By Meghan Streit
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

The first baby boomers will turn 62 this year, and this generation of retirees is poised to redefine prevailing conceptions of aging, according to a recent report from the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA).

“Active aging means staying involved in life, and the boomers are planning to do that,” ICAA CEO Colin Milner says. “This age group is ready to take action to stay healthy and actively engaged with their friends, families, and communities.”

Milner and his staff identified eight trends in aging that they say will become increasingly apparent as baby boomers begin to retire.

Patty Luessenhop, executive director of Monarch Landing, says residents at the Naperville Erickson retirement community already exhibit these trends, putting  them well ahead of the active aging curve. She says her staff goes to great lengths to help residents lead active and healthy lives.

“At Monarch Landing and Erickson, we are staying up on these trends in advance of the boomers coming to our communities,” Luessenhop says. “We stay current on aging trends and research through hands-on learning, attending conferences, completing coursework, and staying up-to-date on the latest information about health, exercise, diet, demographics, and medicine.”