Statistical Profile of Lake County Older Adults
Regular text is from the above report; my comments are in italics
AGE DEMOGRAPHICS
|
ELDERLY AS PERCENT OF LAKE COUNTY
POPULATON |
|||||||
|
Age Group |
YEAR |
||||||
|
2020 |
2025 |
2030 |
2035 |
2040 |
2045 |
2050 |
|
|
60+ |
28.3% |
29.9% |
30.2% |
29.7% |
28.6% |
28.2% |
27.9% |
|
75+ |
8.4% |
9.2% |
10.2% |
11.4% |
12.0% |
11.6% |
11.1% |
|
85+ |
2.4% |
2.5% |
2.4% |
2.9% |
3.1% |
3.7% |
3.7% |
|
60-74 |
19.9% |
20.7% |
20.0% |
18.3% |
16.6% |
16.6% |
16.8% |
|
75-84 |
6.0% |
6.7% |
7.8% |
8.5% |
8.9% |
7.9% |
7.4% |
|
85+ |
2.4% |
2.5% |
2.4% |
2.9% |
3.1% |
3.7% |
3.7% |
|
60-74/85+ |
8.3 |
8.3 |
8.3 |
6.3 |
5.4 |
4.5 |
4.5 |
My understanding of the age dynamics among the elderly was aided by the weekly phone conversations I had with my aunt in Florida as she aged from her eighties into her nineties. She and her husband both military veterans had build a great retirement home in Florida. However, after her husband died, she lamented the fact that all their age peers were disappearing. Some had died, others become ill, and many moved away to be with their families.
I began to accompany her shortly after my father's death which occurred immediately before my retirement at age sixty. Since my family lived in Pennsylvania, I was unable to accompany my mother when she died early in her seventies, around the time I became fifty. Dad lived alone but had many supportive neighbors in our small town, along with brothers and sisters, nephews and nieces spread in surrounding communities.
In analyzing situation it become evident that age mates are a poor support group since that are disappearing, and the age group of one's children is still too involved in the work force to be of much help What became evident is that elderly about ten to fifteen years younger (ages 60-75) have more time that those still in the workforce.
At the same time I became aware of an article by John Allen, a Catholic journalist who argued that "greying" of the parishes should be seen as a great boom rather than as a liability. See my post on this website
An 'Aging Boom' for American Catholicism
Catholic Parishes have long focused themselves on schools and religious education for the young. I argue that they should be just as focused upon the other end of the age spectrum building "retirement communities" for the elderly.
Pope Francis has been especially strong in promoting the dynamic between the young and the aged. Pope Leo has continued this them in his recent address to a Congress on Pastoral Care of the Elderly cited in the above post
The theme of the Congress – “Your elders shall dream dreams!” (cf. Joel 2:28) – recalls the words of the prophet Joel so dear to Pope Francis, who often spoke of the need for an alliance between young and old, inspired by the “dreams” of those who have lived long lives and enriched by the “visions” of those who are beginning the great adventure of life. [1] In the passage, the prophet announces the universal outpouring of the Holy Spirit, who creates unity among generations and distributes different gifts to each person.
Family Status of Elderly