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Panel lays groundwork for aging population

New Clark County task force will suggest strategies to deal with myriad of issues

The Columbian
Published: May 21, 2010, 12:00am

Clark County’s population of residents aged 60 and older will nearly double by 2025, national trends indicate, and County Commissioner Marc Boldt feels the county’s not adequately prepared.

“I firmly believe this is the most important task force Clark County is ever going to do,” Boldt told members of the Aging Readiness Task Force, which convened for the first time Tuesday at the Public Service Center.

Boldt picked the 25 members of the task force, which will study key issues such as housing, transportation and health care before making recommendations to commissioners next year.

More than 70 people applied to serve on the task force, an indication people want to talk about how to provide services to a graying population, said county administrator Bill Barron.

Jesse Dunn, executive director for the Arc of Clark County, was named chairman. The group will next meet at 2 p.m. June 17 at the Public Service Center, then wait until fall before meeting again.

“The commissioners want to know what the public thinks. You are going to be the public’s voice,” Barron said.

All meetings are open to the public.

The group will hear presentations by groups such as the Vancouver Housing Authority and C-Tran.

On Tuesday, the task force heard from David Kelly, executive director of the Southwest Washington Agency on Aging and Disabilities.

Kelly said that by 2030, 24 percent, or nearly one in four Clark County residents, will be 60 or older. Currently, that group accounts for 16 percent of the total county population. And people 85 and older, currently 1.4 percent of the county population, will account for 2 percent.

“The vast majority wish to age in their own home, and in their own community,” Kelly said.

A critical component of the group’s plan will be figuring out how the elderly can live independently but, particularly when they are too old to drive, still get around, Kelly said.

Other topics will be work force development, as people are expected to work long past retirement age, and volunteer opportunities so older people can stay engaged.

Kelly said one national survey showed that one-half of all communities haven’t started to address looming issues presented by an aging population.

Task force member Roger Jarvis offered one reason why: the “instant gratification” of today’s culture with young people who have a “me first, me first, me first attitude,” he said.

“People don’t want to think about where they are going to be 20, 30 years from now,” Jarvis added.

Kelly called it a “silent issue” because many older adults will insist they can handle their own dilemmas.

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“Sheer numbers and needs indicate they are wrong,” Kelly said.

Stephanie Rice: 360-735-4508 or stephanie.rice@columbian.com.

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