 2030 that ratio will be one in five. In fact, our fastest-growing demographic is the eighty-five-plus age group―over five million people now, a number that is expected to more than double in the next twenty years. This change presents us with a new how we care for and support quality of life for the unprecedented numbers of older Americans who will need it.
Despite these daunting numbers, Poo has written a profoundly hopeful book, giving us a glimpse into the stories and often hidden experiences of the people―family caregivers, older people, and home care workers―whose lives will be directly shaped and reshaped in this moment of demographic change. The Age of Dignity outlines a road map for how we can become a more caring nation, providing solutions for fixing our fraying safety net while also increasing opportunities for women, immigrants, and the unemployed in our workforce. As Poo has said, “Care is the strategy and the solution toward a better future for all of us.”
“Every American should read this slender book. With luck, it will be the future for all of us.” ―Gloria Steinem
“Positive and inclusive.” ― The New York Times
“A big-hearted book [that] seeks to transform our dismal view of aging and caregiving.” ― Ms. magazine
176 pages, Hardcover
First published February 3, 2015
66 people are currently reading
1026 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
February 8, 2015
This book is an important addition to the literature on aging and work in America. It is written with an incredible warmth and understanding of the vast subjects of eldercare and caregiving in this country. It is impossible to read without relating some parts of it to your own experience, either as a senior, a caregiver, a parent, a child, or a member of the so-called "sandwich generation," those with children of their own and elder parents. I am recommending this book to everyone I know. Indispensable.
February 26, 2016
3.5 stars. Interesting and once I realized it's really about the care workers more than the elders themselves, I found it easier to read. It made good and important points, but they were maybe a bit repetitive for such a short book.
abandoned
October 29, 2018I feel very silly getting less than halfway through such a short book, but sometimes your library holds all come in at once [shrug]. I will say I appreciate Poo's perspective of treating this big demographic change as not a crisis; I'm not sure how optimistic I can be about it, but she's got a good balance of solid policy / facts & figures with a joyful understanding of her subjects' worth and humanity.
May 5, 2015
The first half of this book was wonderful. It was informative and resonant with experience. Poo does a great job of understanding and highlighting the hardships facing families as they mount the challenge of maintaining quality of life while coping with diminishing independence of loved ones.
Unfortunately in the middle of the book Poo adulterates her purpose. She leaves the world of Elder-care and goes on a tirade about immigration and minimum wages.
Her premise that elder-care will remain the domain of immigrants after a time when the job requires training, is respected, and employees are well paid smacks of intellectually dishonesty. She claims it is only fair to give citizenship to anyone who comes to America to take care of the elderly. Elder care is not the place to have a debate about a path to citizenship.
She also implies that quality elder-care dependent on a wage of $15 an hour. Although I am a proponent of a living wage set into public policy again I do not think Elder-care is the appropriate arena for this discussion.
Poo claims to stay focused on her agenda explicitly saying she is avoiding topics such as child-care and care for individuals with disabilities. It was incredibly disappointing to see an author with such understanding of the problem hijack her own book to other socio-polical motives.
Unfortunately in the middle of the book Poo adulterates her purpose. She leaves the world of Elder-care and goes on a tirade about immigration and minimum wages.
Her premise that elder-care will remain the domain of immigrants after a time when the job requires training, is respected, and employees are well paid smacks of intellectually dishonesty. She claims it is only fair to give citizenship to anyone who comes to America to take care of the elderly. Elder care is not the place to have a debate about a path to citizenship.
She also implies that quality elder-care dependent on a wage of $15 an hour. Although I am a proponent of a living wage set into public policy again I do not think Elder-care is the appropriate arena for this discussion.
Poo claims to stay focused on her agenda explicitly saying she is avoiding topics such as child-care and care for individuals with disabilities. It was incredibly disappointing to see an author with such understanding of the problem hijack her own book to other socio-polical motives.
May 22, 2015
This book is a double call for action. It calls for fair treatment of caregivers, with a focus on those who take care of the elderly. And it calls for the creation of a Care Grid, by which our society can best care for the elderly. One of the goals is the dignity of both the caregiver and the cared-for.
Unfortunately, the book is padded with biographical and autobiographical material that often adds little to the arguments, but is apparently what the author thinks will keep many people interested enough to read the arguments (however, the numbers on Goodreads and amazon.com imply there are few people buying the book).
