Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary, Mark D. Birdwhistell, (right) presents a gift to Graham Rowles, Ph.D.,(left) during the KERI survey findings release.
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Graham Rowles, Ph.D., speaks about KERI findings at the October Elder Readiness Meeting held at the Barren River Conference Center. |
Kentucky Elder Readiness Initiative Preliminary Report
The Department for Aging and Independent Living, the University of Kentucky Graduate Center for Gerontology, and the AAA’s coordinated their efforts to begin dialogue regarding preparation for the increasing aging population. Known as the Kentucky Elder Readiness Initiative (KERI), the program began gathering information in 2006. A preliminary report, released on October 22, 2007, at the Barren River Area Development District Board of Directors Meeting provides information specific to the Barren River region, making important matter of the “Baby Boomers” (those born from 1946-1964) known. These concerns will provide a knowledge base for our community leaders in the planning and preparation for the Barren River Region. Approximately 34.1% of the Barren River community responded to the statewide survey in the summer of 2007. The preliminary report projects that our region will have experienced an increase of persons age 60 and older from 17.2% (43,775 persons) in 2000 to 26.0% (83,776) persons by 2030, a 91.4% increase. |
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A significant proportion of this increase can be attributed to the aging of the Baby Boom Generation. Respondents express concerns regarding the consequences this increase will create on tax revenues, housing, health care delivery, and transportation. However, the respondents remain optimistic, expressing that this increase will generate waves in governmental forums, resulting in positive changes. Nevertheless, 78.6% of Baby Boom respondents in our region expressed “somewhat” or “strong” concerns regarding financial preparedness for their retirement and 50.7% reported that they plan to continue working as opposed to retirement to keep health insurance or other benefits. Some suggestions included in the preliminary report include: increasing employment and volunteer options for elders, developing residential options for seniors, increasing educational opportunities, providing training and support options for new caregivers, redefining the role of senior centers, developing programs to support grandparents raising grandchildren, developing programs for elders to provide mentorship or guidance to youth, providing programs for long term support for persons with disabilities being cared for by an aging parent, creating a single point of entry (one place to call)to access information and services, and increasing taxes to support programs for the aging. One suggestion of the KERI preliminary report was fulfilled with the implementation of the Kentucky Resource Market on October 31,2007 as “The one-stop shop for aging and disability information, programs and services.” Many others remain a work in progress |
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