Trends and Issues in Extension

Next year, the first wave of baby boomers will hit 60. Private and public organizations are starting to grasp what all this will mean for society. I’ve written about this impact on Extension (see here and here and here), and will continue to post on it from time to time. Wired News has a brief overview on businesses devoted to life extension. A best guess is that life expectancy will continue to climb. With it should come an aging population that is healthy compared to past standards. Here are three ideas about the impacts on Extension.

• Internally, a turnover of employees. This will create new cultures in our systems, as well as the loss of corporate memory. Former Extension Professionals in Ohio have started an oral history project to collect stories, information and facts from past and current employees. A great idea! We are on the cusp of losing this information if it is not collected and shared.
• A new pool of volunteers and potential employees. Both internally and externally, there will be an increased pool of retirees that are looking for volunteer or flexible paid work. They will be available for specific projects, causes, etc. Coupled with a younger workforce that wants flexibility and is less loyal, this can lead to new organizational structures.
• The need for research and programming for an expanded aging population. All seniors expect to be mobile, independent and healthy. How do we structure our communities and society to make this functional? A key topic for Extension Professionals to tackle.