Health and Wellness and Baby Boomer Fears

One of the main groups to contribute to the explosion of the wellness movement is the baby boomers - a group of post-war babies, now ages 38-66. As 10,000 of them turn 50 every day (that’s one every 7.5 seconds) they seek to maintain their youth and youthful lifestyle; full of health and vitality! As Paul Zane Pilzer explains in his book, The Wellness Revolution, baby boomers are the driving force behind this movement, and one of the two main reasons for the wellness industry’s expansion.

Pilzer defines wellness as the approach of people (mainly baby boomers) seeking information, as well as products and services to STAY WELL. He clearly states that this will become a Trillion Dollar industry by 2010 because over half of the population is adopting this pro-active approach to health. The demand for wellness products and services will only explode. Pilzer also suggests that while the baby boomers were the “first generation of wellness”, it is Generation X that will continue to drive the “boomer-established approach to wellness and aging as a standard medical procedure”.

A Spotlight on the Health and Wellness Opportunity

Not only have the boomers embraced the Wellness Revolution, they have defined the best way to deliver the message to the masses: through direct sales. They have understood that educating consumers about products that will enhance their lives equals personal contact… and the best vehicle for what Pilzer calls “intellectual distribution” is person-to-person marketing.

Pilzer’s book illustrates the potential business opportunity when wellness is marketed through direct sales; stating that the greatest fortunes are to be made when wellness and direct sales are paired together. And the companies to profit most from this “revolution” are solid ones, with credibility and quality products. Companies that offer proven products that position them at the forefront of scientific breakthroughs.

There is a time and place for everything… and for the business opportunity offered by the wellness movement, timing is key! Pilzer estimates that by 2010, baby boomers and generation Xers will have brought this industry up to one trillion dollars. He says: “Anyone who positions himself to take advantage of supplying wellness information and/or products… stands to make a literal FORTUNE in this decade.”

Wellness is not a Single Monolithic Movement--There are Clusters of Wellness

Fitness: a mind-body connection

One cluster of wellness is physical activity. The human body was designed for an active, rather than a sedentary lifestyle. Moderate daily exercise is a must in order to propel wellness and maintain good health for both the mind and body. Physical activity also helps to alleviate stress; an unwelcome predator threatening wellness. We live in an era where technology has to keep up with us… or is it the other way around? The constant demand for individuals to “keep up to speed” takes a major toll on their minds. Mental wellness is the ability to cope with today’s fast-paced world.

 
Nutrition: treating the body

It’s understood by many that if we don’t take care of our body, it will not return the favor; hence the motive for the shift towards wellness. Today more than ever, healthy eating steers us towards natural health foods and supplementation. Not only do individuals attempt to supply the nutrients that are lacking in their diets; but through self-diagnosis, seek additional dietary supplements that they believe will contribute to their well-being. At the other end of the health and wellness spectrum is obesity which is the subject of the next webpage.

Longevity: the ultimate goal!

It all comes down to this… In today’s definition of wellness, crucial elements are maintaining our health, physical ability, sharp minds, appearance… for as long as possible! At the base of it all, wellness has become far more than averting health complications. It is our endeavor to live longer, healthier lives! But there's a wrinkle.

Baby Boomers Face Perilous Times Right Now

Baby Boomers have never had a reputation for being savers or people that necessarily planned a whole lot for the future. The past has been good with many years of excellent economic growth reflected in a generally strong stock market and an ever increasing housing market and a fairly good employment market. Beginning in Dec 07, the wheels started to come loose and by September 15/08 McCain was still saying the fundamentals of the economy are sound. Then the s --- hit the fan. The stock market seems to be in a never ending downward spiral held up only by the occasional good day when Obama speaks. Job losses continue to climb and the housing market is just the pits. Baby Boomers have much to be worried about--this was not supposed to happen and nothing has prepared us for this.

The fundamental problem is two fold: savings are low and in the vast majority of situations, there is only one source of income so when that dries up, circumstances turn bad in a hurry. Income diversification in the past has meant buying stocks or houses. We all know that's not be working lately. There is another option in the home based business market. Small business ideas have always kept American afloat and prospering. I firmly believe that the American dream is alive and well in the small business arena. What small business? Immunotec -- A leader in the health and wellness industryprimarily because of a product called immunocal. A product that has 30 years of real clinical research behind it and a worthy leader in the wellness revolution. For flagship product information

Baby Boomers Fears

Baby Boomers have had it pretty good over the last 50 years. When the Cold War ended there was a universal sigh of relief that we were now on "easy street". Well that lasted about 10 years. Now, we have the re-emergence of Russia and the colossal economic power China and India to confront. "Times, they are a changing."

Baby Boomers worry about growing old, looking old and being old (and working at WalMart). When Baby Boomers look at old age there biggest fear could be running out of money in their Seventies or Eighties. Baby Boomers know that when you're that old part time jobs are scarce, health is not often the greatest and your energy level is definitely not what it used to be. The smart ones will have developed alternative income streams that do not require a full time commitment. A small business like this one that can be done by telephone and computer--no heavy lifting and lots of leverage.

Tom Brokow from MNBC has news series on Baby Boomers.(March 2010) In his article he states that

"More than 4 million baby boomers are unemployed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For many, retirement at 65 is no longer an option.Facing shrinking nest eggs and mounting bills, they need to work, but they wonder if anyone will hire them again." People who once earned over $200,000 per year are applying for jobs paying over 50% less and not even getting interviewed. The prospect are looking bleak especially for "old guys". 

News Article from Huffington Post March 5,2010

"Unemployment for Americans 55 and older surged 331 percent over the past decade, according to a new analysis by the AARP Public Policy Institute.

"The data clearly shows that older workers have faced a devastating rise in unemployment, with far-reaching implications not only for their employment status but also for their health and retirement security," said AARP spokeswoman Mary Liz Burns. Burns added that unemployment puts a particularly tough squeeze on middle-aged folks -- who often have to provide for kids moving back home after college and elderly parents.

According to AARP, from January 2000 through December 2009, the total number of unemployed individuals 55 and older rose from 490,000 to 2,114,000. The number of unemployed 65 and up rose from 143,000 to 479,000. And the average duration of unemployment for people 55 and up increased 85.6 percent from 18.7 weeks to 34.7 weeks. For people older than 64, the duration went up almost a third, from 24.8 weeks to 32.9 weeks."

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