Contrary to the results of some polls relating to aging Boomers, United Methodist Boomers surveyed are not worried about aging and plan to grow older gracefully.
When asked if they exercise regularly (3 times per week) and eat with good nutrition in mind, 50% of Boomers say usually, 15% say always, 32% say rarely, and 2% say never. We asked Boomers to choose one of these descriptions of how they view their own aging. Here are the results.
| Total Responses | Male | Female | Early Boomer |
Late Boomer | NC* | NE* | SC* | SE* | W* | |
| I plan to fight growing older. | 6% | 5% | 6% | 5% | 6% | 8% | 4% | 7% | 6% | 1% |
| I plan to deny I am growing older | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 2% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 2% |
| I plan to relax and not worry about my aging. | 39% | 47% | 33% | 32% | 46% | 45% | 39% | 37% | 37% | 33% |
| I plan to reinvent my life during my retirement years. | 11% | 11% | 12% | 17% | 6% | 9% | 9% | 18% | 10% | 12% |
| I plan to grow older gracefully. | 37% | 36% | 40% | 39% | 34% | 32% | 39% | 30% | 39% | 46% |
| Other | 6% | 4% | 7% | 5% | 7% | 3% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 4% |
Most respondents who wrote in specific responses say that they want to be "mentally and physically healthy and active" as they age. They say they will grow in wisdom by cherishing learning opportunities and "every gray hair and wrinkle."
Identification as a Senior Citizen
Here are survey participants' answers to the question: "How do you want to be identified as you grow older and reach retirement years?"
| Total Responses | Male | Female | Early Boomer |
Late Boomer | NC* | NE* | SC* | SE* | W* | |
| Elder | 7% | 9% | 4% | 8% | 5% | 6% | 8% | 7% | 2% | 14% |
| Mature Adult | 31% | 30% | 32% | 33% | 29% | 33% | 37% | 28% | 32% | 18% |
| Older Adult | 18% | 18% | 15% | 15% | 21% | 15% | 37% | 28% | 32% | 18% |
| Senior Citizen | 9% | 8% | 9% | 11% | 7% | 11% | 10% | 6% | 7% | 7% |
| Adult | 24% | 25% | 23% | 21% | 27% | 22% | 23% | 24% | 25% | 30% |
| Other | 10% | 11% | 9% | 10% | 10% | 11% | 8% | 10% | 10% | 14% |
From the approximately 10% of UM Boomers who marked "other" come the following suggestions: "Senior Adult," "Christian," "by my name," and "oh no, not another label!" Seriously, the majority did not care to have an official name for their group as they retire.
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