Aging Population, Fraying Benefits: Perspectives from the Kentucky Elder Readiness Initiative (K.E.R.I.)

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Aging Population, Fraying Benefits Perspectives
from the Kentucky Elder Readiness Initiative
(K.E.R.I.)
13th Annual Conference of the Kentucky Long-Term
Policy Research Center Lexington Civic
Center November 14, 2006
Graham D. Rowles Graduate Center for
Gerontology College of Public Health University
of Kentucky
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AGING OF THE POPULATION

• National Trends

• United States Population 65
• 3 million ( 4) Life Expectancy 44
• 2000 35 million (12) Life Expectancy 77
• 2030 71 million (20) Life Expectancy ??

Cave Run Lake, KY
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AGING OF THE BABY BOOM POPULATION

• National Trends

Baby Boomers persons born between 1946 and
1964 2000 41,223,192 males 2000 42,260,888
females 2000 83,484,280 2000 Baby Boomers
comprised 29.66 of the population
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AGING OF THE BABY BOOM POPULATION

• Baby Boomers in Kentucky

Baby Boomers persons born between 1946 and
1964 2000 591,451 males 2000 608,146
females 2000 1,199,597 total 2000 Baby
Boomers comprised 29.68 of the population
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Growing Old in Kentucky
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NEW AGE OLD AGE

• New definitions of aging (pre-old, young-old,
  old-old, oldest-old)

2. Pathways to aging becoming more diverse

• Each generation healthier than the one
• that preceded it (falling disability rates)

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NEW AGE OLD AGE

• 4. Each generation more educated than the
  one that preceded it

5. Changing relationship of elders to
remainder of society (generational and
geographical separation)

• 6. New activities in old age (starting
  businesses, second careers, volunteering,
  living out passions)

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New Activities in Old Age
Chef Gil Executive Inn Owensboro, KY
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New Activities in Old Age
The Posse, Sun City, Arizona
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Challenges and Opportunities

• Addressing labor force deficits
• Developing and paying for appropriate models of
  long-term care
• Creating and maintaining environments conducive
  to an aging population
• Redefining the experience of aging
• Reconciling and transitioning from traditional
  old age to new age old age

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Current Life CircumstancesKentucky Elder
Health
1st in frequency of mental distress 1st in poor
oral health (complete tooth loss) 1st in
disability levels 1st in smokinghighest
rates 5th in rates of hypertension 6th in terms
of lack of leisure time activity (38.8 do not
participate) 14th with respect to rates of
obesity 1995 28.8 at health risk from being
overweight or obese 2005 61.5 at health risk
from being overweight or obese Sources CDC
Merck Study (2004) National Governors
Association (2004)
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KENTUCKY ELDER READINESS INITIATIVE (KERI)

• Collaboration among
• Division of Aging Services, Cabinet of Heath and
  Family Services
• 15 Area Agencies on Aging
• Graduate Center for Gerontology, University of
  Kentucky

Georgetown, KY
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GOAL

• To foster statewide awareness, dialogue and
  insight into the challenges and opportunities
  provided by the aging of the Baby Boom
  population (persons born between 1946 and 1964)
  and stimulate local and statewide initiatives
  to appropriately address the pending changes that
  will result from this process.

Goddard White Bridge Fleming County, KY
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KERI Philosophy

• Positive orientation (elders viewed not as
  dependent but as a resource)
• Involvement of all age
• groups and all constituencies
• Regional sensitivity
• Participation of elders
• Involvement of media and
• communities
• Part of a continuous planning
• process (not a report to go on a shelf)

Downtown Murray, KY
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KERI Objectives

• Identification of regional strengths and
  weaknesses
• Development of local grass-roots initiatives
• Empowerment of regions and communities to create
  sustainable initiatives

Fence row in Western KY
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KERI

• Phase I
• Information Gathering
• Secondary Data Sources
• Fact Sheets
• Focus Groups and Community Forums held in each of
  the 15 Area Agencies on Aging

Bridge over Ohio River Maysville, KY
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KERI on the road

• Miles we traveled this summer

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Participants

• Focus Groups
• 144 Community Leaders
• 144 Providers
• Community Forums
• 619 citizens

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Description of Participants

• 48.2 were Baby Boomers
• 93.7 were Non-Hispanic White
• 69.5 were female
• 64.4 had at least a Bachelors Degree
• 61.4 had a household income of 50,000 or more

Mobile Health Clinic Owenton, KY
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Counties Represented in Phase I
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Questions for Discussion

• How do you think your community will be affected
  by the aging of the Baby Boomers?
• What actions is your community already
  undertaking to anticipate the pending changes?
• In what specific directions can you move in the
  future to address these issues?

Community Forums at BTADD and KIPDA
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Preliminary Findings

• Identified Concerns
• Employment
• Transportation
• Housing
• Environmental design
• Identified Strengths
• People
• Churches or faith-based organizations
• Collaboration of services within and among ADDs

Field of Sunflowers, Bedford, KY
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Preliminary Findings

• Lack of Awareness
• Were in a state of denial.
• Youre not talking about me.
• Im not going to need that.
• Thats a long ways away.
• Im OK, Im well prepared.
• Im too busy to think about that.
• The government will take care
  of me.

Road Sign, New Castle, KY
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Next Steps for KERI

• Phases II, III, IV
• Statewide Survey
• (Regional/State Reports)
• Statewide Resource
• Network Development
• Grass-roots Initiatives
• Exchange of ideas
• Funding sources

Local Provider, Bedford, KY
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Directions for the Future?

• Adult Daycare at work
• Educational Opportunities
• Redefining Senior/Activity Centers
• New Business Ventures
• Single Point of Entry Care
• Tax Breaks for Caregivers
• Elder Mentors for Youth
• Advocating for Aging
• Rediscovery of Community

Scott County, KY
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For more information

• For more information about
• KERI please contact
• Graham D. Rowles, PhD
• [phone] X 80145
• growl2_at_uky.edu
• Or visit the KERI website at
• http//www.mc.uky.edu/gerontology/keri.htm

Billboard near Maysville, KY