May 2017

SENIORS
Data shows
struggle
for local seniors
by Carol Marak
In cities across the U.S., the senior
population has surged to an all-time
high, leaving local entities ill-prepared
for scores of residents struggling to pay
Rememberance
for housing and other bills. It makes
sense that most senior citizens prefer
to age in place at home because it’s
more cost-effective compared to living
in a nursing home or an assisted living
facility. However, staying at home in Coral
Springs, Parkland, and even Boca Raton
isn’t cheap either, especially for those on
a limited income.
Parkland, 17 percent of the population
are seniors. In Boca Raton, it’s 21
percent. Other facts you may not know
about your older neighbors here:
Median household
income for seniors
Coral Springs’ median household
income is $46,061
Parkland’s median income is
$73,125
Boca Raton’s median income is
$64,473
of the phenomenon, it puts many at risk
of isolation and unable to shop or go
to the doctor if they cannot drive. No
matter where you live, the three culprits
that contribute to isolation are budget,
transportation, and health.
Isolation plays havoc on one’s health and
puts many seniors at risk of developing
chronic illness. Research examining
loneliness states it can negatively affect
the physical and mental activity, and
motor function, of older people. Having
strong social connections are central to
well-being.
To get an overview of Florida and it’s
cities demographics of seniors, visit
seniorcare.com/directory/fl/. It offers the
vital statistics and information about how
senior citizens live in Florida. You may
be surprised by the median household
income, the number of older persons on
food stamps, the high rate of elders age
65 and older living alone with no support
from another family member.
For example, in Coral Springs and
While the income ranks higher than many
cities, the three have greater than average
rate of adults who rely on food stamps,
except in Parkland. The percentages
range from 30 for Coral Springs and 33
for Boca Raton. Parkland is 13 percent.
So, how many seniors have a
home mortgage and how much of
their monthly budget do they
spend on it?
In Coral Springs and Parkland, both
are similar – 76 and 77 percent of the
seniors have a mortgage, and 36 to 42
percent allocate more than 35 percent of
their budget on the home loan. Whereas
Boca Raton has more seniors carrying a
home mortgage, but 47 percent of them
pay less than 20 percent of the monthly
budget on it.
It’s good to see the high rates of older
adults living in a home. But the flip side
Below is a list of
websites that offer
help for senior citizens.
Florida Department of Elder Affairs at
850-414-2000 or visit
elderaffairs.state.fl.us
For help with bills and more visit
needhelppayingbills.com/html/florida_area_
agency_on_aging.html
Seniorcare.com, broward.org.
FloridaShine.org
National Council on Aging: NCOA.org
Stateofflorida.com/senior-guide.aspx
Carol Marak is an aging advocate,
syndicated columnist, and editor at
Seniorcare.com.
108
MAY 2017