Written by Anne Bryce
There's an old saying that says age is just a number.
But it's more than just numbers when you look at how the state's demographers predict North Carolina's population of people 65 and older will grow over the next decade. That's an eye-opening statistic.
From 2021 to 2041, the state's senior population is expected to grow from 1.8 million to 2.7 million. Focusing on the population aged 85 and over, a 114 percent increase is predicted from 198,000 three years ago to 423,000 in 17 years.
State demographers predict that by 2031, North Carolina will have more people over 64 than under 18.
This anticipated population shift has led North Carolina's senior advocacy organizations to spend the past year finalizing North Carolina for All Ages, All Stages: A Roadmap to Aging and Healthy Living. Important strategies and plans have been developed.
The plan, expected to be finalized in the coming weeks, was spurred by an executive order issued by Gov. Roy Cooper in May 2023 that called for a “whole-of-government initiative to make our aging state a better place to live.” approach. population.
There are findings and at least 150 recommendations on a variety of topics. This includes:
- Confusion and awareness regarding available resources.
- transportation needs.
- Barriers to aging exist.
- the cost and availability of caregivers, long-term care facilities, and other support services;
- social connections.
- I worry about the longevity of my financial resources and plans.
“I wouldn't even call it a plan. It's a strategic roadmap,” said Steve Hahn, a spokesman for AARP North Carolina. “We have a great opportunity to really leverage this roadmap to guide smart decisions to make investments that work for all ages. I have a lot of ideas.”
“Living Document”
Mary Bethel, chair of the N.C. Coalition on Aging Board of Directors, played a key role in creating the roadmap. The state Department of Health and Human Services Office on Aging and other planners conduct hearing tours, collect data and research, and develop ideas for strategies and policies for the state's aging population as the baby boomer generation nears its end. collected. Up to 65.
Over the coming weeks, final touches will be put on the development of metrics to measure success and data dashboards to track it, as the draft report is refined and a public awareness campaign begins. It's a schedule.
The goal is to submit a report to the governor by May 2, which will be updated every two years with progress reports and new goals.
“The idea is that this will be a living document that we can start from,” said Bethel, who has a 40-year history of working on aging issues in this state.
One of the plan's key goals is to ensure that North Carolinians have access to local health care resources that help them optimize their longevity and quality of health.
This includes providing acute care services in all communities to help older people “access the right type of care in a variety of settings and successfully transition to the right type of care in response to their changing needs and preferences.” This includes ensuring that care and long-term support and services are available.
That could mean more telehealth options, community-based care, and other important services that make care and communication with health professionals more accessible to a broader population.
Long-term care options also play an important role. According to Cooper's executive order, the number of people diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and dementia is expected to increase to 400,000 in just two years.
“Seven out of 10 people will need long-term care during their lifetime,” Bethel told NC Health News.
in my head
Other important issues Roadmap developers heard on the hearing tour include housing costs, labor shortages that make it more difficult to find and hire caregivers, and economic pressures from rising costs of living that span generations. It's reverberating.
Some spoke of limited transportation and having to spend four to five hours in a van to get to a doctor's appointment.
Others said that specific senior centers have different amenities available depending on the area's income level. They said they felt discriminated against based on their race, ethnicity and sexual orientation.
People who want to continue living in their homes as they age lament the rising costs of home maintenance and equipment for mobility issues and home medical equipment needs.
Recommendations to avoid these concerns include:
- We provide free or low-cost home safety modifications, repairs, or home improvements.
- Expand the availability of transportation services and senior center vans.
- Establish a lending library for durable used medical equipment.
- Advocates for returning Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes paid by undocumented workers to states to fund programs for those workers.
- Expand recruitment strategies to increase the number of physicians and other health care providers of color across the state to improve race match, communication, and outcomes for patients and health care providers.
- Increase opportunities for older people to share their wisdom and knowledge with younger generations and receive guidance on technological advancements and other topics.
- Fund senior centers equitably across the state based on estimated population 65 and older instead of property tax revenue.
- Involving older people more frequently in decision-making about policies that affect them.
Some of the recommendations could end up on the desks of state lawmakers. Other information may be directed to local or county governments.
May 7th is Aging Advocacy Day at the General Assembly. Bethel and Hahn said they have no plans to ask lawmakers for anything this year. Instead, they are interested in sharing data, educating about the roadmap, and creating awareness of the steps being taken.
Many of the ideas can also be useful to younger generations, such as those caring for aging parents or family members, or those looking to live in a community that welcomes and cares for residents at every stage of life. There is sex.
“We're just recognizing that what we do for seniors helps all ages,” Hahn said.