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Region Not Ready For Boom in Boomers
By Peggy Kreimer,
the Kentucky Post
September 29, 2007
Northern Kentucky isn't ready for the gray explosion -- when baby boomers, the largest generation, also become the oldest generation.
Northern Kentucky, like most communities around the state and nation, needs to take a hard look at housing, transportation, health issues, jobs for older workers and the little things that allow an aging population to remain independent for as long as possible, said Mark Birdwhistell, secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
Birdwhistell was in the area Thursday to announce the results of a readiness survey to determine whether the region is prepared to handle what he called "a demographic tsunami" as the baby boomer generation turns into the largest number of senior citizens in the nation's history.
The number of people over age 65 will double by 2030, creating greater needs for support services such as transportation, health care and housing options as the tax base to support those services decreases with the retirement of large numbers of wage earners.
The survey is part of the Kentucky Elder Readiness Initiative, a two-year effort launched in 2005 by Gov. Ernie Fletcher to identify needs and resources for aging Kentuckians.
The initiative is designed to shine a spotlight on the future and spark more planning efforts in communities across the commonwealth.
Birdwhistell said the first phase was similar to the robot in the 1960s television show "Lost in Space," which waved its arms, crying, "danger, Will Robinson, danger."
The initiative held forums and workshops to identify concerns and sent surveys out across the state to 9,600 households of current older residents or baby boomers - those born between 1946 and 1964 who started turning 60 last year.
The 215-question survey looked at attitudes, retirement plans, finances, housing, employment and other issues to identify needs and help find ways to meet the needs.
"Kentucky is one of the few states that at least recognized we need to have a plan," said Birdwhistell. "We are 1½ to two years ahead of many states and cities in recognizing that need."
The next - and crucial - step is to take the information and act on it, he said.
Among key needs for seniors identified in the eight-county Northern Kentucky region: increased employment options, long term support for persons with disabilities who are being cared for by aging parents, residential options for elders, training and support for new caregivers and a centralized contact point for accessing help and finding resources.
Birdwhistell said the interest in providing support for caregivers could be a reflection of the stresses baby boomers are feeling as they seek to care for their own aging parents in an increasingly mobile society.
In a major shift from a few generations ago, only a handful of survey respondents thought they would be living with a relative when they reach age 90.
Most thought they would be in their own homes or in a senior residence, assisted living facility or nursing home.
More than 75 percent of respondents thought they would be living in their own homes when they were 75 years old.
The survey showed the need for changes in the way organizations look at senior needs.
Graham Rowles, lead investigator for the initiative and director of the University of Kentucky Graduate Center for Gerontology, which helped analyze the data, said the new generation of older Kentuckians will be looking for more than bingo at senior centers.
"We need to reinvent the senior center. I want to go to the gym and then go to the coffee shop an have a latte and then go to the computer room and check my email," he said.
The survey showed seniors and those on the verge of becoming seniors will be using more parks and more transportation, and looking for more housing options that will accommodate changes in health status.
Birdwhistell said there is an abundance of Peter Pan housing - two- and three-story homes built for people who never expect to grow old.
Housing with seniors in mind would likely include more single-floor plans and "universal design," which makes wider doorways, fewer stairs and traditional handicapped accessible amenities part of the standard house plan.
Birdwhistell challenged agencies, regional leaders and individuals to push the aging issue into every regional planning effort.
Birdwhistell said his budget initiative for 2008 includes funding to wipe out the 5,000-person waiting list for home delivered meals in the state.
In Northern Kentucky, Senior Services of Northern Kentucky administers that most recognizable senior service, delivering daily hot meals to nearly 600 seniors who have difficulty getting out of their homes because of health issues. For many, the home delivered meals allow them to live independently.
But a growing waiting list figures to get longer, said Pat Dressman, human services director for Campbell County.
She said close to 150 people in Kenton County are on an assessment waiting
list. There are waiting lists in Campbell and Boone counties, too. "In a few years, the numbers are going to be unbelievable," she said.
Assessment is a first step to getting the services that low-income seniors need to remain independent.
Many of the programs are full, so the assessment waiting list just keeps growing.
"There's no reason to assess folks if there is no money for the program," said
Dressman.For example, the number of people getting home delivered meals has remained at around 600 for years as rising costs for food and gas eat up any budget increases.
"If we're seeing these numbers now, what's going to happen five, 10 years down the road when the numbers keep increasing?" Dressman asked.
The Kentucky Elder Readiness Initiative is looking at much more than services for low income seniors. It's also looking at the changing needs of the whole aging population and how every part of society will respond to that.
Dressman said some changes to address those needs may be throwbacks to the past, such as mom and pop grocery stores that make deliveries.
"In 20 years, who is going to be in our workforce," Dressman asked. "Do we need different types of training so they can stay in the workforce? What type of housing do we need? Are we ready for the recreation programs we'll need as more people are retired?"
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