What to do with my generation as it ages should be a top priority in the U.S., but is not. Poo’s proposals should be a central part of the discussion. These proposals should also be folded into the bigger arguments about what caregivers deserve in the way of remuneration and what immigration laws our society both requires and should ethically have. In short, what sort of society do we want to live in? I want to live in one similar to Poo's descriptions.
Unfortunately, the book is padded with biographical and autobiographical material that often adds little to the arguments, but is apparently what the author thinks will keep many people interested enough to read the arguments (however, the numbers on Goodreads and amazon.com imply there are few people buying the book).
What to do with my generation as it ages should be a top priority in the U.S., but is not. Poo’s proposals should be a central part of the discussion. These proposals should also be folded into the bigger arguments about what caregivers deserve in the way of remuneration and what immigration laws our society both requires and should ethically have. In short, what sort of society do we want to live in? I want to live in one similar to Poo's descriptions.
September 17, 2015
Anyone who has ageing parents should read this. With rising healthcare costs for the elderly and the homes for the elderly, both the ones with limited care as well as full care, are expensive. Once a patient checks in, the average duration of their stay is just under 3 years before death comes.
The first half talks about the elderly and our current system for long term care, but the focus on the last half was mostly about the caregivers.
I liked the focus on the importance of dignity and security, for both the elderly and their caregivers.
The first half talks about the elderly and our current system for long term care, but the focus on the last half was mostly about the caregivers.
I liked the focus on the importance of dignity and security, for both the elderly and their caregivers.
June 17, 2017
Full disclosure, I am working with Ai-jen and her team on using improvisation in care situations -both to bring to light the plight of caregivers as well as for use in caregiving situations. Having said that I found this book to be moving, hopeful, and an inspiring call to action. We are all involved in caregiving - we will all at some point in time be called upon to give or receive care and to work with those who provide care professionally. It is important for us to reflect on its value and to put that value at the forefront of our policy decisions.
April 25, 2024
Has to read this for rotation and it was decent
June 10, 2025
I could not have found a more relevant book at a relevant time. A great discussion of care giving in our country and why it matters - and it does matter.
December 14, 2017
This book was recommended to me by someone who heard Ai-jen Poo on NPR and knew I would be interested. I love the title of her book "age of dignity" and her passion and commitment to do more for caregiving as a profession and as something families do for their own. She has a good mix of personal anecdotes from her own family's experience with caregiving and many of the people she has known who work in this capacity since she has helped them organize into a union. Some of the book reads a little too much like a "manifesto" of what she wants to have happen, which made the book less compelling than others I have read on similar topics. Still, Poo makes a convincing case that the "elder boom" is happening and there are ways our country can learn from others like Japan to take steps for a smoother transition to the dramatic rise in seniors. Her advice is practical and wise--whether it will be heeded (e.g., some involved easing immigration restrictions for care workers that are going to be badly needed), especially in this current administration, is very doubtful; still, one can hope.
October 6, 2015
Excellent book. Addresses everything regarding the increasing proportion of the American population that is aging and needs or will need services, from the demographics, to what is needed, to the "sandwich" generation, to the workers, to how to pay for it, to some solutions from other countries.
And, because, according to the author, without the immigrants who perform many of the services (and yes, many are currently undocumented) it touches on the need for immigration reform. E.g., were you aware that American citizen children born to undocumented immigrant parents can be and are taken from their parents and placed in foster care. And, because of the way the system works, the parents may not receive notice of hearings, be deemed incompetent when they don't show up, and have their parental rights terminated and their children put up for adoption.
The poor pay and treatment of home care workers is a direct result of racist and sexist practices that excluded from labor protection laws those jobs that were staffed predominantly by females of color and immigrants.
I highly recommend it if you're interested in the topic. A quick read once I got into it in spite of being so comprehensive.
And, because, according to the author, without the immigrants who perform many of the services (and yes, many are currently undocumented) it touches on the need for immigration reform. E.g., were you aware that American citizen children born to undocumented immigrant parents can be and are taken from their parents and placed in foster care. And, because of the way the system works, the parents may not receive notice of hearings, be deemed incompetent when they don't show up, and have their parental rights terminated and their children put up for adoption.
