Poor counties see more elderly

back

Want to support Global Action on Aging?

Click below:

Thanks!

Poor counties see more elderly
Attraction is lower cost of living for retirement and mild winters

By JIM DAVENPORT, Associated Press

September 19, 2003

COLUMBIA - Some of the state's poorest counties have the fastest-growing over-85 populations, a group more likely to need expensive care that's getting harder to provide in cash-strapped rural counties.

U.S. Census estimates for 2002 released Thursday show mostly rural Jasper County had a 24.4 percent increase in the state's oldest residents since a similar 2000 estimate.

Neighboring Beaufort County, known for its Sun City retirement development as well as wealthy Hilton Head Island retirees, was second at 23 percent growth.

The next three counties -- Calhoun, Williamsburg and Allendale -- are among the state's poorest and each saw their over-85 population soar by 20 percent.

That's well above the statewide growth rate of 8.3 percent.

More people over 85 may be on the way. South Carolina ranks 10th nationally with its population of those 65 and older.

Jasper County's senior ranks are swelling with spillover from Sun City as well as the normal aging of residents, said Carl Roache, the county's Council on Aging director.

"Many of our clients are people that have essentially fallen through the cracks and are in need of basic survival services," including home-delivered meals, Roache said. Most have income under $700 a month, he said.

The state's growth in the senior population comes from a variety of sources. Some people are growing old in the state where they were born; others were born here but moved away to work and have returned to retire; still others are newcomers drawn by relatively inexpensive living costs and mild winters.

The burgeoning senior growth in rural counties concerns Debbie Bower, president of the South Carolina Association of Council on Aging Directors. "We're all challenged, but those rural counties are especially challenged," she said.

State funds are short and counties and local governments struggle to meet match requirements for federal funds. "We're not able to put in the amount of money that's required to serve all these people," she said.

That scramble has demanded more creativity. Williamsburg County's aging programs are turning to the state's youngest residents to help out the oldest.

The county's Vital Aging agency is opening an adult day-care center and a child-care center "so we will have the income to serve these populations," said agency head Judy Elder.

South Carolina is spending about $57 per person over age 60, she said. North Carolina spends about four times that much, Elder said.

The state Department of Health and Human Services released a report in April that says South Carolina puts $55 into community and home-based services for seniors, compared with $366 for North Carolina and $370 for Georgia.