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Living the Questions...As Minnesota Ages
“I don’t have any plans for retirement because every penny has had to go
to my children’s college.”
~ Participant in the Hmong Professionals Session
“I have never thought about these other than joking with
my parents that I will take care of them when they are in diapers. It makes
me think about it on a grander scale. It isn’t an issue I’ve thought about
before.”
~ Participant in the Generation X Session
By 2020 demographic estimates depict that more people will
be over the age of 60 than in elementary or high school. By 2030 nearly 1 in
4 Minnesotans will be over the age of 65 as the baby boom generation, born
between 1946 and 1964, ages. This reality is unparalleled in any society
throughout the world.
The aging of the population will impact all facets of our
communities. Most communities have not begun to determine how they will
fully engage citizens of all ages, and meet their needs, into the future.
The kinds of changes that will be needed will take years to implement.
If these changes are not made, our social, physical and
service infrastructures will be overwhelmed. The Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging
recognized this gap in preparedness and began a community awareness and
input initiative called Living the Questions...As Minnesota Ages.
Representing the MNCLOA, the Metropolitan Area Agency on
Aging gathered input through a series of Listening to Leaders dialogue
sessions about community aging issues as
viewed by over 300 individuals from a wide variety of sectors.
Each session began with a short presentation on the
demographic and economic impact of the aging of the baby boom generation
followed by discussion. From the discussion themes and questions emerged.
The following are the themes and questions from each session.
Dakota-Scott
Workforce Investment Board
Disability
Community
Generation
X: Emerging Professionals
Faith Based Community
Foundations
GLBT Communities
Housing
Community
League of Women
Voters
Metro MN State Colleges & Universities Presidents
Planning &
Policy Faculty
Transportation
Community
Women Business Professionals
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