Preparation for aging of baby boom urged
By 2026, at least a quarter of Spokane’s population is expected to be older than 60, a projection that should galvanize government officials and ordinary folks starting now.
Better transportation, more accessible living spaces and protection against falls, a leading cause of hospitalization, ought to be at the top of the community’s collective list of things to do to benefit the elderly.
Those are the most pointed conclusions of a new report on the health and welfare of Spokane County’s oldest residents compiled by the Spokane Regional Health District.
More than 200 senior care providers are expected to attend a community forum Friday to discuss the issues. The public is invited to attend.
Like communities across the country, Spokane can expect a huge surge in the number of seniors as the Baby Boom generation grows older, according to the report: “Aging with Care in Spokane County.”
In 2005, people older than 60 made up about 16 percent of the county’s population; within two decades, it’s expected to increase to more than 24 percent, according to projections from the Washington State Office of Financial Management.
While that’s to be expected, its impact may not be widely understood, said Nick Beamer, executive director of Aging and Long Term Care of Eastern Washington.
“I don’t think there’s any radical issue here,” Beamer said. “But, to me, I don’t think there’s a great awareness of the senior population in our area.”
The new report took a year to compile at a cost of about $20,000, said Lyndia Tye, a health district division manager. It offers a warning about potential problems. More than half of hospitalizations among seniors are caused by accidents, and nearly a third of those accidents are caused by falls.
“The area of falls was a surprise,” said Beamer. At the same time, funding was cut back for a fall prevention program once offered by the health district.
The new study also highlights the need for more adult day care, better transportation to and from medical care and more accessible and affordable living spaces, Beamer said.
Copies of the report are available at the forum, or by contacting Linda Lillard at the health district at (509) 323-2853 or llillard@spokanecounty.org