Preparing for the Silver Tsunami: Participatory Planning for Aging in Orange County, NC

<p>The United States is turning gray, and that isn’t a reference to the wet weather we have seen lately. The number of older adults aged 65 and older is expected to double by the year 2050 to an estimated 88.5 million seniors. North Carolina is no exception, especially given that our state has become an increasingly desirable retirement destination. Census data shows that North Carolina ranks among the top ten states with regard to growth in the Baby Boomer cohort – the state experienced a 35% increase in the number of adults over the age of 65 from 2000 to 2010.</p> <p>All of North Carolina’s 100 counties have at least one senior center, and these senior centers are often closely associated with a county department on aging that provides programming, services, and information to local seniors. The Orange County Department on Aging (OCDOA), with two senior centers in Chapel Hill and Hillsborough, is one such agency. The OCDOA coordinates a system of integrated aging services throughout the county, including congregate meals, exercise classes, caregiver support, falls prevention outreach, among many other essential services. But this programming isn’t limited to within the confines of its senior centers – the OCDOA has long been a forward thinking and innovative organization that looks for ways to enhance the quality of life for seniors, as well as ways that seniors can contribute to a better quality of life in Orange County.</p> <p>OCDOA recognizes that older adults are a major human resource with a diverse array of skills and talents that [...]</p>