National Survey from Parker Finds Majority of Americans Hopeful and Optimistic About Aging

Leading Aging Services Organization Celebrates 110th Anniversary, Launches New Brand to “Make Aging Part of Life”

Highland Park, New Jersey. (May 11, 2017) – Most Americans appear hopeful and optimistic about aging according to a new, national study from Parker, one of America’s leading aging services organizations that this year celebrates its 110th anniversary. Key findings from Parker’s “Aging in America Survey”—which examines the nation’s changing attitudes and opinions around growing older in the U.S.—include:

  • A vast majority of Americans (71%) do not fear or worry about aging very much or at all.
  • More than half of those surveyed (62%) believe that 80 is not too old to serve in government, run a marathon, be CEO of a Fortune 500 company, teach a class, or practice yoga.
  • Those surveyed were evenly split (49% each) in describing the experience of growing older in America today with positive words (e.g., “hopeful,” “relevant,” “vibrant”) vs. negative words (e.g., “scary,” “depressing,” “lonely”).
  • Nearly two-thirds (59%) of Americans feel that not enough technology innovation focuses on the lifestyles of older people.
  • While 38% of Americans feel the most positive thing about getting older is gaining more experience and wisdom, only 1% believes it is acquiring greater wealth and material goods.
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“This survey underscores how American society’s views on aging are changing for the better, especially as the Baby Boom generation reaches retirement age and beyond,” says Roberto Muñiz, President and CEO of Parker, which for over a century has been challenging, changing, and expanding the idea of what it means to grow older in America. “Seniors are staying more vibrant, active, and connected well into their seventies, eighties, nineties, and beyond, and society is beginning to embrace that fact.”

.@parkerlifeorg celebrates 110 years making aging part of life  

Brand New Day for Organization 110 Years Young
A multi-dimensional aging services organization with a vibrant history of long-term care and a special focus on quality-of-life, Parker currently has locations throughout New Jersey in Highland Park, New Brunswick, Monroe Township, Somerset, and Piscataway. The organization offers its services and subsidized support to people across a range of abilities and needs, in its residences and in its communities.

To celebrate its special milestone, today Parker will be hosting across all its campuses a 110th anniversary celebration that includes activities for residents/participants and families; prepared remarks from Parker executives and elected officials; and a special “fireside chat” between Mr. Muñiz and Tao Porchon-Lynch, 98-year-old master yoga instructor and bestselling author of Dancing Light: The Spiritual Side of Being through the Eyes of a Modern Yoga Master.

Today, as part of these festivities, Parker also will officially unveil its dynamic new brand, which includes a range of assets such as a new logo, posters, banners, and brand film, which inspire young and old alike to be #WithIt—Parker’s campaign that brings to life these ideas about aging in America. Parker partnered with Ideon, a strategic branding firm based in New York City, on research, positioning, messaging, design, and launch.

“Our new brand emerged organically from what we were seeing and experiencing every day at Parker—all of which was borne out by our survey results,” explains Mr. Muñiz. “Beyond today marking a historic milestone, we’re excited to launch our new brand, which seeks to upend outdated cultural notions about aging in America, and challenges all of us to make aging part of life.”

Survey Methodology
Parker’s “Aging in America” survey was conducted from March 23-26, 2017 using ORC International’s Telephone CARAVAN® omnibus using two probability samples: randomly selected landline telephone numbers and randomly selected mobile (cell) telephone numbers. The combined sample consists of 1,018 adults (18 years old and older) living in the continental United States. Of the 1,018 interviews, 518 were from the landline sample and 500 from the cell phone sample. The margin of error for the sample of 1,018 is +/- 3.07% at the 95% confidence level.

About Parker
Parker is a nonprofit, New Jersey-based aging services organization with over 100 years’ experience, that is committed to changing perceptions about aging, empowering older Americans, and making aging part of life.

A national thought leader on the conversation around aging in America, Parker currently has locations throughout New Jersey in Highland Park, New Brunswick, Monroe Township, Somerset, and Piscataway. Parker has a vibrant history of person-centered, long-term care, with a special focus on quality-of-life. We offer these services and provide subsidized support to people across a range of abilities and needs, in our residences and in our communities.

Instead of focusing on what the culture tells us we can’t do as we grow older, Parker focuses on what we want to do more of. Since 1907, Parker has led the way in aging services—challenging, changing, and expanding the idea of what it means to grow older in America—and how everyone can be #WithIt. For more information visit www.Parkerlife.org.

Contact:

Andrew Conn
SweeneyVesty
(212) 256-8151
[email protected]

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