I am still thawing from being awakened by our editor from the cryogenic freeze I was resting in after our amazing 2021 Virtual Conference voyage, and we are already on our way to the 2022 Biennial Conference on the beautiful University of Southern California (USC) campus in Los Angeles.

If you were unable to join us in cyberspace in 2021, we invite you to travel with us to sunny Southern California, October 2-4, 2022. You will have opportunities to learn more about the 2021 virtual conference and the 2022 in-person conference in this issue of AROHE Matters.

To all those who dared to enter the Stargate and join us for our 2021 conference in cyberspace, the AROHE crew extends our hearty thank you. We hope you found the experience worthwhile and that you have new ideas and directions for yourselves and for your retirement organizations. We at AROHE have learned much that will guide us in our work.

We congratulate our HERO Awardees for the good work they are doing.

Please join me to extend sincere gratitude and appreciation to the many volunteers who made our voyage possible, especially Sue Barnes and Joyce Tenney, conference co-chairs, Susan Kress and Gretchen Schulz, program committee co-chairs, and the other members of our conference planning committee and subcommittees.

Our keynote speakers, Dr. Louise Aronson and Dr. Jean Accius, were outstanding. They engaged us with their presentations even from afar. They inspired us with thoughtful and sincere messages. Thank you as well to all the plenary session and concurrent session presenters and moderators who provided valuable information throughout the journey.

We have our sponsors to thank for our keynote addresses, plenary sessions, and sponsor sessions. We especially thank TIAA, Kendal, and AARP. We have received many accolades for their thoughtful and informative presentations. I am particularly impressed with the values expressed by their companies and how closely aligned they are with AROHE’s core values. Visit https://www.arohe.org/sponsors to see all of our sponsors.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

May 2022 be a healthy, happy, and prosperous year for you.

Until we meet again at the 2022 Biennial Conference on the beautiful USC campus, if not before, live long(er) and prosper!

Click to return to the Issue Highlights.

AROHE News

2021 Virtual Conference Highlights

Ageism: A Challenge for AROHE and Retirement Organizations

In her AROHE virtual conference keynote address, Louise Aronson, MD, MFA, geriatrician, professor of medicine at UC San Francisco (UCSF), and author of the New York Times best seller and Pulitzer Prize finalist, Elderhood: Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine and Reimaging Life, addressed the challenge of ageism in creating a more just and inclusive society to reap the benefits of the longevity dividend.

Ageism was defined by Dr. Robert Butler, founding director of the National Institute on Aging (NIA), in the publication of his Pulitzer-prize-winning Why Survive? Being Old in America, as a process of systematic stereotyping or discrimination against people because they are old, just as racism and sexism accomplish with skin color and gender.

Dr. Aronson reflected on three objectives in addressing ageism: lessons learned, how we talk about older adults, and steps to take. The pandemic highlighted the United States’ insufficient care system for older adults, especially older adults of color. While only 17% of the population, older adults have represented 80% of the deaths due to COVID. Inadequate attention to frailty; personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages where most needed, e.g., nursing homes; and poor targeting of testing all contributed to the very poor outcomes for older adults. When older adults were prioritized and considered a separate category needing attention with special needs, death rates plummeted.

Aronson stated that when we talk about older adults, we need to stop pitting generations against each other. An intergenerational society functions much better. Creating unfriendly and/or inaccurate descriptions of older adults creates structured discrimination and a less effective care system that does not adequately address the needs of older adults who represent 30 to 40% of its consumers. For example, at UCSF, the children’s departmental art budget is larger than the geriatric program’s total budget.

In her list of steps to take to address ageism and be more just and inclusive, Aronson included:

Always check your assumptions about older adults.
Focus on more age-friendly environments.
Normalize the aging experience (older adults are the younger person’s future selves).
Change the picture of older adults to reflect the great variety of later life experience, diversity, and contributions.

AROHE and campus retirement organizations can and should address issues of ageism. By representing retired staff and faculty and demonstrating their continuing value, curiosity, and commitment to campus and community, we can all transform the vison of life after fulltime employment to create a new paradigm for life’s later chapters.

AROHE members can view the session recording. See the article on conference recordings for instructions.

Click to return to the Issue Highlights.

Returning To Normal Isn’t An Option: The Opportunity To Create A New, Stronger, And More Inclusive Future Is Now

Jean Accius’ aptly titled virtual conference keynote address encouraged the audience to be courageous, interdependent, and action-orented to create change. He challenged the audience to “write a new story” rather than returning to pre-COVID “normal." Accius posited the ingredients of the new post-COVID story to be interdependence, having courage, and taking action.

Explaining that while we value and seek to be independent, doing so requires us to be interdependent. He stated, “We can accomplish more by working together than we can working alone. Interdependence is a win-win for all.”

