By Max Greenberg
E-mail Max Greenberg
About this blog: I developed a special interest in helping seniors with their challenges and transitions when my dad had a stroke and I helped him through all the various stages of downsizing, packing, moving and finding an assisted living communi...
(More)About this blog: I developed a special interest in helping seniors with their challenges and transitions when my dad had a stroke and I helped him through all the various stages of downsizing, packing, moving and finding an assisted living community. I live in Palo Alto with my wife and we have three grown children, one still in college. I have been in the Bay Area since 1977 (except for seven years in Newton MA — just missed all that snow too much.) I've worked in sales and marketing in retirement communities for seven years, and have hired and managed home care workers for family members, and have a pretty good idea of how aging in place, or shopping for and selecting the right retirement community works. I now run my own business, Palo Alto Senior Living, providing real estate and senior transition services. This blog is designed to share my experiences, insight and knowledge with seniors and their baby boomer kids and provide useful information to help develop a roadmap for smooth transitions or aging in place. I welcome readers to share their experiences, both good and not-so-good, in the hope that we all can benefit from each other.
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With a little extra time to ponder these days I was wondering what things have changed and will remain changed or altered after the Shelter in Place orders are lifted and the virus appears to have been contained and it’s safe to resume much of our normal life again. Obvious on that list of course would be cooking for ourselves more since we have probably gotten more skilled and creative at it with the extra practice we’re having.
Here’s a Top 11 list of items according to VOX Media April 22, 2020. Vox asked experts in fields ranging from behavioral sciences to economics; restaurateurs; and big thinkers on democracy and public health to predict what’s next. These, they say, are some of the ways the pandemic will transform our societies. Please add to the list if you think something’s missing, or state your case for removing it. Stay safe - it ain't over 'til the fat man sings, and it still might not be over even then.
The mask could become a wardrobe staple. People will begin to stock up for essentials, as soon as they can get them.
Overall consumption will be down, as we realize there were a lot of things we were spending money on that we now realized we could get along quite well without (you make your own list on this one)
Childcare will finally become recognized as essential work, too. For many the sheer work of taking care of children all day suddenly has become extremely obvious. In the past, that work has often been invisible.
America will become a nation of savers.
The US will test-run more just-policing and incarceration such as suspending jail time for technical violations and reducing arrests for low-level offenses.
The American economic system may need a fundamental re-organization in that health insurance is tied to employment.
Voting will become easier — and turnout will go up (unless “interested parties” are successful in getting voters to fear mail-in ballots.
Some/many restaurants that closed will remain closed, especially the more “exotic” ones
“Basic Income” (Free money) might someday be bound for your bank account (Andrew Yang was ahead on this)
Say goodbye to handshakes, and casual hugs and kisses.
Religions will embrace their online future and expand their membership.
