The number of older Americans continues to grow. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, in the past 10 years the number of individuals age 65 and older increased by 15% – a higher rate than the 9.7% increase in the total U.S. population. The number of older Americans has more than doubled in the last 47 years – from 17 million in 1963 to 40.2 million in 2010 – and now accounts for more than 13% of the total U.S. population. (More than 5.4 million of these 40.2 million older Americans are age 85 or older.) Each year, more than two million Americans turn 65. As more baby boomers become senior boomers, the number of Americans 65 and older will only continue to rise.

Here in Berkshire County, although the overall population decreased by 3,734 (2.8%), between 2000 and 2010, the number of individuals age 60 and older increased by 3,474, or 11.4% . The number of Berkshire residents age 85 and older increased by 8%. According to the 2010 census, there were 33,740 individuals age 60 or older residing in Berkshire County, 4,240 of whom were age 85 or older. Females account for 56% of the total, with males representing 44%. Almost 8,000 Berkshire residents age 65 or older live alone – some have family and friends nearby, others do not.

For some seniors there comes a time when they may need some assistance to continue to live in their own homes and communities with dignity and independence. Such in-home services may include Meals on Wheels and Home Care (assistance with personal care needs such as dressing, bathing, and bathroom assistance, and with homemaking). The typical senior served by our Home Care and Meals on Wheels programs is age 75 or older, female, widowed, and living alone on a fixed, limited income. As these seniors have supported their communities, we should be there to assist them so that they can continue to live in their own homes and communities even as their needs change. We should recognize the overwhelming preference of older Americans to continue to live in their own homes and communities, and that if or when they need long-term care services to receive those services at home.

As the Governor and state Legislature begin budget deliberations this month for fiscal year 2013, (which begins July 1, 2012), we have an important opportunity to support the preference of Massachusetts and Berkshire seniors to remain in their own homes and communities, by asking the Governor and Legislature to provide sufficient funding for the services seniors need, so that they can have a true choice as to where they will receive their long term care services – at home or in an institution. As we consider this opportunity, we should keep in mind that in-home and community-based services are a cost-effective and remain the most efficient use of our limited state dollars.

What better way to honor Massachusetts seniors than to provide adequate funding for the services they need to continue to live in their own homes and communities?

By Robert P. Dean, Executive Director of Elder Services.