NEWTON.
♪ >> THE POPULATION IN MASSACHUSETTS AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS AGING.
IT >> MOST CITIES AND TOWNS IN MASSACHUSETTS, THERE ARE MORE RESIDENTS OVER THE AGE OF 60 THEN ON TO THE AGE OF 20.
>> THERE ARE ABOUT ONE MILLION PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 65, ACCORDING TO THE MASSACHUSETTS HEALTHY AGING DATA REPORTS.
THAT 15% OF THE POPULATION IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO 21% B 2030.
ROBIN LIPSON IS DEPUTY SECRETARY OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ELDER AFFAIRS.
>> IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT IN THOSE TERMS, YOU BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS IMPORTANT FOR COMMUNITIES TO THINK THROUGH HOW THEIR POLICIES CAN BE SUPPORTIVE OF PEOPLE OF ALL
AGES.
>> POLICIES THAT CAN MAKE THE GREATEST IMPACT ON THE AGING POPULATION INCLUDE HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, SIDEWALKS, AND INCREASING INTERNET ACCESS TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION.
>> STUDIES SHOW THAT THE IMPACT OF PROLONGED ISOLATION IS EQUIVALENT TO SMOKING 15 CIGARETTES A DAY.
>> TO KEEP OLDER RESIDENTS ACTIVE AND ENGAGED, MANY COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING SALEM, PLYMOUTH, AND NATICK, ARE INVESTING IN NEW SENIOR CENTERS.
>> HOWEVER REASON TO BE IS TO GIVE PEOPLE A PLACE TO CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER.
>> JANE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CITY SERVICES FOR THE CITY OF NEWTON.
>> OUR LUNCH PROGRAM IS AS IMPORTANT NUTRITIONAL ASPECT AS A SOCIALIZATION ASPECT.
A PIECE OF PIZZA TASTE BETTER WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY TO EAT IT WITH THE RED -- SEATED WITH THE RED -- EAT IT WITH.
>> SPACE TO LEAD, PLAY GAMES, AND BE IN THE COMPANY OF OTHERS.
>> MY BIG THING IS A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, A SENSE OF BELONGING, A SENSE OF SIGNIFICANCE AND FUN.
TO ME, THOSE FOUR THINGS ARE ALL APPARENT HERE.
I REALLY NEEDED THAT.
>> GAIL ZIMMERMAN VISITS AND VOLUNTEERS HERE.
ONE OF THE PROJECTS SHE DONATES HER TIME TO IS ORGANIZING THE DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT LOANS.
>> WHEN PEOPLE CALL UP AND REALIZE THAT YOU CAN COME IN AND WE KNOW IT FREE OF CHARGE AND THEY CAN KEEP IT AS LONG AS THEY NEED AT, THE APPRECIATION IS UNBELIEVABLE.
>> THE CENTER OPENED IN A FORMER LIBRARY ON WALNUT STREET MORE THAN A QUARTER-CENTURY AGO.
>> HOW IS THE MEN’S CLUB PROGRAM?
>> THERE ARE SO MANY SENIORS RELYING ON THE CENTER AND ITS SERVICES, THE CITY IS TRYING TO BUILD A NEW ONE.
>> WE WERE ALL MULTI-SMALL FROM THE TIME WE OPENED THE RED >> PLANS FOR A NEW FACILITY IS IN DEVELOPMENT BUT THE NAME, NEWTON CENTRE FOR ACTIVE LIVING, REFLECTS A GROWING TREND TO MOVE
AWAY FROM THE WORD SENIOR.
>> EIFERT 95-YEAR-OLD PEOPLE SAY, I’M NOT GOING TO THE SENIOR CENTER, IT IS FOR OLD PEOPLE.
WHEN I WATCH THE FITNESS CLASSES AND SEE THE LEARNING THAT IS GOING ON AND INTERESTS THAT ARE SHARED, IT IS REGARDLESS OF AGE.
>> THERE ARE RESIDENTS WHO CAN’T ACCESS A SENIOR CENTER LIKE THIS ONE.
FOR THEM, THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS TO STAY ENGAGED.
>> WE HAVE WONDERFUL RESOURCES TO SUPPORT PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES.
WE PROVIDE 9 MILLION MEALS TO 80,000 INDIVIDUALS IN MASSACHUSETTS.
WE HAVE A HOME CARE PROGRAM.
>> LIPSON SAYS THE KEY TO TAKING GET VANTAGE OF THESE PROGRAMS IS TO PLAN AHEAD.
>> TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR AGING.
BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT.
BE EMPOWERED TO GET THE SUPPORT YOU NEED TO EXECUTE YOUR GOALS.
>> IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THOSE GOALS ARE COMMUNICATED CLEARLY AND LEGALLY RECORDED.
>> PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE HIGH COST OF NURSING HOME CARE, WHICH CAN RUN $500 A DAY IN EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS.
>> THIS ATTORNEY RECOMMENDS MEETING WITH A BOY OR TO PLAN YOUR ESTATE.
A STEP YOU MAY HAVE TO REPEAT MORE THAN ONCE.
AND CONSIDER LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE.
>> LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE CANNOT ONLY TAKE CARE - PROVIDE DAILY PAYMENTS FOR NURSING HOME CARE, BUT CAN ALSO MAKE PAYMENTS FOR HOME CARE THAT WILL KEEP THE INDIVIDUAL OUT OF THE NURSING
HOME.
>> IF IT SEEMS OVERWHELMING, JUST KNOW, YOU ARE NOT ALONE.