The first of us Boomers, those individuals born between 1946 and 1964, begin to turn sixty years of age in five years time. We are, once again, expected to have profound effects on public and community services. No wonder we are less charitably referred to as 'the pig in the python'.
One Eastern County has been working to position ahead of the Boomers. In late 2000, they engaged PSG to help them understand more about what the aging of their population means. Here's a taste of what we heard from over forty interviews we conducted across topical areas and stakeholders:
In this county, the number of seniors is expected to grow 45% over the next ten years. The fastest growing subset will be older adults over age 85 years of age, due to lengthened life expectancies. (Across the nation, the fastest growing subset is those over 100 years of age.)
Service expectations are expected to rise. Current WWII-era seniors are experienced as quite appreciative of anything they receive. Boomers are expected to drive more choice and control in the services they receive. An interviewee said, "The Boomers are going to demand more services and a high quality of service. They will not settle for what is offered. They are used to questioning and working to get what they want." At the same time, the retirement of Baby Boomers from full-time work will exacerbate current labor shortages in those who care for older adults.
Thus, the aging of the boomers means there will be greater numbers of older adults who live longer and hold heightened expectations for quality and choice in services. At the same time, the County will be struggling to attract and retain employees who provide the services.
The County knew that the public sector could not face this alone. They hosted a summit, bringing together 65 community leaders from across the public, private, and non-profit sectors, to hear what we learned and to develop plans of action. What they heard required this community to think anew about almost every area of community life across health, housing, employment, transportation, education, leisure activities and social services.
They chose these areas as offering the most opportunity:
- making a single point of access to services and information a reality
- staying mobile -- transportation where and when needed
- staying in the community -- an affordable continuum of housing
- staying well -- health promotion
- facing the workforce shortages, and
- developing new recognition and supports for family caregivers.
At the summit, this community developed plans specifying the results they were seeking, the main strategies to use, the stakeholders to involve, and the first actionable steps to take. They created a steering committee, crossing public, private, and non-profit sectors, to guide the effort and maintain its momentum.
In my opinion, this county leads the nation in facing down Chicken Little. Can you top them?
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