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General News: Baby Boomer Issues Loom Locally
January 29, 2009
From the Orange County Citizens Foundation
The impact of the aging baby boom generation will have broad-based effects, even locally. “They will factor immensely in the future of our county,” said Nancy Proyect, President of the Orange County Citizens Foundation. “That is why we focused our latest Quality of Life Report to research challenges they may face here.” The newly released data is available on the OCCF website at www.occitizensfoundation.org.
Currently 18% of Orange County’s population, adults over age 55 will comprise 25% of the county’s residents in 2030. “Our hope is that area non-profits, county and municipal officials and other community and business leaders will use the report as a tool to define their short and long-range planning,” said Proyect. “Challenges ahead for older adults signal opportunities for entrepreneurial thinkers,” she added.
The 100+ page report indicates that the three top issues faced by local older adults are Money (26.5%), Health (22.7%) and Healthcare Cost (17.3%). Findings included 45% of older adults watching their spending on food, 64% affected by debt significantly and 29% volunteering in the community. Proyect notes that report data was compiled prior to the economic downturn of late 2008 and so figures are probably much higher now as people’s investment portfolios continue to slump.
The report found that dedicated senior housing comprised 39 geographically diverse facilities offering 2,400 units, but only 29% of these are handicapped accessible. Contrary to the Foundation’s expectations, access to public transportation turned out not to be a widespread problem yet in Orange County, with research indicating that most older adults drive their own cars and the limited access to County transportation systems is sufficient.
Employment in health care and social assistance industries 2000-2006 grew by 24.2% in Orange County, versus only a 10.9% growth across NYS. Wages in this sector also grew significantly.
The 2008 Quality of Life for Older Adults Report was made possible by funding from the Orange County Citizens Foundation and Vanacore, DeBenedictus, DiGovanni and Weddell. The research for the report was compiled by The Business Institute of SUNY New Paltz, Know/Go NPD and Ann Barber Consulting.
The Citizens Foundation brought together a number of community experts to determine the report’s research topics. They include Patricia Claiborne of Cornell Cooperative Extension, Anne Coon of OC Office of the Aging, Tom Fay of Visiting Angels, Dan Grady of Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties, Irene Kurlander of the Department of Social Services, Donna McAleer of Elant Inc., Fran Melder of Southwinds Retirement Home and Timothy Murphy of OC Department of Social Services.
The Citizens Foundation is a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve and enhance the quality of life in Orange County, focusing on a balance between economic growth and environmental and cultural enhancement. Volunteers are welcome to join committees which focus on issues such as land use, waste and water, transportation and cultural affairs. Overall, the Citizens Foundation acts as a non-partisan catalyst to promote balanced and thoughtful planning and change throughout the county.
Comments:
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Once again a Quality of Life survey omits any support by religious institutions for the 'target' population, in this case Baby Boomers. As I look at the church I serve, I see volunteers working tirelessly in many areas including visitation and friendly contact. I see as well the Baby Boomers who have been supported by their co-religionists during times of serious illness or grief. This survey does list 3 of the feeding programs in Newburgh operated out of churches. I guess the Baby Boomers who receive food assistance through local food pantries don't rate a quality of life. The churches, synagogues, and mosques of Orange County provide important, measurable additions to the quality of life. Sadly, the Citizens Foundation omitted any leaders representing religion in Orange County.
posted by Rev. Thomas Margrave on 01/30/09 at 3:28 PM
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