FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND IN 30 YEARS STATEWIDE SURVEY EXAMINES VIEWS OF SENIORS, BOOMERS ON AGING

November 21, 2011

Media Contact:

For ODP:
• David Ross
• (804) 559-0147
• rdavidross@olderdominion.org

For JABA:
• Elyse Thierry
• (434) 817-5236
• ethierry@jabacares.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND IN 30 YEARS STATEWIDE SURVEY EXAMINES VIEWS OF SENIORS, BOOMERS ON AGING
Central Virginia and JABA garner high marks

Charlottesville, VA—- On Thursday, November 17, 2011, the Older Dominion Partnership (ODP), a nonprofit organization that works to better prepare Virginia for the impact of the aging population boom, released results of a statewide survey of Virginians ages 50 to 105. Titled, the 2011 Virginia Age Ready Indicators Benchmark Survey, the project compiles answers to interviews with 5,000 Virginians.

Among its findings, the survey reveals that many Virginia Boomers think their communities are unprepared for the “age wave” now happening and are concerned about how their quality of life might change as they grow older.

Dr. Richard Lindsay, chairman of the ODP workgroup that designed the survey and JABA board member, points out that in addition to giving an accurate picture of where the Commonwealth stands now the survey will be a valuable tool for Virginia’s communities. “The information we have made available to the Commonwealth represents a huge step forward and covers finances, housing, transportation and mobility, workforce, care giving, civic and community engagement, and health and well being. This represents an unprecedented opportunity for all Virginians to be able to plan, adjust and implement decisions based upon accurate current data.“

“We were pleased to have been able to contribute to the development of this comprehensive survey,“ adds Gordon Walker, CEO of JABA. “The results verify the importance of JABA’s work on initiatives such as raising awareness of JABA and our services, and the 2020 Plan: Aging in Community to better prepare for the dramatic increase in the senior population now and more so in the future.“

The survey also demonstrated just how effective JABA’s awareness efforts have been. When asked, residents in the area were significantly more likely to be familiar with their local Area Agency on Aging, which is JABA, than those in other parts of the state.

Awareness is only part of the picture, however. “To help our Commonwealth’s communities plan for the doubling of our senior population, it’s critical to first identify those issues that matter most and have the greatest positive impact,“ said R. David Ross, Executive Director of the Older Dominion Partnership. “With the release of today’s survey results, the local Area Agencies on Aging, such as JABA, have timely, comprehensive data from which it can identify key priorities.“

The survey included interviews in each of the Commonwealth’s 25 Area Agencies on Aging, which work with the Virginia Department for the Aging to provide services for older Virginians and their families in communities throughout the Commonwealth. The interviews were conducted this past summer by telephone and online.

Read the Survey
To review the full report, visit the Older Dominion Partnership, www.olderdominion.org. The ODP will post individual reports for each of the Commonwealth’s AAAs to its website on Monday, November 21, 2011.

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About ODP
The Older Dominion Partnership is a nonprofit initiative by Virginia businesses, government, foundations, and non-profits to help Virginia ride the age wave, the doubling of the Commonwealth’s 65 and older population to about 1.8 million by 2030. Learn more at www.olderdominion.org.

About JABA
JABA (the Jefferson Area Board for Aging) serves the city of Charlottesville, and the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson. JABA cares about all aspects of senior and intergenerational welfare. The nonprofit organization works to promote, establish and preserve sustainable communities for healthy aging that benefit individuals and families of all ages.

For information on JABA and answers to other aging related questions, contact JABA at (434) 817-5222 or visit the website www.jabacares.org. News about JABA can also be found on Twitter @JABAcares, on Facebook at JABA Charlottesville and the JABA blog at www.jabacares.wordpress.com.

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11/21/11