Many of our municipalities have participated in conducting CNAs, CNAs for public health, CEDPs (community economic development plans), and other forms of planning for the built environment. Each of these perspectives on planning provides valuable insights into the future of our communities. How do I find the best age calculator?
The projected impact of aging on our communities, counties, and states over the next 10-20 years is one of the most important lenses to view community planning. For example, is there any significance to a state jumping from 39th in the proportion of older adults in 2010 to 4th in 2030? What does it mean for a county’s demographics if the number of people over 65 is expected to grow by more than 100 percent in the next decade while the number of people under 40 is expected to decrease?
Recognizing the Changing Population
There has been much debate in meetings and blogs about whether terms like “Age Wave” and “Silver Tsunami” are helpful, pejorative, descriptive, or ageist, as they refer to the same demographic trend. Furthermore, “elderly” and “seniors” can offend some people. Understanding the demographic trend and other substantive factors become the most pressing concern once readers have navigated the grammatical minefield.
The majority of experts agree that the aging of the population is a major, fast-moving trend that will not be easily absorbed, even though a few in the field indicate that the aging of the population is relatively slow and easily absorbed. My studies have encompassed a wide range of topics, including the following: the built environment, funding, and policy trends; future shortages of health professionals; and gaps in the health system. The effects of an aging population on cities and states could be profound. It will call for preventative measures and long-term support from local, state, and federal governments.
It will be easier for some municipalities and states to adapt to this shift than others.
The extent of the effect also is contingent on several other variables.
There are several other crucial factors that affect a group’s responsiveness. Our ability to respond is hampered not only by the demographic trend but also by the following.
Local government finances, economic ratings, and taxing capacity; Poverty rates; Average and median incomes (especially for middle-aged and elderly residents); Health indicators for the community as a whole
funding, policies, and laws concerning older people and community growth;
Infrastructural facilities and built surroundings in the region.
The current state of the community and regional planning to deal with the impact of aging on our communities also plays a role in shaping the effects of the demographic trend. Initiatives can be propelled and mobilized with exemplary leadership and a level of public participation. However, the ability and responsibility to react rest with leaders. The problems are challenging to solve but not impossible. However, they require preemptive action to solve.
The Potential Impact of Aging on Localities and States and How a Social Calculator Can Help Us Prepare
Our group has spent the past few years researching and making plans for various demographic shifts due to the population’s aging. We are nearing the completion of a Social Impact of Aging Calculator that will allow for a preliminary assessment of the regional and state contexts. It analyzes the significant contributors to a county or states social, economic, and community well-being
Recent studies I’ve conducted show that health rankings, economic benchmarks, and policy issues all contribute to or detract from progress in communities and states regarding the Social Determinants of Health.
Factors in Society. Individuals, households, and entire communities are all influenced by the elements of society. Family income, employment, poverty, and material possessions are all part of these. In addition, family and community health, health disparities, and health equity have all been shown to be significantly influenced by socioeconomic factors like income, assets, poverty, and unemployment.
The World Health Organization, various U.S. federal government agencies, and the health research and funding community all consider race and ethnicity critically necessary. The educational attainment of individuals, families, and communities is also crucial. When all the information about a given area is added together or aggregated, it provides a picture of the economy, employment, poverty, racial composition, and level of education in that area. In addition, they aid in foreseeing how our futures will develop.
Local and State Health Status Comparisons. Numerous organizations assess the health of regions and states and provide rankings. The County Health Rankings and Roadmaps published annually by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJ) are among the most influential national ratings.
They rank the states and counties very highly based on analyzing several factors. If you want to know if a particular area has grave health disparities and inequities, you can use that ranking as a starting point. Planners can learn from rankings whether the community’s health problems will add more obstacles, reducing its ability to adapt to the aging trend, or whether the community’s health problems will make it easier for the district to adopt strategies to adjust to the aging movement. These health rankings can better inform strategies for addressing significant issues.
Economical Comparisons. Both macro and microeconomic trends have a significant impact on local communities. BShort-and long-term economic ratings paint a picture of the state of the local economy. Financial solid ratings give counties and state more flexibility to deal with these threats than deck ratings. Some regions are less prepared to deal with the Age Wave than others because they are losing jobs and capital and seeing their tax base shrink.
The extent to which a region is experiencing a net population loss is another indicator of the demographic trend’s potential impact. Unless proactive measures are taken to reverse the trend, depopulating areas will eventually experience a decline in both jobs and infrastructure.
The degree to which a community or state can respond to this trend is also influenced by the laws, policies, legislative initiatives, funding priorities, and strategies that are in place. Communities and counties can respond proactively to this demographic trend better when policies and funding are in place to support economic development, the built environment, and services for older adults.
The Force of Collective Action
The long-term viability of a region is influenced by several factors, including (1) demographic shifts, (2) social determinants, (3) health rankings, (4) local and state economies, and (5) policies. They can also be used as indicators of the potential impact of an aging population on a given region. These things together paint a possible future for cities, counties, and states. Moreover, they shed light on our current and future collective impact.
The Social Effects of Aging Analyzer
The Aging Social Impact Calculator analyzes data at the state and county levels to provide an initial estimate of the potential impact of an aging population in a given area. The predictive picture is comprised in large part of the following key indicators:
The Role of Demographics
The Role of Societal Factors in Health
Policy and funding framework for improving county health rankings (health outcomes and health risk behaviors)
Using a Predictor in Practice
Any good social impact calculator will be able to make predictions. The World Bank and the Low Income Investment Fund are just two organizations that have found success with the help of economic calculators. Current and projected health statuses of communities are depicted in state-level health department profiles (such as New Mexico’s Community Snapshots) and the Robert Wood Johnson County Health Rankings and Roadmaps. A community’s strengths and weaknesses in dealing with aging’s effects are reflected in the snapshots provided by the Aging Social Impact Calculator. It paints a helpful picture of local and state capacity, enabling decision-makers to set priorities aligned with their resources.
Predictors provide a comprehensive overview that can help communities and states begin to address the needs of their aging populations. They’re like big-picture plans or guides. Once a predictor profile has been created, local authorities can conduct more in-depth investigations to:
Recognize and deal with critical issues; Set priorities and design a response that is proportional to community resources; Capitalize on existing strengths and assets; Minimize potential dangers;
Develop strategies that can unite stakeholders and maximize existing investments.
Complex and difficult to measure with a social impact calculator, this problem calls for various state and community responses. Families and friends, local authorities and volunteers, and religious and civic groups all play essential roles as community assets.
First, Ken Dychtwald coined the term “Age Wave” decades ago to describe a demographic shift that was then just a glimmer in the distance but is now a reality.
The World Health Organization (WHO) created the concept of “Social Determinants of Health,” which is used by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), and other leading institutions and research groups to address community health comprehensively.
Read Also: How To Use A Health Screener To Save Time And Money
