Date: 03/06/2012
Final
Presentation on Colorado's Aging Population
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT
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10:07 AM -- Presentation on Colorado's Aging Population
Representative Summers discussed the committee's upcoming schedule and provided background on the presentation on Colorado's aging population.
10:13 AM
Elizabeth Garner, State Demographer, provided a handout (Attachment A) to the committee. She discussed the increases in Colorado's population. She stated that the fastest growing age group from 2000 to 2010 was the 55 to 64 year olds at an increase of 76 percent. She discussed the net migration occurring in the state. She stated that Colorado's population of those 65 years of age and older is expected to increase by 123 percent by 2030, compared to a growth in total population of 38 percent. She stated that the Front Range and Western Slope will experience the largest change in the 65 years of age and older population. Ms. Garner discussed the transition period that will be occurring in the next two decades related to the share of Colorado's population in various age ranges. She explained that the fastest growing household type from 2010 to 2020 will be the age 65 and older households growing at 7 percent per year. She discussed the economic, workforce, housing, labor force, and public finance challenges and opportunities related to the increasing population of those 65 years of age and older. She stated that when someone ages out of a job it does not show up as a new job and the potential for labor force shortages.
10:40 AM
Ms. Garner responded to questions about how Colorado's aging population compares to the United States as a whole, the labor force impacts of the aging population, the poverty levels for people 65 years of age and older, and the public policy issues related to the aging population. Ms. Garner responded to questions about the ability to get tax data specific to Colorado for the various age groups.
10:51 AM
Jayla Sanchez-Warren, Denver Regional Council of Governments, provided a packet of information (Attachment B) to the committee. She provided an overview of the aging network and the Area Agencies on Aging. She discussed the community assessment and planning that is occurring through the Area Agencies on Aging. She discussed the community needs and strengths assessed through the Community Assessment Survey of Older Americans. She discussed the health and wellness needs of aging Coloradoans, including physical health, staying physically fit, tooth or mouth problems, and maintaining a health diet. She explained the decisions older Coloradans are facing related to paying medical co-payments and covering other expenses. Ms. Sanchez-Warren discussed the information and planning needs, productive activities needs, and the community design needs related to older adults. She discussed the programs that are being provided through the Area Agencies on Aging, such as health screenings at congregate meal sites, exercise classes at senior centers, and fall prevention programs. She discussed the challenges facing Area Agencies on Aging, including limited funding, increased demands, economic changes, and new programs required by the federal government. She discussed the need for a multi-pronged approach, including the need to increase awareness and understanding of the demographic shift and increase funding for home- and community-based services. She expressed concerns about people needing to spend down assets to be able to qualify for certain services. She discussed the need to invest in service infrastructure, develop new partnerships with groups such as faith-based organizations, make communities more livable, and help older adults stay out of poverty.
11:18 AM
Ms. Sanchez-Warren responded to questions about the Boomer Bond Program which is an initiative aimed to provide the region's local governments with strategies and tools to support healthy, independent, aging allowing older adults to remain in their homes and communities as long as they wish. Ms. Sanchez-Warren and the committee dialogued about how to encourage families to plan ahead for the care of aging relatives and how to provide information to both seniors and caregiviers about the services that are available through the Area Agencies on Aging.
11:28 AM
The committee adjourned.