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**Name of Project: K**entucky Elder Readiness Initiative

**Name of Organization: D**epartment for Aging and Independent Living

Frankfort, KY

**Description of Program:**

The Kentucky Elder Readiness Initiative was a partnership between the
Kentucky Department for Aging and Independent Living and the University
of Kentucky Graduate Center for Gerontology. This two year project was
developed to address the lack of data for the state regarding
expectations of Baby Boomers for their entry into the over 60 age cohort
and whether or not communities in the state were preparing for this
graying tsunami.

The project began in the summer of 2005 with a circuit of two focus
groups and community forums in each of the fifteen (15) Area Development
Districts within the state. The focus groups were small invited groups
that included community leaders both public and private, providers and
advocates. The community forums were open to anyone with an interest in
participating in what often became lively discussions about current gaps
in services as well as concerns about the future needs of a quickly
growing consumer population.

The second year of the project included a mailed random survey of 9600
adult residents of the state. This was conducted by the Survey Research
Center at the University of Kentucky. The response rate of 33% gave
Kentucky a valid look at how individuals are thinking about their needs
(or not) and how communities are planning to provide for the services
and supports the citizens are expecting.

The final part of the project was to take the individual regional report
back to the community so that the planning process could begin. Results
from the survey generally showed that the majority of the baby boomers
have no idea there is going to be such a huge number of elders in the
community in the next ten years and communities have not begun to
develop the services and supports this fast growing group will need to
remain in the community. The seeds were planted. Many community leaders
have been sensitized to how aging could affect their decisions about
such issues as street signs and sidewalks and how this enormous group of
individuals with strong ties to the community may as well be an asset as
they plan for parks and other such amenities.

The final report is being presented to the legislators of the state and
to the Governor as they too begin to plan for Kentucky's aging Baby
Boomers. One of the changes seen in the report is that the participants
in this study plan on staying close to their family roots in Kentucky.
Out migrations of elders will not occur as has been the history of the
state in the past. This will have a huge affect on future policy makers
as they grapple with the issues both positive and negative of Kentucky's
doubling of its aging population.

By increasing awareness of the size of the population, Kentucky has
begun a process to provide future elders better access to supports and
services they will need as they age in their communities. Key partners
in this effort include Kentucky Area Agencies on Aging, the University
of Kentucky Graduate Center for Gerontology and Area Development
Districts

For more information about the Kentucky Elder Readiness Initiative,
please contact Deborah S. Anderson, Commissioner at 502-564-6930 or by
email at <deborah.anderson2@ky.gov>

The Website URL for the program is
<http://www.mc.uky.edu/gerontology/keri.htm>