1. www.drcog.orgwww.drcog.org DRCOG’s Boomer Bond Brad Calvert - Senior Planner November 2013

2. www.drcog.orgwww.drcog.org www.drcog.orgwww.drcog.org

3. www.drcog.orgwww.drcog.org DRCOG Overview Non-profit, public agency dedicating to serving local governments Local officials working together to address the region's challenges Each community has voice in regional decision-making Program areas:  Advocacy  Aging Services  Environment  Regional growth and development  Shared services  Transportation and traffic operations

4. www.drcog.orgwww.drcog.org Colorado’s growth in its 65 plus population was 4th fastest in the US (2000 – 2010) Of the population over 65, the population over 85 was the fastest growing age group growing by 44% or 21,397. Between 2010 and 2020 Colorado’s 65+ population is forecast to increase by 61% - this current decade will be the fastest growing decade for the population over 65. The growth rate for the 65+ will not slow to a rate similar to other age groups until after 2030 65+ population will increase by 150% between 2010 and 2030 Colorado is home to over 1.3 million Baby Boomers Colorado’s growth in 65+ population 4 th fastest nationally (2000 – 2010) 85+ fastest growing among that group 2010-2020 growth rate will be nearly twice as much 2000-2010 Growth in older adult population will outpace other age groups for the next 20 years

5. www.drcog.orgwww.drcog.org 2006: 1 st Boomers turn 60

6. www.drcog.orgwww.drcog.org 53% have lived in their community for more than 20 years Source: 2010 Community Assessment Survey for Older Adults (CASOA) – National Research Center

7. www.drcog.orgwww.drcog.org CO – Income 65+ Householder

8. www.drcog.orgwww.drcog.org Aging Well Physical Health physical activity nutrition/food security activities of daily living Outlook on Life mental health self-efficacy valued by community spirituality Connection practical support social support engagement in life hobby

9. www.drcog.orgwww.drcog.org Communities can facilitate or create barriers to successful aging Promote physical activity and community engagement Reduced burden on caregivers Age-friendly communities benefit all ages Boomer Bond will support local efforts

10. www.drcog.orgwww.drcog.org www.drcog.orgwww.drcog.org

11. www.drcog.orgwww.drcog.org Boomer Bond – Key Elements 1.A community assessment tool to facilitate local dialogue and identify priorities 2.A comprehensive set of policies, strategies and tools for local governments to consider 3.A voluntary recognition program to highlight local efforts 4.A voluntary regional agreement to meet the growing needs of an older adult population

12. www.drcog.orgwww.drcog.org Boomer Bond Topic Areas Topic AreaBrief Description Community design for active aging Promote local strategies that integrate physical activity into daily routines Community engagement and education Identify opportunities that embrace the potential contributions of older adults Housing Develop strategies to assist communities in providing affordable, accessible housing options Mobility and access Ensure older adults have safe and convenient transportation options Safety and security Document strategies to make older adults comfortable in navigating their surroundings Support systems Maximize capacity of local governments and partners to support independent aging

13. www.drcog.orgwww.drcog.org Neighborhood environment has greatest impact on older adults Nearly 50% report difficulty crossing main roads Walking is most common form of physical activity Almost half of older adult falls occur outside the home ($9K per fall)

14. www.drcog.orgwww.drcog.org Understanding of what community engagement means at the local level Communicating opportunities for engagement, particularly to isolated persons Managing volunteers and volunteer activities Difficulty reentering workforce

15. www.drcog.orgwww.drcog.org Older adults prefer to remain in their homes and communities Consumer demand for age- friendly design often comes when there is an immediate need Lack of range of housing options in many communities Lack of affordable housing alternatives  One-third spend too much on housing

16. www.drcog.orgwww.drcog.org Current system is auto-dominated Nationally 21% of 65+ do not drive Limited public transportation options/cost of specialized transit Men outlive their driving years by 7 years, women by 10 Older adults with disabilities remaining in communities

17. www.drcog.orgwww.drcog.org Many older adults lack confidence to leave home to complete daily tasks Increasingly targeted for consumer fraud Personal safety identified as key barrier preventing transit trips Effectively leveraging existing programs

18. www.drcog.orgwww.drcog.org Older adults prefer to remain in their homes and communities Wide array of groups providing community-based support Status quo for assisting seniors is unsustainable Efforts to slow growth in Medicaid spending will add pressure to community-based networks

19. www.drcog.orgwww.drcog.org What’s been done so far… Significant outreach to community leaders Community Assessment tool  25+ meetings with multi-disciplinary teams to develop and review  Working “professional” version Pilot communities (3) Selected TCHD to further program development

20. www.drcog.orgwww.drcog.org http://www.lyonsfightsback.org

21. www.drcog.orgwww.drcog.org Assessment Tool (Revised) Key Inputs Previous feedback from Project Teams Pilot community experience and debrief session TCHD experience with similar tools

22. www.drcog.orgwww.drcog.org Why an Assessment Tool? “Conversation starter” at the local level (including partners) Provide structure to what might be an otherwise overwhelming conversation Resource for local staff leading initiative First step in defining “problem statement” and/or local priorities for action

23. www.drcog.orgwww.drcog.org Easy transition from assessment to action (think of documents as a pair) Helps with “what next” questions Turning a “NO” to “YES” Expandable, current, and locally relevant Your input is needed to ensure a quality/useful project

24. www.drcog.orgwww.drcog.org Learn what happened after the Project Teams completed the first version of the assessment tool Share inputs into the reorganization of the tool Learn from your experiences Develop common understanding of toolkit purpose and what’s important to the group Provide feedback on initial toolkit concepts

25. www.drcog.orgwww.drcog.org DRCOG’s Boomer Bond Brad Calvert - Senior Planner November 2013