Older People are Getting More Active
Before you read
Have you heard of the baby boomer generation?
How do you feel about the cost of paying for older people in hospitals and old age homes?
What do you think you will be like when you get to retirement age?
One of the concerns for developed countries is an aging population. In the west, there is a generation known as the baby boomer generation – those born between 1946 and 1964. As this generation has been getting older they have been adding spikes to economic graphs such as the increased need for education, increased spending on houses and demand for consumer products. Now as the first of this generation is beginning to retire it poses a big challenge for economies as they place more demands on medical resources and pension benefits. The problem is that at the other end, developed economies also have less young people working and paying tax to support these services.
Of course where there are challenges there are also opportunities. If you think about it, then you can see opportunities to invest in certain industries or train for some kinds of new jobs. For example, my girlfriend is currently training to be a social worker with the elderly. Interestingly, in the west, a lot of elderly have a lot of money and are refusing to act their age. They are spending up on big ticket items such as expensive motorcycles, parachuting out of planes, going on golfing holidays etc. The years ahead pose challenges, but they also offer opportunities.
Guessing Meaning From Context
Now, match the letters of the phrasal verbs/words with the closest numbered meaning in the right column. The meanings here are based on the way the words are used in this writing. The answers are at the bottom.
|
baby boomer generation |
A |
1 |
Ask for more things/wants/needs |
|
spikes |
B |
2 |
Opposite, another view or issue |
|
poses |
C |
3 |
A marketing expression to describe a group of people born at some time that helps to describe how they act and their attitudes/thinking |
|
place more demands |
D |
4 |
Things that cost a lot of money |
|
at the other end |
E |
5 |
Be mature. Do the things that are expected of us because of how old we are |
|
big ticket items |
F |
6 |
A sharp increase |
|
Act their age |
G |
7 |
Buying a lot, opposite of budgeting |
|
spending up |
H |
8 |
To show something for consideration |
A=3, B=6, C=8, D=1, E=2, F=4, G=5, H=7
Some Questions to help you use the new words/phrases
1. Did your country also have a baby boomer or similar generation? Can you describe it?
2. What things cause food prices to spike?
3. What challenges or difficulties will be posed in the 2nd half of 2011? You could talk about economic or social ones.
4. How is an aging population in Korea posing more demands on Korea?
5. We need to help pay for the elderly, but at the other end, what do you think is the other opinion?
6. How do you feel about people who don’t act their age and want to do youthful things?
7. Tell me about a time you spent up?
8. What is the biggest ticket item you have bought?
Some example sentences using the new words/phrases
1. People from the baby boomer generation are living longer and have much more money to spend in their retirement than their parents’ generation.
2. Many people have forgotten, but last summer there was a lot of rain in Korea and this caused the price of kimchi to spike, and this posed problems for many restaurants who were expected to give kimchi as a side dish with every serving.
3. As Seoul gets bigger and bigger then there are more demands placed on services like public transport.
4. It is very nice to have a credit card and spend up sometimes, but at the other end we have to pay for it.
5. Some people refuse to act their age, they want to keep their minds youthful and enjoy life.
6. One of the biggest ticket items I have ever bought was a Cartier watch.
ECK Education
