In 1992, George Jones released “I Don’t Need Your Rocking Chair, “ an anthem that defiantly pushed against the stereotypes of older adults as gray-haired grannies, stooped and decrepit. The 61-year-old country music legend triumphantly sang, “I ain’t ready for the junkyard yet, ‘cause I still feel like a new Corvette. It might take a little longer, but I’ll get there. Well , I don’t need your rockin’ chair.”

Jones knew then what the U.S. Census Bureau has since confirmed: Older people are rapidly dominating the demographics of the American population, described as the “graying of America”. In less than two decades, the Bureau projects that adults 65 and older will outnumber children under the age of 18 for the first time in the country’s history, and by 2060 24 percent of Americans will be in their golden year. Nearly 24 percent of Georgia residents are at least 65, more than the entire population of some states.

Baby Boomers are the driving force behind America’s aging. As one of the largest generations in the country, they swelled the ranks of the young when they were born and the workforce when they became adults. Now, they’re reaching retirement age, putting greater demands on our country’s healthcare infrastructure, in-home caregiving, assisted-living facilities, and Social Security.

The effects of aging happened regardless of income or socioeconomic background. Some common problem as we age include the deterioration of physical and mental health, rising health care costs, financial security, and social isolation and loneliness. While many older adults maintain good health and are fully able to function well into their later years, there are millions who struggle every day with health and safety challenges. According to the National Council on Aging, approximately 80 percent of seniors have at least one chronic disease and 77 percent have at least two. An older adult is treated in an emergency room for a fall every 11 seconds, while one in four experiences a mental disorder such as depression, anxiety or dementia - a number expected to double by 2030.

It follows that more health problems require more and better healthcare. While Medicare help defray some costs, many older Americans are left to pay for about half of their medica