December 2011/Prepared Foods -- A reader wrote me that while lifespans have increased, it is often due to medical intervention, rather than healthier lifestyles. It is sometimes forgotten that living longer is not the goal, but rather to live healthier; to be on your own, taking care of your own needs; and living life on your own terms.
A 2011 A.T. Kearney “Global Maturing Consumer Study” (http://tinyurl.com/7thjcko) says falling birthrates and increased longevity are global trends. In 1998, those over 60 overtook those younger than 15 in the G7 countries. For the rest of this century, the fastest growing consumer group will be those over 60; the fastest growing segment in the U.S. workforce will be those 65 and older.