The poor pay and treatment of home care workers is a direct result of racist and sexist practices that excluded from labor protection laws those jobs that were staffed predominantly by females of color and immigrants.
I highly recommend it if you're interested in the topic. A quick read once I got into it in spite of being so comprehensive.
March 18, 2015
An interesting and important look at dealing with our growing aging populations. There were enlightening profiles of people who have made care-giving a career as well as people providing care for family members. There are a lot of things to think about and plan for both for individuals and for society as a whole. The author raised some important systemic issues such as health insurance, immigration reform, and protections for domestic workers that our politicians really need to buckle down and actually make progress on. There's also a lot of food for thought for individuals thinking about how their lives might be impacted by caring for an aging family members and also for how they'll deal with their own inevitable decline. The author has some interesting ideas for addressing both systemic and individual issues. I particularly liked the concept of care vouchers where you get credit for providing voluntary care for someone that you can then redeem later for voluntary care from someone else.
September 18, 2015
Poo dispenses some hard truths about what growing older might mean for us, for those we care for & those who will care for us. It’s a blessing. It’s a drag. It’s gonna happen. Are you ready? Poo raises the typical questions and concerns regarding how we as a country and culture might come to grips with the rising cost of eldercare and projected increased elderly population. "The Age of Dignity" details a socialistic utopia fairy tale in which all individuals & forces magically align to care for the every elderly person. It’s called Grid Care and Caring Across Generations. These are Poo’s babies, her 9 to 5. Along with way Poo soapboxes about Women’s equality, immigrant workers, tax the wealthy, etc. With scant reference to actual medicine or medicine based practices for dealing with elderly independence, aging, care of aging, understanding or altering our mindset of death, etc...this book reads like fiction.
December 21, 2021
If you make it to age seventy-five having survived the threat of cancer and organ failure, the likelihood is that you will make it to eighty-five, even ninety-five or beyond one hundred.
Research shows that caring for aging parents shared among siblings often causes childhood family dynamics to reignite, old wounds to reopen, and the healing of family therapy to come undone.
Family caregivers sacrifices create a domino effect, hurting the caregiver's children and other family members, not to mention society and the economy as a whole.
Avoiding a dying person deprives us of one of the most meaningful opportunities in life: to get closure and say goodbye.
The baby boomer generation causes the number of individuals in the United States who are 65 years of age or older to increase from 40 million to 70 million during the next 20 years.
Social Security is the principal source of income for nearly 2/3 of older American households.
Research shows that caring for aging parents shared among siblings often causes childhood family dynamics to reignite, old wounds to reopen, and the healing of family therapy to come undone.
Family caregivers sacrifices create a domino effect, hurting the caregiver's children and other family members, not to mention society and the economy as a whole.
Avoiding a dying person deprives us of one of the most meaningful opportunities in life: to get closure and say goodbye.
The baby boomer generation causes the number of individuals in the United States who are 65 years of age or older to increase from 40 million to 70 million during the next 20 years.
Social Security is the principal source of income for nearly 2/3 of older American households.
January 30, 2016
Based on just the ideas, I would give this book five stars. She addresses one of the most urgent issues we face as a society -- and are currently failing. Ai-jen Poo offers a vision of what we need to do, if we only find the collective will to do it. Her vision is not pie in the sky; it is a realistic and a caring one of which we are capable: providing training, livable wages, and support to caregivers, helping elders to stay in their homes (more economical than facility care), and making our communities more aware of one another and our needs. Brava to her. She has done real work on the ground helping to organize home care workers, so she directly knows both caregivers and the cared for and the realities they face.
May 15, 2015
This book provides a necessary introduction to issues we aren't but should be talking about. Our nation, like others, is experiencing a growth in the elder population, and we are immensely unprepared to deal with both the elders themselves and their grossly underpaid and undervalued caregivers.
Although the writing was a bit repetitive at times, the message is worth repeating, and hopefully this book is just the beginning of a very important conversation that will effect change. We must elevate our view of caregivers and provide them with the same respect we wish them to provide for our elders.
Although the writing was a bit repetitive at times, the message is worth repeating, and hopefully this book is just the beginning of a very important conversation that will effect change. We must elevate our view of caregivers and provide them with the same respect we wish them to provide for our elders.
