By Mark Gilger
SUNBURY - Pennsylvania and Northumberland County are well prepare for the coming explosion of baby boomers.
That's the assessment of Pat Rosini, deputy administrator for the county's Area Agency on Aging, who is a baby boomer herself.
"Our government has been very intelligent and responsible in preparing for the baby boomer population reaching retirement age," she said this past week. "Pennsylvania Secretary of Aging Brian Duke has taken a very positive approach in accommodating the influx of seniors caused by the baby boomer population. And we are very proud of our own staff. They care about the seniors they serve and go out of their way to fulfill their needs."
Instead of focusing on the added costs and strains that the agency may face with additional clients from the baby boomer era (1946 to 1964), county officials are taking a positive approach, Rosini said. The term baby boomers comes from the massive increase in births in the world following World War. The first baby boomers reached the standard retirement age of 65 this year. There are 76 million baby boomers in the United States, which represents 29 percent of the population.
Although the county's 11 senior action centers and other programs may become more crowded, Rosini said her agency welcomes the additional clients.
"There are various county, state and federal programs already in place to meet the baby boomer population," she added. "More seniors are provided home services now, which prevents them from having to go to nursing homes. Our goal is to provide support to our caregivers and help keep our seniors well through different activities and health care services."
Funding programs
Rosini said each state agency is allocated funds based on the number of older persons in each state. She said state agencies provide funding to 660 Area Agencies on Aging. Rosini said county agencies also receive funding through the Pennsylvania Lottery and federal sources.
The agencies contract with public or private groups to provide the needed services to the elderly.
By the year 2030, the group of people age 60 and over is expected to double to 85 million, according to the Administration on Aging and Older Americans Act.
In 1965, the Older Americans Act was established with major concern for the needs of the growing elderly population. It was the first major federal legislation to organize and deliver community-based social services to older persons. The act did not provide automatic funding, however.
The Agnes flood of 1972, which caused so much destruction in Northumberland County, resulted in the availability of $20,000 in federal funds to aide the most needy elderly in the county, Rosini said. That same year, the county Area Agency on Aging was established. The first agency site was at the Northumberland County Courthouse Annex in Sunbury; the agency later moved to the Mountain View Manor Complex along Trevorton Road in Coal Township, and it is currently located at the Human Services Complex at 322 N. Second St., Sunbury.
There are approximately 45 employees. Pat Rumberger serves as administrator.
Greenhouse program
An example of the agency's progressive approach can be found in the Intergenerational Nutrition Greenhouse program.
The greenhouse, which is located at the Northumberland County Career and Technology Center in Coal Township, provides an opportunity for students and senior citizens to work together to grow produce and herbs that are being used both at the school and at senior action centers.
A grand opening for the greenhouse is set for Wednesday, Sept. 21.
The project has already resulted in abundant produce and herbs that are being shared with members of the county senior action centers. Some centers have used the produce in salads and meals that were prepared at the centers.
Future goals of the greenhouse include utilizing senior volunteers to assist at the greenhouse, partnering with the culinary arts students at the center to share ethnic recipes and cooking techniques, and preparing after-hour dinners for members.
'Aging' services
The following services are provided by the Northumberland County Area Agency on Aging:
Adaptive devices, adult day services, Alzheimer support group, apprise, care management, Title V employment program, family caregiver program, government forms, information/referral, legal services, long-term care ombudsman, Meals on Wheels/Home Delivered Meals, nutrition programs, nursing home transition, transportation, Geisinger/Life program, OBRA, PDA waiver, personal care, protective services and senior action centers in Elysburg, Kulpmont, Herndon, Milton, Mount Carmel, Northumberland, Riverside, Coal Township, Sunbury, Trevorton and Dewart.
For more information and assistance, call the county aging office at 495-2395, 644-4545 or 1-877-622-2251. The emergency number is 1-800-222-9016.
Or, visit http://web.norrycopa.net/aging.