The population of those 65 and older in the Greater Kansas City area will grow to an estimated 416,000 people by the year 2030. Below are some examples of the challenges facing senior citizens.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
31% of Jackson County senior citizens live alone which leaves them vulnerable to depression, falls, and lack of emergency care.
Males age 85 and over have the highest rate of suicide of any group in the United States.
Injuries from falls are the leading cause of death for older adults. Missouri’s rate of injury by falling is 31% higher than the national average.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2016; MO Department of Health and Senior Services 2018
NUTRITION & FOOD SECURITY
Approximately 40% of seniors living in Jackson County have serious nutrition challenges and 1 in 10 live in poverty.
Eating a nutritional diet is known to have a positive impact on health, and has been shown to reduce Emergency Room visits and other high-cost negative health outcomes.
Mid-America Regional Council Aging and Adult Services 2018
FINANCIAL ABUSE
In the US, seniors, especially those living alone, are more likely to be victims of financial fraud and money scams.
Estimated that close to 1 million seniors are skipping meals as a result of financial abuse.
Seniors lose $36.48 billion a year to elder financial abuse.
True Link Report on Elder Financial Abuse 2015
TRANSPORTATION
Nearly 35% of senior citizens living in Jackson County do not have access to public transportation.
The result is the inability to visit the grocery store, pharmacy, or health care providers on a regular basis.
MARC Transportation Outlook 2040 Plan 2018
COST OF LONG-TERM CARE
70% of people 65 and older will need some kind of long-term care.
Medicare only pays the cost of nursing home care for limited stays after a hospital admission of 3 days or more.
Medicaid assistance is only available to an individual age 65 and over with income limit of $834 per month and assets totaling no more than $2000.
US Department of Health and Human Services 2018; Missouri Department of Social Services 2018; Genworth Financial Cost of Care Survey 2017