The second ingredient is that of courage. Accius explained that it takes courage to be interdependent; to be a “we” rather than an “I.” “To “write a new story” involves change; change brings fear and calls for courage. To invest in change requires us to be self-aware and to examine our values; that takes courage. The courage to be a “we” means we are concerned for our communities and the individuals in the community, especially in the areas of income, health, and longevity.

The third ingredient is taking action! Accius gave an example of longevity and zip codes. He compared several communities having different zip codes. Though separated by only a few miles, differences of 20+ years of longevity were known and associated with disparities in health, income, and education.The audience was encouraged to become aware and to take action.

In concluding, Accius reminded the audience of their power, both as individuals and as part of the increasingly large population of older persons. He challenged the audience to be interdependent, to be aware and brave, and to make decisions to act.

AROHE members can view the session recording. See the article on conference recordings for instructions.

Click to return to the Issue Highlights.

2021 Virtual Conference Session Recordings

AROHE members can view recordings and PowerPoint presentations for the virtual conference's keynote addresses, plenary panels, concurrent sessions, and sponsor sessions by logging in to the AROHE website.

If you would like to add additional board members, committee members or campus administrators to your organization's membership so they can have access to the recordings and other member resources, email each additional person's name and email address to info@arohe.org.

Some organizations are planning to show sessions at their board meetings and then facilitate a discussion about how their organization might implement projects similar to the ideas presented. This is a great example of leveraging attendance at the conference to benefit the organization.

View the 2021 Virtual Conference Session Proceedings

2022 Conference - Save the Date

AROHE will celebrate its 20th anniversary at an in-person conference at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles October 2-4, 2022. We are excited to continue the momentum from our 2021 virtual conference with thought provoking sessions, networking, and peer-to peer idea exchanges. This conference will bring AROHE full circle, as USC is the campus that led the efforts to establish AROHE as a nonprofit organization.

AROHE has reached its 20-year anniversary due to the dedication of many volunteers over the years. The organization evolved from 15 years of informal conferences hosted by individual universities and was significantly influenced by the longstanding, successful retiree organizations established at some large universities such as Florida State University, Emory University, Clemson University, UCLA, UC Berkeley, the University of Southern California, Indiana University, and the University of Washington. Through member networking and biennial conferences, AROHE continues to transform the retirement experience and to provide ongoing opportunities for member networking and sharing of successful practices and programs.

We hope you can join us in-person for our 2022 conference to continue the discussions. The conference planning committee will be exploring options for those who wish to participate in the in-person conference virtually, but the ability to offer virtual components will be dependent upon cost and technical support.

Click to return to the Issue Highlights.

AROHE HERO Awards Ceremony Video Recording Now Available

The AROHE HERO (Higher Education Retirement Organization) Awards bring national recognition to the outstanding efforts of retirement organizations in higher education and the individuals that are transforming retirement practices and/or influencing creative life of the mind activities on a wider scale.

For those who missed the awards ceremony at the conference, click here to view the recording. AROHE is very grateful to Carol Pope, Kennesaw State University Retirees Association, for volunteering to produce the awards video and several other conference videos.

Five outstanding 2021 AROHE HERO Award recipients were recognized during AROHE’s virtual conference:

Distinguished Leadership award - Dr. Janette C. Brown, University of Southern California Emeriti Center and Emeritus College
Distinguished Service Award - Dr. Sheldon Zedeck, University of California Berkeley Emeriti Association (UCBEA)
Innovation Award (three winners) –
- Arizona State University Retirees Association - Video History Project
- Florida State University Association of Retired Faculty - Retiree Journal and Website
- Northwestern University Emeritus Organization - Community Mini-Courses

For more information about each of the awardees, visit the HERO Awards webpage.

Click to return to the Issue Highlights.

Trends

How to Age Gracefully: Jane Brody’s Considerations

The day after my 80th birthday, which overflowed with good wishes, surprises, and Covid-safe celebrations, I awoke feeling fulfilled and thinking that whatever happens going forward, I’m OK with it. My life has been rewarding, my bucket list is empty, my family is thriving, and if everything ends tomorrow, so be it.

Not that I expect to do anything to hasten my demise. I will continue to exercise regularly, eat healthfully and strive to minimize stress. But I’m also now taking stock of the many common hallmarks of aging and deciding what I need to reconsider.

I found considerable inspiration and guidance in a new book, “Stupid Things I Won’t Do When I Get Old,” by Steven Petrow, written with Roseann Foley Henry. To read further go to How to Age Gracefully - The New York Times (nytimes.com).

Click to return to the Issue Highlights.

Census Bureau Releases Report on Childless Older Americans

Childless Older Americans: 2018, supported in part by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), looks at the changing demographic patterns and trends of older adults without children.

This new report released by the U.S. Census Bureau provides an overview of U.S. adults age 55 and older who do not have biological children.

