Getting Elder Friendly

Health care professionals in Basin to present concept to city and county officials this year

COLUMBIA BASIN — In 2005, Aging and Adult Care of Central Washington is looking to implement what is known as Elder Friendly Communities to improve health care services for those 65 and older.

Bruce Buckles, executive director with AAC of Central Washington, said that there is a significant growth in elderly populations, especially in rural areas such as the Columbia Basin where many people move to retire. "In the next eight years the population of those 65 and older will double and we will need the resources to meet those needs," Buckles said.

Later this year, Buckles said his organization plans to present information to city and county officials on the growth and needs of aging populations in each of the six counties where AAC has jurisdiction, including Adams, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Lincoln and Okanogan Counties.

In addition, Buckles mentioned the decrease in state funding for healthcare in the last two decades, citing the $1.8 billion revenue deficit expected for the next biennium and continued cuts in state funded ProShare monies that will provide more challenges for healthcare and other services. "The health budget has been cut one tenth of what it was 20 years ago and Washington has fallen behind in health care and it used to be a leader," Buckles said.

Health officials say one reason for the increasing growth in the aging population is improved technology and medical advancements that are enabling people to live longer.

"As people age and live longer, diseases that would have killed them years ago now start to crop up on them later in life," said Roger Arango, assessment coordinator with the Grant County Health District.

Arango said there needs to be "increasing awareness at the federal level, especially as the baby boomer ages." He stressed the importance for aging populations and their families to have resources available so "people can age healthfully. Services have to be geared toward an aging population," he said.

Health care professionals who provide mental health services are also concerned.

Sharon Kiehn, director with Grant Mental Health, said as the federal government makes changes to Medicaid and Medicare, paying for health care services will become increasingly difficult. "In the past, (patients) were able to use Medicaid savings to pay for non-Medicaid services and increasingly the state of Washington has put less of a budget into mental health services so there is less available for non-Medicaid (patients)."

Kiehn shared the high depression rate among senior citizens, another reason she says that access to proper health care services is needed. "(Elders) are the highest risk group for suicide nationally … often elders are isolated and not really integrated into the community and they may have needs that go unnoticed."

Elder Friendly Communities originally started in 10 cities throughout the United States. Currently there is an Elder Friendly Community established in Puyallup, Wash. that has been in place for four years.

David Hanson, program specialist with Pierce County Aging and Long Term Care, said his organization began by having a survey and focus groups to asses the needs of the elderly. "We created a task force that had members of city government on it and people from agencies that are part of the aging network."

Hanson said the phone survey of 500 people revealed that nearly half felt they had unmet needs and wanted opportunities to work or volunteer even though they may be retired. While Hanson said healthcare for the aging is of great importance, part of that is offering services that engage that demographic. "Those 65 and older have talents that are going to waste if not shared in the community."