Creating Aging-Friendly Communities in Wisconsin

Clif Barber, Jane Jensen, and Judy Knudsen

AGING IN OUR COMMUNITIES TEAM UW Extension – Family Living Programs

Mission: To develop and disseminate research-based, educational programs that address the needs of Wisconsin’s aging population and their families.

How prepared is your community for the coming “age wave” ?

Presentation Outline

• PART 1: Population Aging

• PART 2: Impacts of Aging Populations

• PART 3: Creating Aging-Friendly Communities

Part 1: The Aging of PopulationsWhether we like it or not (or whether we admit it or not), all of us – as individuals - experience aging.

Aging in human beings can be measured in a number of ways: chronological, biological, psychological, social, functional, etc.

How is Population Aging Measured?

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

Illustrating Population AgingThere are several ways to graphically illustrate the aging of a population. One of the most common is the population pyramid.

Number (millions)

Changing Shape of Population Pyramids

The “shape” of a population pyramid is determined by a combination of several factors. One is birth rate. What are some other factors?

Four Perspectives of Population Aging

Population Aging: A Global Perspective

Within the next 10 years, for the first time in human history….

…the percentage (and number) of persons age 65+ in the world will be greater than those age 5 and younger!

Current Awareness of Global Aging

What is Meant by the Term: “Global Aging”?

• For most of human history, until about a century ago, the elderly (people aged 65 and over) never amounted to more than 2 or 3% of the population.

• Today, this figure is about 15%. By the year 2030, older persons will be around 25%...1 in every 4 people! Note: With 13% age 65+, the U.S. ranks 41st out of 224.

Population Aging in “Developed” 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.

Population Aging in “Developing” Countries

• As a whole, the developing world will remain much younger (than developed countries) for the foreseeable future.

• Yet developing countries, too, are aging—hence the term "global aging.”

Population Aging: A National (U.S.) Perspective

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

Increase in Number of Americans Age 65+

?January 2011: Beginning of the “Age Wave”

Percentage of Americans Age 65 and Older: 1900-2050

Population pyramids illustrate changing age structure for a given geographical area, and are one way to visualize and better understand the effect that the “Baby Boom” (“Aging Boom”) generation will have on the aging population in the United States – See ‘red bars’ in the population pyramids to the right --->

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.

Percentage of Americans Age 65 Expected to Survive to Age 90

Growth of U.S. Centenarians

100+!

Projected Percentage Increases in the Number of Persons 65+ by Race: 1995-2050

Source: ““A Portrait of Older Minorities” (AARP, 1993)

Population Aging: A Wisconsin Perspective

Aging Populations: State Ranking (top 20)

Wisconsin Projections

Population Aging in Wisconsin

2008: 13.1%

2030:22%

Population Pyramids for Wisconsin 1900 and 2035

Population Aging in Wisconsin:A County Perspective

• In the 2000 Census, almost 18% of Florida’s population was age 65+. By 2030, which Wisconsin counties will have this same percentage or higher?

• Between 2000 and 2007, which Wisconsin counties aged the fastest (in terms of median age)?

• In terms of median age, which Wisconsin counties are the oldest?

Population Aging in WisconsinPercentage of Persons Age 65+ by County: 2010-2030

Wisconsin’s Age Wave

Median Age by County (2007)

Oldest Counties:Iron County-- 47.6 yearsVilas County– 46.9 yearsDoor County– 46.1 yearsFlorence County– 45.7 yearsPrice County– 45.6 years

Youngest Counties:Menominee County– 28.0 yearsDunn County– 31.9 yearsEau Claire County– 33.8 yearsPierce County– 34.1 yearsPortage County– 34.7 years

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

 

UW Extension Applied Population Lab

County-Level Data on Population Aging…

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.

Part 2: Community Impacts of Population Aging

Families Housing Transportation Other?

What Impacts Will Population Aging Have on Wisconsin Communities?

Impacts of the Aging Population on Your Community

• Families/Family Caregiving• Housing• Transportation• Health Services• Land Use Planning• Public Safety• Parks and Recreation• Workforce Development and Education• Volunteerism and Civic Engagement• Arts and Cultural Activities• Economic Development

SMALL GROUP ACTIVITY: Select one of the first three areas bulleted to the left + one additional area of your choosing. For each area, (1) list several community impacts as a result of population aging, and (2) brainstorm what might be done to make the community more aging-friendly.

How Will the Aging Population Impact Wisconsin Families?

How Will the Aging Population Impact Housing?

How Will the Aging Population Impact Transportation?

• Health Services?• Land Use Planning?• Public Safety?• Parks and Recreation?• Workforce Development and Education?• Volunteerism and Civic Engagement?• Arts and Cultural Activities?• Economic Development?

How Will the Aging Population Impact…

• 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?

Part 3: Creating Aging-Friendly Communities

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.

How prepared is your community for the coming

“age wave” ?

Are America’s Communities Ready for the Coming “Age Wave”?

Maturing of America Survey (2005)

One finding: Only 46% of U.S. communities have begun planning efforts to prepare for the impacts of an aging population.

State-Level Planning

Examples of Wisconsin Communities and Counties Who Have Started to Plan

Recommend that – as a first step – all communities carefully assess the extent to which they are “aging-ready”

Aging Readiness Questionnaire

Assessing Aging Readiness

Aging Readiness Survey for Wisconsin Communities

• Based on your knowledge and experience in your respective communities, please complete the “Aging Readiness Survey”

• If you have suggestions with regard to improving the survey, please let us know.

A Valuable Resource

Another Resource: UW Extension Blog

Planning and Designing Livable Communities for Older Adults…and For

Persons of All Ages• The communities in which most of us live are

not optimal in terms of being good places to grow up AND GROW OLD.

• Efforts to design aging-friendly communities are in their infancy. Fewer than one-half of America’s cities, towns, and villages have begun to address the needs of an aging population.

??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?

Are you willing to take the risk?