July 21, 2015
The subject of this book is universally important because everyone has some relationship to caregiving in their life whether they receive it or give it, pay for it or do it for love rather than money. Poo shares a compelling vision of a society and economy built around what societies are actually about – the relationships between us. It changed the way I think about my family and my future in some profound ways and I'd recommend it to anyone. It's a quick read and well worth it more for the ideas than the delivery, although it's written well enough.
August 3, 2015
According to the stats in this book, by 2035...not that long from now!...the number of Americans over the age of eighty five will more than double to 11.5 million. It is the fastest growing age group. As babyboomers are aging into retirement, Ai-jen Poo describes in this book the "Elder Boom" happening right now! She examines care issues, and envisions a new future, where more folks can stay in their homes and receive the care they need to lead good lives. She also lifts up fairness issues for caregivers.
February 3, 2015
Poo is a great story-teller. I don't usually like non-fiction (too dry, too pedantic -- give me a beautifully written, plot-driven novel please) but Poo weaves together her insights on aging and caregiving with a series of stories that really drew me in. I recommend this book to anyone caring for an elderly loved one, seniors trying to figure out how to age with dignity, and to parents trying to juggle work and family caregiving obligations.
April 6, 2016
This book is so essential for advocating for the care that our elders are going to need! The reality is also really depressing... and I definitely had to take breaks when listening. I have way more empathy for my parents, in-laws, and others that have had to make such tough decisions.
If you need a similar read, one that also tackles this subject well with more humor try Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast.
If you need a similar read, one that also tackles this subject well with more humor try Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast.
May 10, 2016
An important and well-written read about the coming elder-age boom but it is also about the intersection of immigrant labor, aging in home, and home care workers. We all want to die with dignity but how will that be possible without major changes to our healthcare system, shifting our paradigm about aging, death, and dying, and, finally, fairly compensating the people we entrust to care for our elders? Ai-Jen Poo provides solutions to these problems.
May 21, 2015
An important book. With the Elder Boom approaching, it is really important that those of us who may someday need care help insure that caregivers are trained and fairly paid. Aging at home makes sense, but many will need help to do that. Unpaid family caregiving is important, but families need help too. We need to treat care givers with the respect they deserve.
April 23, 2015
It is truly inspiring to read Ai-Jen Poo's book about the dignity of domestic workers and how we need to challenge ourselves to to transform our society to one that values caring. She gives lots of great ideas on how to do it at the end. She also tells lots of good stories to help get people to care. Thought provoking and action provoking as well.
April 26, 2015
Simple, straightforward and useful
This book presents a positive and forward-looking approach to the "elder boom" facing America. I recommend it to anyone seeking solutions to the issues posed by the rapidly growing aging population in need of care to enable them to lead lives of fulfillment and dignity.
This book presents a positive and forward-looking approach to the "elder boom" facing America. I recommend it to anyone seeking solutions to the issues posed by the rapidly growing aging population in need of care to enable them to lead lives of fulfillment and dignity.
August 12, 2016
3.5 stars. This book is a policy proposal, which is why I only awarded it 3.5 stars. Despite that, the author does an excellent job explaining the aspects of elder care in a way lay people can understand. I recommend this to anyone who wants to better understand this for their own aging concerns (or that of a loved one) or to better understand what policies would make the most sense.
March 26, 2018
4 stars for starting a conversation about this grossly neglected topic. We ALL need to evaluate our views on "aging with dignity". This society (USA) does not value elders or children. Such vital resources are wasted by not appreciating what value each time of life offers. Seniors are carriers of history. So much abuse of seniors occurs in "health care". You will find out if you live long enough.
March 11, 2015
This is an important book, though it also has some notable missed opportunities. My full review in the NYT here: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/01/boo...
June 20, 2015
Quick, easy read that offers hopeful, compassionate solutions to the complex issues of aging in America by valuing care work and supporting an expanded understanding of the relationships needed to do it well.
October 25, 2015
Incredibly moving, with many touching anecdotes from both the author and folks who shared their stories for the book. With 10,000 Americans turning age 65 every day, this book should be required reading for students and US policymakers.
January 18, 2018
As an only child caregiver I had hoped that this book would offer more concrete ways to cope with my responsibilities and my own aging. It turns out to be more of a manifesto on what society should do to ensure that we care for the elderly in a responsible way.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews