Cecily O'Connor
and Tom Murphy
RedwoodAge.com

President Obama has already issued a loud call to all Americans to help solve the problems facing the country, and a significant number of them stem from the aging population.

A simple thing like commuting by bike helps to cut health costs, reduces oil consumption and saves money. (RedwoodAge)

With 77 million boomers drifting toward retirement, providing sufficient and affordable medical services, age-appropriate housing, transportation and a secure Social Security system are key to moving the nation forward. Without these offerings, millions of people could find their standards of living falling fast after working a lifetime to achieve a secure retirement.

"We are faced with a rare opportunity to put America back on track - we have a crisis that demands it, a new Administration and Congress with a mandate for change, and a public ready for change," said Bill Novelli, AARP's chief executive officer.

Some groups are urging President Obama to make Social Security and Medicare a top priority, noting that swift fixes to these systems could bring relief to other areas of the federal budget and overall economy.

"It is important to recognize that the problem of rising health care spending in the Medicare program reflects the spending growth seen in the US health care system as a whole," said Cori Uccello, senior health fellow at the American Academy of Actuaries. "Unless that spending is addressed, implementing options to control Medicare spending will have limited long-term effectiveness."

Regarding Social Security, the actuaries suggest increasing the retirement age as one possible step.

In our recent series The Longevity Revolution, RedwoodAge looked broadly at retirement security, healthcare and other problems facing the aging US population, including a rise in community-based efforts by ordinary citizens. Below we delve into some creative efforts involving volunteers and others that have been trying to fix some of what's broken. The new Administration may want to take note.

Volunteerism: Boomers' desire to bring about positive change in their community often starts with volunteering. Americans born between 1946 and 1964 are volunteering at higher rates than their ancestors and seeking higher skill assignments that keep them engaged. Many end up managing projects, tutoring, mentoring or coaching. Some adventuresome adults are even turning their vacations into volunteer opportunities, hopping on a plane to help out in other US cities in need. Meanwhile, other boomers who are interested in an "encore," or second career are finding paid opportunities at nonprofit social-benefit organizations that need of experience and talent.

Caregiving: Entrepreneurial-minded adults also are starting new companies or services. For example, Carolyn Rosenblatt, who is a nurse and attorney started Marin Senior Care & Services, a San Rafael, Calif.-based business offering advice on caregiving. Rosenblatt runs frequent low-cost clinics to help caregivers who have questions about healthcare, long-term care insurance, legal issues, estate planning or other aging issues - even hospice care. Clinics such as this help address a big caregiving issue: the need for a one-stop shop of information. Meanwhile, certain US companies also are extending back-up benefits to stressed employees who require extra help when their family caregiver is unavailable to tend to their loved ones.

Financial assistance: Boomers who've been stunned by plunging home values and stock prices now have 200,000 friends to turn to for advice. Eleven non-profit financial associations last year formed the Partnership for Retirement Education and Planning (PREP) to better educate boomers about the unique financial challenges they face, and ways to address them. They're helping boomers who are struggling to pay off a mortgage, or are coming up short in their retirement savings account.

Complete streets: At the city level, officials are paying more attention to the need for "complete streets" policies that try to solve transportation issues by enabling pedestrians, bicyclists and public transit riders to share the road safely with automobiles. Cities like Sacramento and Kirkland, Wash. have extra-wide sidewalks, flowered medians and flashing lights embedded in crosswalks at busy intersections that make it easier individuals of all ages, including a parent pushing a stroller or someone in a wheelchair. Boomers are demanding better cycling routes as they choose an environmentally friendly transportation method that also keeps them healthy. Many also commute by bike to work.

Co-housing: Like complete street policies, co-housing also can be a multi-generational solution. These communities can be constructed from scratch, or born out of an existing housing or condo development. The idea is that residents each own their own home, but benefit financially and socially from shared spaces, such as a community dining room, gardens, garages and workshops. Some co-housing developments are designed for residents of all ages, while a growing number are being aimed specifically at the over-50 crowd to help adults who want to age in place, supported by a sense of community.

Fitness: Most boomers aren't immune to injuries and aches that come with age - some of which can be eliminated through exercise. With that in mind, gym owners are increasingly targeting boomers by offering fitness classes such as strength training and yoga that appeal to those seeking more physical and mental balance. Targeted workouts could make a difference, too, for someone who's trying to stay healthy longer. Regular exercise can help manage and potentially reduce symptoms associated with a chronic illness, for example. Most boomers are taking the entire body into account when planning their fitness regime, too. As such, a growing number of brain fitness games - from crosswords to online puzzles - can help keep the mind sharp and forestall the effects of dementia.

Compounding: As part of pain management, more US pharmacies are compounding prescriptions by tailoring medications to meet an individual's health needs. The process is used routinely in female patients needing hormone therapies, as well as a variety of other health concerns that often accompany aging, including dermatological treatments and dental medications. Compounding helps some women who might need a lower amount of estrogen than what is mixed into a mass-produced drug. Other patients might be allergic to a specific ingredient in a commercial medication and require a tailored prescription.

Overall, many of these efforts are aimed at keeping aging adults healthy and engaged longer. And those goals coincide closely with reducing the costs of taking care of a huge, aging population at a time when the money isn't there to expand Social Security or Medicare.