Local Governments Plan for Aging Baby Boomers
Planning for healthy aging requires participation and commitment from all community sectors, most particularly local governments. Aging baby boomers are redefining not just the political agenda on health and social care, but also how local governments think about old age. As 80 million baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) start to retire from full-time employment in the U.S., local governments are scrambling to facilitate community-based planning and services. All to promote healthy aging and ease some of the strain that the aging baby boomers will undoubtedly place on the health care system.
What Drives Boomers?
The first step in supporting aging baby boomers is to understand what drives them. The events of the 1960s shaped many attitudes, and the group in general tends to be driven by 'idealistic causes'. Many believe that even during the aging process they can change the world—or a community—if they unite their voices and efforts. They dislike old-fashioned terms such as 'senior citizen' and 'elderly,' and better identify with 'boomers' or 'midlife adults.' Above all, they are determined to retain control of whom and what defines them throughout the aging process.
Many aging baby boomers want to age in place. They enjoy their communities and homes; they have an existing social network that they value; they want to remain active and engaged; and they have the time to devote to community improvement and public service.
Today's aging baby boomers include the richest age-group in American society. If local governments can provide the necessary healthy aging support system so aging baby boomers can comfortably age in place, they will contribute to the economic well-being of the whole community by purchasing goods and services. So, it's beneficial for communities to focus on the numerous assets that aging baby boomers bring to their communities.
Community-Based Planning
Even without an infusion of resources, Public Management recommends local governments begin to prepare for healthy aging services by:
- Asking their city or county planning staff to do a simple aging process demographic analysis of their community.
- Expecting service demands to escalate and recognizing the necessity of affordable and accessible senior housing. This includes the need for increased transit services and walk-able community environments with libraries, leisure activities and education services, etc.
- Engaging with community groups and service sectors early on, and building on these relationships throughout the planning process.
The Avamere Family of Companies applauds local governments and communities as they embrace healthy aging processes in preparation for the care of aging baby boomers. Our continuum of care model of service embraces the healthy aging process and our senior care facilities were created with the baby boomer population in mind. Start planning for yourself and check one out today.
