How communities care for an aging population and bridge the age gap was the topic during the “Aging in Place” workshop at the Oakland County executive building last week.
“The county calling all those people together was a great idea. Our communities need to ensure our seniors can get around and age in place with grace,” said Independence Township Supervisor Pat Kittle.
Downtown Development Authority directors, community officials and county executives gathered to hear presentations by keynote speaker Dick Carlisle, president of Carlisle-Wortman Associate, and planner for several communities including Independence Township.
Clawson DDA Director Joan Horton and Auburn Hills Director of Community Development Steve Cohen spoke about accomplishments in their community geared towards helping aging residents live a better life and also about the 2015 Friendly Action Plan created in the community.
Carolyn Morrison, president of Friends of Seniors, on the Independence Township Senior Center Board, and member of senior council, said she was impressed with Carlise’s presentation and the workshop in general.
” It was excellent. I’m so pleased communities are taking interest in seniors and their quality of life,” Morrison said.
She spoke with Kittle about creating more resources for seniors in Independence Township.
“Independence Township is going to move forward. They did a survey two years ago, we have been working on issues benefiting seniors in the community,” she added.
Morrison, noted important information given during the workshop.
“Seniors spend 92 percent of their income locally,” she pointed out.
Morrison said right now she and others who work with seniors are addressing transportation issues for senior who can’t drive.
“Our goal is to work with the community so seniors stay for a lifetime,” Morrison said. “We need to look at the master plan and make senior access to the township and city. For so many years communities have focused on the young population.”
During the workshop, Carlisle told the group the senior age group will be dominant in a few decades.
‘By 2030 one in five residents will be seniors,” he said. “By 2040 seniors will exceed the youth.”
Carlisle said senior generations nowadays are much different.
“They are younger. They work longer, are more physically active and more tech savvy.”
Housing needs will change a lot, too.
Many large sprawling homes built today will not be a popular housing choice for either them as they age, or the youth, so communities will see the housing markets on those homes decline.
He added it is time for communities to address the needs of a senior population now, and many concepts benefitting seniors is included in “Placemaking” an initiative the state of Michigan has encouraged communities to embrace.
The Clarkston Area Chamber of Commerce kicked off a Placemaking in Clarkston in 2013. A committee was also formed.
Placemaking creates spaces and places bringing people together. It helps communities create places to bridge the gap between young and old. It encourages communities to create a “sense of place” or spaces and places evoking a positive response from people.
Speakers said communities must address providing service, including health care, as the aging population.