Class of '75? '85? Remember the Past and Prepare for the Future

If you graduated in 1975, your high school days are now 50 years behind you. For the Class of 1985, you're staring down your 40th reunion. You’ve lived through disco, MTV, the moon landing aftermath, and smartphones. And while the memories are priceless, one truth is staring you in the face: You need a comprehensive retirement plan—now (probably yesterday!)

As we age, long-term care becomes a growing risk. Without a plan, your loved ones may be left picking up the financial and emotional pieces.

Think back to your youth. The biggest worry was a curfew, your next date, getting your degree, and your first job. Now, it’s making sure your adult children don’t become your caregivers.

The Class of 1975: Born into Change

The typical member of the Class of 1975 was born around 1957, making them about 66 or 67 years old today. This generation — often considered part of the tail end of the Baby Boomers — came of age in a period of tremendous cultural and political transformation. Their high school years were shaped by the aftermath of the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal, rising inflation, and a growing counterculture movement. Musically, they were the first class to hear Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run as a new release — and the last to attend prom with disco not yet ironic.

According to historical data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the high school graduating Class of 1975 likely totaled around 3.1 to 3.2 million students. Gender distribution was close to even, with about 51% female and 49% male, reflecting a broader trend of increased female participation in secondary education during that era. Many from this class entered adulthood during a struggling job market in the late '70s, just as the U.S. began shifting from a manufacturing-based economy toward a service- and tech-driven one.

We grew up when trust was shaken, prices were soaring, and rock anthems like 'Born to Run' promised freedom. The Class of 1975 didn’t just graduate into change — we carried it forward, learning early that resilience isn’t taught in a classroom; it’s lived every day.

Today, many members of the Class of 1975 are retired or approaching retirement. They are often grandparents, and many are caregivers for their own aging parents or spouses — especially women, who tend to take on family care responsibilities. They’re also more likely than older Boomers to have gone to college, owned homes, and used computers at work.

The Class of 1985: A Generation on the Brink

Ten years later, the Class of 1985 walked the halls of high school during the height of the Reagan era, MTV, and a growing sense of economic optimism. Born around 1967, most members are now about 57 or 58 years old. They are part of Generation X, a smaller but culturally significant generation often defined by independence, skepticism of authority, and a love for analog tech like VHS tapes, cassette players, and early video games.

In 1985, the graduating class size was estimated at around 3.0 million students, with a very similar gender distribution to 1975 — slightly more girls than boys. This group witnessed the Challenger explosion shortly after graduation, embraced Apple computers in their classrooms, and were the first to grow up with cable TV and personal gaming systems like Atari and Nintendo. Their pop culture icons were Madonna, “The Breakfast Club,” and the emerging hip-hop movement.

We left high school with cassette tapes and yearbooks in our hands, never imagining we’d one day scroll through prom photos on a phone. Now, in our late 50s, we’re juggling careers, aging parents, and grown kids — finding new ways to reconnect, reflect, and rewrite what it means to grow older together.

Today, the Class of 1985 is firmly in their late 50s — still working, often at the peak of their careers, but also beginning to plan for retirement. Many are empty nesters, while others are part of the “sandwich generation,” still raising kids while caring for elderly parents. They are also the first high school class to widely adopt social media and smartphones in mid-life — reconnecting with classmates on Facebook, sharing old prom photos on Instagram, and joining reunion Zooms post-pandemic.

Pop Culture Moments of 1975 and 1985—and How They Shaped You

Time goes by very fast. The memories and experiences you had when you were in high school, and college become part of who you are as a person.

You didn’t just watch these shows or sing along to these hits as they played on the radio. They became part of your identity, your milestones, your coming-of-age moments.

1975

• Top Movies: Jaws, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Dog Day Afternoon, Shampoo — These weren’t just films; they reflected the turbulence of the time and taught you about fear, rebellion, and individuality.
• Hit Songs: “Love Will Keep Us Together” – Captain & Tennille, “Rhinestone Cowboy” – Glen Campbell — Songs you danced to at prom or heard on the radio in your first car. They defined an era of optimism and romanticism.
• Top TV Shows: All in the Family, Laverne & Shirley, MASH* — These weren’t background noise. They shaped how you saw family, friendships, war, and humor in tough times.

