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Appalachia’s aging population is rising fast

The Columbian
Published: February 20, 2012, 4:00pm

MT. ORAB, Ohio (AP) — The graying of America is in full swing in the nation’s Appalachian region.

In some places in the 13-state region, senior citizens account for 1 out of every 5 people — a benchmark the U.S. as a whole isn’t expected to reach for another 18 years.

That means more demand for health care, economic help, transportation and other assistance in a part of the country that is already struggling economically.

One expert calls the Appalachian region “the canary in the coal mine” for what the U.S. as a whole can expect to see.

The answer, according to politicians and activists, is a combination of government and community efforts to help elderly people stay healthy and keep their homes.

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