Aging in Place

Aging in Place allows older adults to remain in their homes and communities as they age.

Some facts about Virginia's Seniors:

• In 2000, approximately 15% of the population in Virginia was age 60 or older - 1 out of every 6 people
• It is estimated that by 2030, that same group of people will make up 25% of the population - 1 out of 4
• The number of Virginians 85 and older will increase dramatically, with a projected growth rate 5 times faster than the state’s total population rate. This age group is also the most likely to need aging-related services
• 70 percent of older Virginians live in metropolitan areas but rural Virginia has the highest proportion of seniors, resulting from a combination of younger generations moving away and older adults moving to rural settings for retirement
• Most Americans (83%) age 45 and over say they would like to remain in their current residence for as long as possible
• Most seniors (82%) would prefer not to move from their current home, even if they need help caring for themselves

Home and community-based services are the collective supports designed to enable older adults to “age in place.” However, those support systems are harder to find in our rural areas. The Virginia Department for the Aging supports older Virginians and their caregivers through a variety of programs such as Easy Access and Project 2025. VDA has published the Four Year Plan for Aging Services, which notes that rural areas have a high percentage of seniors.

Is this plan adequate to address the unique issues rural seniors face? Are there rural health issues that go beyond the scope of VDA that should be considered? Should VRHA be recommending policy changes to assist seniors who wish to stay in the comfort of familiar surroundings as they age?

Get your seat at the table! Help VRHA develop a strategic plan for advocacy for our Seniors by attending the Aging in Place discussion.

Moderator: Susan Alford

Panelists:
Karen A. Roberto, Ph.D.
Professor & Director
Center for Gerontology, Virginia Tech

Janice Wilkins
Corporate Nurse/Vice President
The Landmark Healthcare Group

Participant Discussion

Day 1 - defining the issues

On the first day, participants had the opportunity to hear a panel discussion on each topic, but the focus was on sharing of information ideas and concerns.  They panelists only had a few minutes to speak, and then the participants were lead in a facilitated discussion to help them identify the top two issues on each topic. 

Day 2- finding solutions

While the first day identified issues, the second day was all about finding solutions.   Each of the top issues from the previous day was given its own discussion table.  Participants were asked to rotate between tables and asked a series of questions so that the issues may be considered from a variety of perspectives which would lead to constructive solutions.