MATURE MARKET HEADLINES POSTED 06/02/97
Mature Mouth Mania Manifests Molar-mending Miracle
"You'll wonder where the yellow went, when you brush your teeth with Pepsident". Remember that one? Our obsession with pearly white teeth has been with us for decades. And time has made many mature boomers more, not less, obsessed with their teeth. Many went to great extremes and expense in order to get a million dollar smile.
Now, getting teeth to look their whitest and brightest no longer involves the expense and inconvenience typically associated with traditional teeth-whitening techniques. The new miracle whitener is called "OptiWhite", a mint-flavored tablet that is dissolved in your mouth three times a day in order to achieve ... TAH-DAH ... the elusive "whiter, brighter smile". Developed by a team of dentists and biochemists, Chicago-based manufacturer, AmerCon Inc says the OptiWhite tablets delivers results in 21 days when used as directed.
And here's what's directed. You simply place the tablet against your teeth, moving the tablet to a different area every few minutes until it dissolves in approximately 15 minutes. A light bubbling sensation usually occurs as the non-abrasive, sugar-free tablet oxidizes stains and lightens the tooth surfaces. Now, boomers have absolutely no excuse for walking around with loaded gums.
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
BACK TO TOP
U.S. Trails Many Nations in Social Security Reform
While the debate over reforming Social Security has barely begun in the United States, countries around the world are busy replacing their troubled public pension systems with private savings plans owned and controlled by individuals, according to a new study by The Heritage Foundation.
In addition to Chile, which is probably the best-known example, partial or full privitization of Social Security has taken place in Australia, Great Britain, Mexico, Sweden, Italy, Argentina, and more than a dozen other countries, says Daniel Mitchell, a senior fellow in political economy.
The first in a series of papers examining how to reform America's Social Security System, Mitchell's study argues that countries with privatized systems are setting an example that the United States would be foolish not to follow. As the experience of these countries makes clear, privatization provides three irresistible benefits.
First, individuals get a much higher rate of return than they would under government-run pensions. Second, governments face lower long-term budget deficits. Third, national economics grow as the pool of private savings, or capital increases. Read more about this great debate at The Heritage Foundation website on the Internet. http://www.heritage.org
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
BACK TO TOP
One Small Step for AARP, One Giant Leap Backward into Ageism
"Every eight seconds another Baby Boomer hits 50", says Henry Fenwick, editor of AARP's Modern Maturity magazine. That trend, coupled with the non-profit's already diverse membership, has prompted what AARP calls a "versioning" of the world's largest magazine.
In other words, magazines sent to younger working AARP members, aged 50 to 64, will be a bit different than the version sent to those 65 and older. For example, the magazine's cover targeting younger members will feature a cover story called, "The New Compassion", an inspiring look at the unconventional relationships comprising the modern-day caregiver.
The older members get a feature called "Wheeling Around Ireland". AARP says this story takes readers on an adventuresome wheelchair ride through the Emerald Isle. Although I found both articles (boomer and elder) to be insightful and informative, I question the wisdom of stereotyping "young" and "older" members into arbitrary categories based on "number of birthdays". For example, there are 80 year olds who think younger and more optimistically than any 20 year old I know.
AARP's versioning approach is 180 degrees away from the viewpoint that one's age is a matter of "mindset", not birthdays. Let's face it, a kick-off feature on wheelchairing doesn't strike me as an article that captures the difference between so-called young and old. AARP, I think you not only missed the boat on this one ... you went to the wrong pier.
The diversity of AARP's membership deserves more than this superficial, double-barreled, stereotypical approach. The way I see it, versioning looks like "one small step for AARP, one giant leap Backward into Ageism". AARP, you can ... and should ... do better.
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
BACK TO TOP
Scientists Go Out on a Limb to Combat Aging
French maritime pine bark is emerging as a powerful weapon against cardiovascular disease and many other health conditions, according to new evidence presented at a recent symposium in France. Pycnogenol is a plant-derived nutritional (is "nutritional" code for "we don't have to run this one by the FDA"?) product that contains a naturally occurring complex of water-soluble flavonoids.
These flavonoids are a premium complex of antioxidant nutrients that protect your body from cell-damaging free-radicals, says Henkel Corporation, the exclusive distributor of Pycnogenol since early this year. At the Horphag Research Ltd Fourth Annual International Pycnogenol Symposium, held May 4-7 in Biarritz, France, scientists presented research showing that Pycnogenol can strengthen capillaries, reduce inflammation, strengthen the immune system, and may (does this mean "who knows"?) reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and certain cancers.
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
BACK TO TOP
Trial Retirement: they came, they saw, they liked it
One of the newest destinations for pre-retirees and retirees is Sun City Grand, Del Webb Corporation's newest active adult community for people age 55-plus. The 4,000 acre community, near Phoenix, is proposed as revolutionizing how active adults will retire in the 21st century.
The most frequent question asked by potential Sun City buyers is "How do I know if I'll Like It?". Del Webb Corporation started its Vacation Getaway program to answer that question, and redefine retirement community decision-making. "It's a miniature hotel program, like summer camp for seniors, except we're open year-round", say the sales staff.
Vacation Getaway is a way to experience retirement living without commitment. Visitors stay for four to seven days, and have total freedom to enjoy the amenities that include an aerobics class, tennis, and golf. "If they like it, great. If not, then that's fine too", says Michelle Mace-Basha, director of national sales support.
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
BACK TO TOP
Women's Health Initiative
Women across the country have an unprecedented opportunity to be part of something big, but time is running out. The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) is the largest government sponsored study ever conducted on women's health.
The study is examining the role of hormones, diet and calcium / vitamin D supplementation in the prevention of heart disease, cancer and osteoporosis ... the leading causes of death and disability in older women. Results from the WHI will provide women with concrete answers they need to make decisions about their health. But in order for WHI to provide these answers, they need women to join the study.
Right now more than 94,000 women in their 50s, 60s, and 70s are participating in this historical study. However, more women in their 60s and 70s are still needed to ensure the recruitment goal of 164,500 women. For additional information call: 1-800-54-WOMEN.
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
BACK TO TOP
Computer Program Creates Strong-Willed Seniors
WillMaker, a best-selling Will writing computer program, makes it easy to write a will. The fact is, if you don't make your own decisions about your property, healthcare, and final arrangements, the state, your doctors and your family have to make them for you.
Not only could this be costly and painful, it might not reflect your wishes. WillMaker is a one-hour program that creates a legal Will, a living Will, and final arrangements. Easy steps guide you through the processes of dividing your property, leaving property, creating simple trusts for your children, naming one or more executors, specifying what kind of healthcare you want if you are unable to communicate your wishes, and creation of a Durable Power of Attorney.
WillMaker is published by Nolo Press on CD-ROM for both Windows and Macintosh formats. The Nolo Press website is located on the Internet at http://www.nolo.com
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
BACK TO TOP
View More Headlines
AgeVenture News Service, 21946 Pine Trace, Boca Raton, FL 33428 USA
Dr. David Demko, Editor
E-mail:newsdesk@demko.com
the media may use these headlines
free-of-charge