Better Living Through Well Being Presented by TMIS
Statewide Survey Examines Views of Seniors, Baby Boomers on Aging Richmond, Virginia
A statewide survey of 5,000 Virginians shows that many Baby Boomers think their communities are unprepared for the coming "age wave" and are concerned about how their quality of life might change as they grow older. While today's Seniors are positive, Boomers say communities are unprepared.
The Older Dominion Partnership (ODP), an enterprising non-profit organization working to better prepare Virginia for the major impact caused by the aging population boom, today released results of a statewide survey of Virginians ages 50 to 105.
"To help our Commonwealth and its communities plan for the doubling of our senior population, it's critical to first identify those issues that matter most and have the greatest positive impact," said Joel Mier, Chairman of the Board for the Older Dominion Partnership. "With the release of today's survey results, the ODP has encouraged the Commonwealth's leaders of Business, Education, Nonprofits, Philanthropy and Government as well as the 25 Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) to better understand the key issues facing our seniors of today and tomorrow."
"The information we have made available to the Commonwealth represents a huge step forward and covers finances, housing, transportation & mobility, workforce, caregiving, civic and community engagement, and health and wellbeing," said Dr. Richard Lindsay, Professor Emeritus of Internal Medicine and Family Medicine at UVA, and chairman of the Work Group that developed the survey instrument. "This represents an unprecedented opportunity for all Virginians to be able to plan, adjust and implement decisions based upon accurate current data."
The 2011 Virginia Age Ready Indicators Benchmark Survey found that both Older Virginians (aged 65+) and Boomers (aged 50-64) report a high quality of life and feel their personal quality of life is significantly higher than others in the community, but Boomers say the quality of life of today's seniors is lower than their own.
The survey also showed that:
Older Virginians feel more prepared to navigate the challenges of aging than do Boomers. Sixty-eight percent rated themselves as prepared or very prepared, compared to 54 percent of those Boomers.
Only twenty-three percent of Boomers believe their community is prepared to meet the needs and lifestyles of an older population, while 42 percent of older Virginians say their communities are prepared.
Twenty-seven percent of Boomers and 19 percent of older Virginians say they are not prepared financially for retirement.
"The results of this survey suggest that Boomers will bring different perspectives and expectations to their senior years and will likely redefine what it means to grow older in Virginia," said R. David Ross, Executive Director of the Older Dominion Partnership. "We plan to conduct this survey every three years to follow the transition of Boomers into their senior years and help work to ensure Virginia remains the best place to live, work, and play at any age."
The survey included interviews in each of the Commonwealth's 25 Area Agencies on Aging, which work with the Virginia Department for the Aging to provide services for older Virginians and their families in communities throughout the Commonwealth. The interviews were conducted by telephone as well as online.
To read the full report, visit the website for the Older Dominion Partnership, www.olderdominion.org. Individual reports have been prepared for each of the Commonwealth's AAAs.
The Older Dominion Partnership is a 501 (C) (3) non-profit initiative by Virginia businesses, government, foundations, and non-profits to help Virginia ride the age wave, the doubling of the Commonwealth's 65 and older population to about 1.8 million by 2030.