Survey: Virginia not prepared for wave of aging seniors
BIG STONE GAP — A statewide survey of 5,000 Virginians indicates many baby boomers think their communities are unprepared for the coming “age wave” and are concerned about how their quality of life might change as they grow older.
The Older Dominion Partnership on Thursday released results of a statewide survey of Virginians ages 50 to 105.
“We are pleased to have contributed to the ODP’s statewide survey and can now reap the benefits here at Mountain Empire Older Citizens Inc.,” said Big Stone Gap-based MEOC Executive Director Marilyn Pace Maxwell. “In Lee, Wise and Scott counties and the city of Norton, the most interesting data from the survey is those living in our area rate their health lower than do those in Virginia as a whole.”
Maxwell said the survey showed 43 percent of Virginians 65 and older say their health is very good or excellent, but only 31 percent living in MEOC’s service area feel the same way. Also, 49 percent of Virginians age 50 to 64 rate their health as very good or excellent, while just 30 percent of those in the same age range living in Southwest Virginia do.
“This is just one of many comparisons that indicate there is much work to be done to prepare Southwest Virginia for the ‘age wave,’” Maxwell said. “On the other hand, we were pleased that practically everyone surveyed in our area — 96 percent — were familiar with MEOC. That was the highest name recognition of any area agency on aging in Virginia. This was very important to us, as our driving goal is to be a community-based, community-driven organization.”
On average, about six in 10 respondents across Virginia are aware of their local area agency on aging, “but there is significant variation in awareness among the various areas,” Maxwell said, “particularly in our service area. The many aspects covered in the statewide survey now help us prioritize and focus for the seniors of today and tomorrow.”
To assist Virginia communities to plan for a doubling of the state’s senior population in coming years, ODP Executive Director R. David Ross said it is “critical to first identify those issues that matter most and have the greatest positive impact.”
With the release of the survey results, Ross said local area agencies on aging “such as Mountain Empire Older Citizens Inc. have timely, comprehensive data from which it can identify key priorities.”
Other survey results include:
• Older Virginians (68 percent) feel more prepared to take on the challenges of aging than do baby boomers at 54 percent.
• Only 23 percent of boomers believe their communities are prepared to meet the needs and lifestyles of an older population, while 42 percent of older Virginians say their communities are prepared.
• 27 percent of boomers and 19 percent of older Virginians say they are not prepared financially for retirement.
To review the full report visit www.olderdominion.org. Individual reports have been prepared for each of Virginia’s 25 area agencies on aging.
The ODP is a nonprofit initiative by Virginia businesses, government, foundations and nonprofits to help Virginia ride the “age wave,” the doubling of Virginia’s 65 and older population to about 1.8 million by 2030.
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