Lindsay Peterson, PhD, a research assistant professor in the School of Aging Studies, and Debra Dobbs, PhD, a professor and interim director of the School of Aging Studies, collaborated with the Senior Connection Center, a nonprofit organization, to produce a sweeping review of the needs of older adults (age 65+) in the center’s five-county service area which includes Hardee, Hillsborough, Highlands, Manatee, and Polk counties.
According to the report, the most recent data shows that while the older adult population in these counties is generally functional, it also faces vulnerabilities, with lower-than-average incomes and education in several areas. Hospitalization data further reveal a prevalence of serious vascular illness and disparities in care. Of particular concern is the data showing that the older adult population is not only growing but getting older.
Housing is a prominent issue, as identified through interviews with local providers and public officials, and lack of transportation options remains a serious concern for many older adults. In addition, increasingly fragmented and digitized communication systems block many older adults from engaging in once-simple interactions, creating further social isolation risks.
The findings of the report strongly suggest that enabling older adults to live with independence and dignity into the next two decades will require substantial increases in preventive health care and home- and community-based services. The detailed demographic and key informant data will guide aging services planning for the five counties, which are home to more than 600,000 people age 65 and older.