1985

• Top Movies: Back to the Future, The Color Purple, Out of Africa, The Breakfast Club — You connected to the misfits in detention, the dreamers who wanted to rewrite history, the stories that demanded empathy.
• Hit Songs: “Careless Whisper” – Wham!, “Money for Nothing” – Dire Straits — They played at weddings, breakups, and summer road trips. You still remember every lyric.
• Top TV Shows: The Cosby Show, Family Ties, Cheers — These shows normalized talking about generational shifts, values, and the pursuit of happiness.

These cultural milestones shaped your values, taste, sense of humor, and even your resilience. They were part of a shared national experience. But now, your kids may scroll past the names without recognition.

Reminiscing is healthy, but it also reminds us how much has changed—and how much we change as we age. We still need to do so much planning to preserve our independence and dignity as we age and get to our retirement years.

Don't Let Their Final Memory Be Caregiving Burnout

According to AARP, one in five family caregivers reports significant emotional, physical, and financial strain. And many don’t get help until they’re overwhelmed.

“I never imagined I’d be changing my father’s adult diapers,” said Janice W., 59, from Terre Haute, Indiana.

I love him, but I wish he had planned for long-term care. He thought he would just die in his sleep. He didn't. It’s changed my whole life, and my family is paying the price.

Long-Term Care Insurance helps prevent this scenario. It protects your family’s well-being and shields your income and savings. Long-term care services are very costly, and those costs are increasing rapidly nationwide.

The LTC News annual survey of long-term care costs shows the national average monthly cost can exceed $7,000 for in-home services in many metro areas. Extended care costs vary depending on location and the type and level of care required.

Why Planning Now Matters More Than Ever

• Aging is predictable. Health changes. Mobility declines. Risk of dementia rises.
• Care is expensive. Assisted living and home care costs continue to rise with the rising costs of labor and increased demand for care services.
• Family dynamics are fragile. Without a plan, the burden falls on your spouse or adult children, and neither are able to be full-time caregivers.

Even if you’re healthy today, longevity itself leads to frailty, chronic illnesses, and mobility issues, leading to long-term care. The need for extended care, even at home, can flip your world upside down.

Long-Term Care Insurance, purchased in your 40s, 50s, or early 60s, is much more affordable than ignoring the problem and paying for care from your income and assets.

What a Comprehensive Retirement Plan Looks Like

• Income planning to ensure you don’t outlive your savings
• Long-Term Care Insurance to address extended care costs and reduce family burden
• Estate planning to preserve your legacy and ensure your wishes are honored
• Tax strategies to maximize savings and minimize liabilities

Planning isn’t about fearing the future—it’s about owning it. A good plan gives your family peace and gives you options.

LTC News can connect you with the nation's top LTC Insurance specialists to get accurate quotes from all the top-rated insurance companies that offer long-term care solutions

Take Action Before the Next Reunion

You’ve celebrated golden anniversaries and watched decades blur into memories. Don’t let your last chapter be written in crisis.

Crisis management never accomplishes anything good. Planning will allow your family the time to focus on being family instead of becoming caregivers or deciding how to pay for your long-term care.

Most people acquire an LTC policy between ages 47 and 67, but your health is the number one factor that determines eligibility.

The LTC News Long-Term Care Insurance Education Center can help you learn everything you know about planning for the physical, emotional, and financial burdens long-term care places on you and your loved ones.

If you have older parents still living, you may face their need for extended care soon. When searching for quality long-term care services, start with the LTC News Caregiver Directory to explore care providers near you.

Check to see if your parents have an LTC policy and be sure to use the benefits to pay for care and improve their quality of life.

LTC News partnering with Amada Senior Care ensures that your loved ones receive quality care without worrying about securing their LTC Insurance benefits, including in-home care - free help with filing a Long-Term Care Insurance Claim.

Go to YouTube and find your favorite songs from high school and college. Then, speak with a qualified LTC Insurance specialist and be sure you apply for an affordable LTC Insurance policy.