Broughton Hospital serves as the training site for more than 300 nursing students each year from an 11-county area throughout northwestern North Carolina. Older American's Month Governor Easley has designated May as Older Americans Month in North Carolina. The theme spotlights the promises and challenges posed by our growing population of older adults. North Carolina's population is steadily growing older. This issue is relevant in all aspects of our public and private lives.
Government agencies face decisions about the allocation of public resources.
Families must consider living and caregiving arrangements. Business, cultural and other interests must identify and respond to this changing demographic. While many seniors remain active and healthy, there are still many barriers for seniors who live in rural areas, those who do not speak English, those who are illiterate, have limited incomes, or face other hurdles. As compared to the nation, North Carolina has a higher percentage of women, minorities and low-income seniors. An estimated 38,000 seniors face the simultaneous effects of being old, minority, female and poor.