Creating Aging Friendly Communities in Wisconsin: How Prepared is Your Community for the Coming Age Wave?
1. How Prepared is Your Community
for the Coming “Age Wave”?
Aging in Our Communities Team
Family Living Programs
2010 Statewide Cooperative Extension Conference
October 20, 2010 - Madison, WI
2. Are America’s Communities Ready for
the Impacts of an Aging Population?
Maturing of America
Survey (2005)
– sent to 10,000
communities nationwide
FINDING: Only 46% of
U.S. communities have
even begun planning
efforts to prepare for the
impacts of an aging
population.
8. HOUSING: “Are assisted living options
available and affordable to a broad
range of residents?”
0%
0%
0%1. Yes
2. No
3. Don’t know
9. PLANNING AND ZONING:
“Can residents safely and conveniently
get necessary goods and servces w/o
having to drive?”
0%
0%
0%1. Yes
2. No
3. Don’t know
10. TRANSPORTATION: “Can most
residents walk or use community
transportation to get to a grocery store,
doctor’s office, or pharmacy?”
0%
0%
0%1. Yes
2. No
3. Don’t know
11. HEALTH AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES:
“Are inexpensive transportation services
offered to and from health care facilities?”
0%
0%
0%1. Yes
2. No
3. Don’t know
12. CULTURE AND LIFELONG LEARNING:
“Does the library in your community
have a program to deliver books to
people in their homes?”
0%
0%
0%1. Yes
2. No
3. Don’t know
13. PUBLIC SAFETY: “Would most older
adults say they feel safe living in the
community?”
0%
0%
0%1. Yes
2. No
3. Don’t know
14. CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITIES: “Have older adults
been surveyed about their volunteer
interests?”
0%
0%
0%1. Yes
2. No
3. Don’t know
15. Presentation Outline
• PART 1: Population Aging
• PART 2: Impacts of Aging Populations
• PART 3: Creating Aging-Friendly Communities
16. Aging
Whether we like it or not (or whether we admit
it or not), all of us – as individuals - experience
aging.
What are some common ways to measure
human aging?
17. Aging in human beings can be measured in a
number of ways: chronological, biological,
psychological, social, functional, etc.
19. Measuring/Tracking Population Aging
• Number of persons age 65+ in a population
• Percent of a population age 65+
• Median age: the age that divides a
population into numerically equal parts
• Number of years that it takes for the
percent persons age 65+ in a population to
rise from 7 to 14 percent
25. Median Age in 12 Countries
• By the year 2030, the
median age of the entire
developed world is
projected to be 45.
• In Japan and much of
southern and eastern
Europe, it will be over 50.
27. From 1900 through 2003, life expectancy at
birth increased from 48 to 75 years for men
(a gain of 27 years) and from 51 to 80 years
for women (a gain of 30 years).
Increase in Life Expectancy: 1900-2003
31. Aging of the Baby
Boomers…
• When the baby boomers
(aka “aging” boomers) start
turning 65 in January 2011, approximately 10,000
people will turn 65 every day— and this trend will
continue for 20 years!
• By 2030, one out of every five Americans—some
72 million people—will be 65 years or older.
• By 2050, the 65+ population is projected to be
between 80 and 90 million, with those 85 and
older close to 21 million.
41. Population Aging in Wisconsin:
A County Perspective
• In the 2000 Census, almost
18% of Florida’s population
was age 65+. By 2035, which
Wisconsin counties will have
this same percentage or
higher?
• In terms of median age,
which Wisconsin counties are
the oldest?
45. Population Aging in Wisconsin
Percentage of Persons Age 65+ by County: 2010-2035
Wisconsin’s Age Wave
See Packet Handout
46. By the year 2035, will the percent
of persons age 65+ in your county
be greater than was the case for
Florida in the 2000 Census (~18%)?
0%
0%
0%1. Yes
2. No
3. Don’t know
47. Median Age by
County (2007)
Oldest Counties:
Iron County-- 47.6 years
Vilas County– 46.9 years
Door County– 46.1 years
Florence County– 45.7 years
Price County– 45.6 years
Youngest Counties:
Menominee County– 28.0 years
Dunn County– 31.9 years
Eau Claire County– 33.8 years
Pierce County– 34.1 years
Portage County– 34.7 years
48. Fastest Aging
Counties:
Change in Median
Age between 2000-
2007
Price County: 41.7 –> 45.6
Wood County: 38.0 –> 41.9
Florence County: 41.9 –> 45.7
Ozaukee County: 38.9 –> 42.4
Manitowoc County: 38.3 –> 41.6
Current median age in the United
States is 36.7
49. Preparing for the “Age Wave”
To ensure that older Americans don’t just add years
to their lives, but that quality is added to those years,
it will require PLANNING on behalf of individuals,
families, and communities.
At the national, state, county and community level, an
important step in the planning process is to examine
the impacts of an aging population.
50. What Impacts Will Population Aging
Have on Wisconsin Communities?
Families Housing Transportation Other?
55. How Will the Aging Population Impact
Transportation?
56. • What are the key attributes or characteristics
of aging-friendly communities; that is, when
can you tell whether a community offers a
supportive environment for persons of all
ages, including those who are elderly?
• How can a community measure the extent to
which it is aging-friendly?
Creating Aging-Friendly Communities
57. See Packet Handout - Small Group Activity:
Qualities of Aging-Friendly Communities
58. Qualities or Attributes of an Aging-
Friendly Community
• Inclusive
• Sustainable
• Healthy
• Accessible
• Interdependent
• Engaged
Source:
Thomas, W. H.,
& Blanchard, J.
M. (2009).
Moving beyond
Place: Aging in
community.
Generations,
33(2), 12-17.
64. ??Questions We All Need to Ask ??
• Is your community a good place to grow up
and grow old?
• Will your community meet your needs when
you are 65, 75, 85, 95…or even 105?
• If not, what can you do now to begin to make
your community a friendly and supportive
environment for persons of all ages?
