Time Marches on for Oregon Population

We live in a very interesting time. At least in the U.S. state of Oregon the population of older residents has been on the rise for years. According to Elliot Njus of The Oregonian, the median age for the state is currently 39.3 years while the rest of the U.S. sits more so around 38 years. And looking at statistics, this increase does not seem to be changing anytime soon. Statistics also shown in Njus' article show us that every county in Oregon has had an increase in residents who are 65 years and older. On one end, some counties like Malheur County have only had a 6 percent increase since the year 2010. However, some counties have had a much larger increase like Deschutes County which has had a whopping 53 percent increase since 2010 and the statewide increase is 32 percent. All of this has happened in only 8 years.

Now, there is nothing inherently wrong about having a population that is continuously aging. Older residents are as much a part of the community as anybody else. Although, as residents continue to age we may face a few issues. While many people over 65 can certainly be independent to an extent, what about those of us who are not as lucky? An increase in older residents means a need for an increase in various resources, with housing being near the top. Some people can be more independent and get help from organizations like Villages Northwest, but others might benefit more from joining a retirement community. These communities do not have unlimited space, so what happens to those us who want to join, but cannot? Where do those down on their luck stay and how do they get the care they need? With the 65 and older population still on the rise, these concerns may need to be addressed sooner rather than later.

Though as long as people are willing to help, then perhaps our concerns can at least somewhat be quelled. We need those kinds of people who are actively looking for a solution and it would certainly seem that some are answering the call to action. One example that has been mentioned on this blog before is the organization Villages Northwest, who help bring resources to aging residents so that they might live in their own homes longer. Ideas that are outside of the box like this are what we need to continue thriving as we have been. There is no need to build room after room in retirement communities. Other answers exist out there somewhere, we just have to find them. So the question we are left with is what else can we do?


Source Used:
Njus, Elliot. “Senior Population Boom Hits Every Corner of Oregon: See Which Counties Are Aging Fastest.” The Oregonian, 21 June 2018, https://www.oregonlive.com/expo/news/erry-2018/06/a13f685ef71978/oregons_aging_counties.html.