Senior Population of Benton-Franklin Counties

1. Senior Population of Benton-Franklin Counties R. DeMers, J. McCune, & B. Yu

2. Defining the Senior population • 65 years or older • Male and Female • Growing in numbers • Focusing on seniors with independence in the community

3. Demographics • United States • Total Population: 308,745,538 • 65 years and older: 40,267,984  • Male: 151,781,326 • 65 years and older: 17,362,960 • Female: 156,964,212 • 65 years and older: 22,905,024  • Washington • Total Population: 6,724,540 • 65 years and Older: 827,677 • Benton-Franklin  • Total Population: 253,340 • 65 years and Older: 26,282  • Male: 127,933 • 65 years and Older: 11,992  • Female: 125,407 • 65 years and older: 14,290 • Washington: 12. 3% • Benton County: 11.8% • Franklin county: 7.3 %

4. Approximately 1 out of every 10 people in Benton-Franklin Counties is over the age of 65 years old.

5. The Breakdown in Washington State • Men • 65 to 69 years: 131,064 • 70 to 74 years: 88,760 • 75 to 79 years: 64,325 • 80 to 84 years: 45,743 • 85 and over: 40,083 • Women • 65 to 69 years: 139,410 • 70 to 74 years: 97,986 • 75 to 79 years: 77,743 • 80 to 84 years: 65,375 • 85 and over: 77,188

6. Strengths of this Population • Experienced • Networking • Volunteerism • Active Physically and Socially • Wisdom & Full-filled life • Positive Attitude • Patience

7. Special Needs • Transportation (public & private) • Access to Medical Care • Housing • Financial Assistant (due to fixed incomes) • Social interactions and activities • Volunteer opportunities • Recreational facilities & Senior friendly Fitness Centers • Nutritional Services • Support for Chronic Illnesses and Losses • Insurance

8. Health Issues • Physical • Diabetes mellitus • Arthritis • Congestive heart failure • Obesity • Osteoporosis • Mental • Dementia • Depression • Emotional • Grief • Losses • Social • Limited Social activities • Retirement

9. Relevant 2020 Objectives • Increase the proportion of older adults who are up-to-date on a core set of clinical preventative services. • Increase the proportion of older adults with one or more chronic health conditions who report confidence in managing their condition • Increase the proportion of older adults with reduced physical or cognitive function who engage in light, moderate, or vigorous leisure time physical activities. • Increase the proportion of persons with health insurance

10. Current Policies and Resources to address these health concerns • The Center for Disease Control • Healthy People 2020 • Benton-Franklin Health Department • Local Hospitals, Clinics, and Care facilities • Hospice • Medicare/ Medicaid • AARP • The Aging and Disability Resource Center

11. Senior Centers Fun, Fit and Over Fifty Club Food Banks Union Gospel Mission Ben Franklin Transit Dial-a-ride Meals on Wheels Grace Clinic The Chaplaincy/ Hospice Bereavement Center Adult Family Homes Retirement Centers & Living Long-term care facilities Visiting Angels Veterans Clinic Fitness Centers: including Columbia Basin College Gym Churches for all religions Volunteer Programs AND MANY MORE! Local Resources

12. Current Problems • Limited physician and health care access for Medicare/ Medicaid patients • There is no Sunday public transportation. • Limited senior focused fitness opportunities during colder seasons. • Multiple resource notebooks that duplicate one another, and are not completely comprehensive. • Limited distribution of these resource notebooks.

13. Recommendation for change • Request that physicians and health care services provide more opportunities for those who use Medicare/ Medicaid. • Open the school gyms for seniors to participate in fitness activities during the colder seasons. • Consolidate resource notebooks, change the print size for seniors for easier reading, and increase distribution.

14. Contact all programs producing current resource notebooks Hold a meeting to discuss the benefits of consolidating a resource notebook Approval would be needed from each program to be in the notebook. We would involve: Kadlec Regional Medical Center SeniorPages.com Aging and Disability Resource Center The Chaplaincy/ Hospice Local Hospitals & Clinics A Social Worker from local department of health and human services First Step to Success!

15. The roles of Community Health Nurses • Community nurses can be directly involved in : • Take a leadership role: • In meeting with programs for consolidation • Distributing these notebook • Educating the population on the resources • Recognizing & evaluating resources within the community

16. Assurance • We would expect that: • The resource notebook would help link seniors to needed resource already provided in the community. • That seniors would be more confident in finding and using local resources. • Nurses and Seniors would be asked to evaluate effectiveness of resources, and the notebook. • The nurse would also provide: • Continuous assessments of the population • Promoting policies and legislations that support Senior needs

17. Measured Change • Distribute 10,000 resource notebooks at local senior events • Partner with a senior community to evaluate effectiveness of resource

18. Questions? Thank you!