Central Texas has one of the fastest growing aging populations in the country and it is predicted to double over the next 20 years. As we age, we become more vulnerable to chronic conditions and functional disabilities that make it challenging for us to remain safe and independent in our homes and connected to our communities.
Most older adults desire to remain living in their home, and support services are critical in helping them to achieve this goal. To meet the growing demand, St. David’s Foundation is working to foster innovation and increase services that support aging in place at a large scale appropriate for our five-county region.
While St. David’s Foundation is committed to improving the lives of all older adults and their caregivers, we have a specific commitment to those navigating Medicaid, those just over the Medicaid threshold, those living in rural areas, and older adults of color.
In Central Texas, an estimated 48,334 older adults 65+ are living under 200% Federal Poverty Level. While the poorest older adults can qualify for Medicaid, the process of navigating benefits can be complicated, and services are often unavailable.
Additionally, older adults just over the Medicaid threshold do not qualify for assistance and are particularly vulnerable to being left unserved. Older adults living in rural areas are disproportionately affected by having less access to services, limited transportation options, and increased social isolation.
Finally, older adults of color have experienced structural structural inequities that have often led to less wealth accumulation. They also often live in areas with a historical lack of economic and social investment. Therefore, the Foundation is particularly invested in supporting underserved communities of color.
We will move this work forward by activating the following approaches:
Increase support for older adults to live safely and independently in their own community by:
Contact
Andrew Levack, MPH
alevack
Learn more about Andrew here.
When we ask ourselves to think differently and tackle challenges from a new angle, true innovation can come about. We took this principle to heart as we thought through our approach to funding intergenerational programming, and we knew we needed to challenge people to be innovative and think creatively, without barriers.
The number of people 65+ in Central Texas will more than double by 2040 (currently 220,000 in 5 county area)
27.1% of older adults (60+) in Central Texas report living alone