AgdaPkt 2010-04-26 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Trends Analysis ~Iate and national social. economic. and envil'Onmental tWllds will have an impact on the clemancJ and the deli\'ery of l'ncreation services in t.he City of Redwood City. The, most significanllrends are the aging uf the houmer population (born 194G-19(4), the pandemic of childhood obesity, and the economic conditions that have placed a strain on the Genp,ra) Fund (If most mature cities in Californla, Baby Boomers Th" aging of the population is having a tremenrjOlls impact. at both a naLlonal and st.ale level. The Association of Bay Mea (jovernments (ABAG) project.s a 1G8% growth in the Gz) and 0\'('1' populc:ll.ion in the Coullty or San Mateo hetween 2000 and :20:35. Boomers are unlike any general.ion before them. They l1avr. a III 01 '0. JlosillVC~ con('(~pl, of flgr. as wr~]J as rlirrr:I'r~lIr fit.nr.ss int~rests, retirement and work expectations. social connection elr~sirc~s. and health and wellness needs. With these changing interests amI needs. ll'adilional concepts for parks aIlC] I'fcreation are heing adapted to hettel' serve this age cohort. Characteristics of the Baby Boomers Today's seniors have a youthful self-eoncept as over (j:~ pf'I'cent. of hally hoomer~ stat.e that they feel younger than l,ht'y art.'.~ Several studies havf. indicated that feeling youn~fr is a stat,p of mind - and attitude is key. It has also lleen reportN/ that feeling young is ahout good heallll amI exercising to stay in good physical conclHion. MOSL hoomers rrpOl't they are not afraid of aging and as such expect t.o live langeI'. Many of t.oday's older adults will age in place. ^ sl,ucJy hy t.he National Associat.ion of Home Builders reports that annually. only 5 percent of people age 65 and up will relocate with 50 pfl'cent of those staying in thp. same county ancI 73 percent staying in the same stale. Many of toe/ay's boomers are part of the "sandwich generation," Approximately 1 in 8 are raising CJ child antI p/'oviding financial (l:5::;i::;taIlCl' 10 /Jamnts, A st.udy completr.d by AARP of hahy boomers horn in 1 D40 indicat,ed that almost all of those who part,icipated in the study want to make a substantial life change - 87 percent wanl. to take hetter care of their physical healt.h. 72 percent plan to spfnd more time on their interests and hobhles. and 47 perct'nt, want to do more voluntepring,:; Parks and recreat.ion departments can actively participat.e in facilit.ating hoomers needs as t.hey apply to physical health. int.erests, hobhies, and vOluntpel'ing. ----------- -- 7A Page 12 .)'C()pilll! SlU(~1,i I 6 A rece'nL sludy indicall's that older adults seem t.o prefer moderate activity and intellectual pursuits as a part of t.heir If'isure activities.1i RcUrcmcnf. and lVol'k Plans for Baby Boomers Bally boomers vie\\' retiremf'nt in a diffl~[,()l1t way. A l'eCrnl. st.uely foune! that 7 in 10 t\m(~ricans plan /'0 work following retiremenl. from their career. An acle!it.ional 14 Jlprcc~n I, plan 1,0 con tinIJe thei r wOI'k as volun teers. 7 Tile trend uf adults \\lorking longer \viII impact d(~livery methods for traditional "senior" services. In the past. seniur or adult community center hours were during the workday with classes or activities also held during the workday, As more seniors continue working. it. will be important for the Parks and Recreation Department's programs. activlt.ies. and facility hours to be adapted. This could include lengthening t.he hours of operation at the Veterans Memorial Senior Center or offering more adult classes that target this working populat.ion in the evening or on weekends, Additionally. il will be important to offer job/volunteer seekers information ['egarding meaningful work opportunities. The types of programs and activities offered will also have 1,0 adapt to the more active hohbies and interest.s of the boomer population. Like most communities across the coullt.ry, Redwood City is faced with the challenge of attracting hoom{~l's to [I "senior centl~l'''. Aeiult cummunity cpnL,ers and muIti-genel'Ht,ional community cent.ers arp rt'placing Iradilional senior centers, f92010 1'hf:' Sports Management Group