Click to return to the Issue Highlights.

Resources

November is National Family Caregivers Month and Alzheimer’s Awareness Month -- Celebrating and supporting Alzheimer’s caregivers

Millions of people in the United States take care of a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease. For many families, caring for a person with Alzheimer’s isn’t just one person’s job, but the role of many people who share tasks and responsibilities. No matter what kind of caregiving role you have, taking care of another person can be overwhelming at times. To support caregivers, NIA offers a variety of information and resources. Topics include:

Where to start if you are new to caregiving
Getting financial affairs in order
How to provide help from afar
Finding resources in your area
And more!

Read NIA’s Frequently Asked Questions About Caregiving to find more caregiving information and resources. Celebrate Alzheimer’s caregivers by sharing their unique and inspiring stories on NIA’s Facebook page.

Click to return to the Issue Highlights.

New NIA booklet: Older adults and depression

Holidays can be a time for the “blues.” Feeling down every once in a while is a normal part of life, but if these feelings last longer than a couple weeks or even months, it may be a sign of depression. Depression is treatable. Though people experience depression differently, look for changes in:

Mood. Feeling irritable, restless, hopeless, sad, anxious, or “empty.”
Activity. Loss of interest in once pleasurable activities, including sex, or having trouble sitting still.
Energy. Decreased energy, feeling tired, or moving more slowly.
Cognitive ability. Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Sleep. Difficulty sleeping, waking up too early in the morning, or oversleeping.
Eating. Eating more or less than usual, often with unplanned weight gain or loss.
Thoughts. Considering death or suicide, or suicide attempts.

For more information about depression and how it can be treated, read or order a copy of NIA’s new easy-to-read booklet, Older Adults and Depression: Knowing When to Get Help.

Click to return to the Issue Highlights

Creative Corner

Creativity Member-to-Member Series: University of Washington Retirement Association

The University of Washington Retirement Association (UWRA) used the move to online programming to explore new categories, topics, and formats. One of our most successful new projects is our online Member-to-Member series, small, informal, one-hour sessions led by member-experts for other members. Last year we explored creativity through our Writers and Writing series, including UW retirees who write historical fiction, mystery, memoir, history, and essays.

These programs were popular both with readers and with the unsuspected multitudes of UW retirees who are thinking of writing a book. Discussions included many questions about how and when to write and how to publish.

This year, we have refocused the series to the broader topic of Creativity in Retirement. Our first session in this new vein was by quilt artist Helen Remick – a detailed exploration of her complex work and thought process (available on video at https://uw.edu/uwra/events/program-videos). We are looking forward to featuring our many painters and other visual artists and to sparking creativity in the members who attend the sessions.

Our online programs have had much broader participation, including distant members and those with mobility issues. Closed captions are offered for all online programs. And we have been able to record many programs to post online.

UWRA volunteers and staff have learned a great deal as we have explored writing and creativity online with our members. We are pleased enough with the series that we plan to continue offering virtual programming even when we are able to return to in-person programs.

Readers are invited to explore our programs at uw.edu/uwra. To learn more, contact Janet Primomo, Program Planning Committee co-chair, jprimomo@uw.edu; Tom Hinckley, board president, hinckley@uw.edu; or Cathy Randolph, associate irector randolcl@uw.edu.

Click to return to the Issue Highlights.

With appreciation to Harry (Rick) Moody and the Human Values in Aging Newsletter, hrmoody@yahoo.com.

THE DARK HOURS

“I love the dark hours of my being
for they deepen my senses …

From them I’ve come to know that I have room
for a second life, timeless and wide.

JEWISH HAIKU

Wherever you go, there you are.

Your luggage is another story.

Come Join Us in Transforming Retirement

Since 2001 AROHE has supported both institutions and individuals by transforming the experience of retirement – the preparation, the actual transition, and post-retirement programming – into a smooth and productive life-course change.

To renew, join or learn more, visit arohe.org or contact AROHE by emailing info@arohe.org or calling (213) 740-5037.

Tell Us Your Story

Share News, Activities, and Events of Your Retirement Organization

Please send us a note about the activities, events, and news of your retirement organization for inclusion in AROHE Matters. Send your information to our newsletter editor at pcullinane@berkeley.edu by December 10 for the January 2022 newsletter.

About AROHE

AROHE's mantra is "Transforming Retirement."

AROHE is a nonprofit association that champions transformative practices to support all stages of faculty and staff retirement, their mutually beneficial engagement, and continuing contributions to their academic institutions. By sharing research, innovative ideas, and successful practices, AROHE emphasizes the development and enhancement of campus-based retiree organizations and programs which support this continuing engagement in higher education.

Thank You to our Signature Sponsors

AROHE is grateful to these companies, and to all of our virtual conference sponsors. Their generosity allows us to continue fulfilling our mission of transforming retirement in higher education.