From the Director
Older American’s Month and a better tomorrow
By Robert P. Dean
May is Older American’s Month, and an opportunity to spotlight issues and concerns that affect older Americans. This year’s theme is “Living Today for a Healthy Tomorrow.” Today’s older Americans are living longer, healthier lives, and are more active, interested, and involved than ever before. More than two million Americans turn 65 each year, and live an average of 18 additional years after celebrating their 65th birthdays. The number of Americans age 65 or older has more than doubled in the last forty-three years - from 17 million in 1963 to 37.9 million in 2007. (More than 5 million of these older Americans are 85 or older, while the number of Americans age 100 or older has more than doubled in less than twenty years, from 37,000 in 1990 to more than 84,000 in 2007). As the number of individuals age 65 or older has increased, so has the number of seniors with one or more chronic health conditions such as arthritis, high blood pressure, hearing loss, heart disease, diabetes, and depression.
Although the risk of certain diseases increases with age, poor health is not an inevitable consequence of aging, and many illnesses and disabilities can be prevented. Studies show that older Americans can prevent or control chronic disease by adopting healthy habits such as regular exercise and maintaining a healthy diet; and by giving up unhealthy habits such as smoking. Additionally, social activities such as volunteering can contribute to improved mental health and greater life satisfaction.
As we discuss Older American’s Month and disease prevention, it is important that we also discuss what can be done to support the in home and community-based services that can prevent or delay nursing facility placement. Home and community-based services are far less expensive than nursing facility placement, and can help prevent or delay those more costly placements. The overwhelming preference of older Americans is to continue to live in their own homes and communities, and that if or when they need long-term care services to receive those services at home. As older Americans have supported our communities, so must we support them when they need a little bit of help.
As the Massachusetts Legislature continues its budget deliberations in May and June for fiscal year 2010, (which begins July 1, 2009), we have an important opportunity to support the preference of Massachusetts seniors to remain in their own homes and communities by asking the Legislature to provide an appropriate level of funding for the services they need, so that they will have a true choice as to where they will receive their long term care services - at home or in an institution. As we consider this opportunity, and that we have limited state dollars during these particularly challenging economic times, we should keep in mind that it costs far less to provide long-term care services at home than it does in a nursing facility, and that home and community-based services are a cost-effective and very efficient use of our limited state dollars.
As we celebrate Older Americans Month this May, what better way to honor Massachusetts seniors - and to provide a better tomorrow - than to secure adequate funding for the services they need to continue to live in their own homes and communities.
Happy Mother’s Day.
Robert P. Dean is Executive Director of Elder Services.
