Up & Coming Weekly

JANUARY 13-19, 2010 UCW 19 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Creating ... • Success • Opportunities • Jobs FTCC Alumni Association 's FTCC Alumni Association 's Speed Networking Event Speed Networking Event • An opportunity for small and large • An opportunity for small and large businesses, organizations, and businesses, organizations, and entrepreneurs to market their entrepreneurs to market their services and goods and promote services and goods and promote economic growth in the community. economic growth in the community. FTCC Alumni Association's FTCC Alumni Association's Speed Networking Event Speed Networking Event • An opportunity for small and large businesses, organizations, and entrepreneurs to market their services and goods and promote economic growth in the community. Tuesday, January 26 Tuesday, January 26 5:30-8:00 pm 5:30-8:00 pm $20 per person $20 per person For more information, contact Charmaine Murrell at 910.678.8363 or murrellc@faytechcc.edu www.faytechcc.edu Tuesday, January 26 5:30-8:00 pm $20 per person Tony Rand Student Center, Multipurpose Room There's a tsunami approaching North Carolina. It's not the kind that hit Indonesia. And it won't happen quickly or cause an emergency evacu- ation. No, not that kind. Rather, it will happen slowly over the next 10 to 30 years. But, it will happen! It's called the "Aging of America". And, the only thing that will stop this tsunami from happening is a national pan- demic that targets the older population. You've all heard about the aging of America and the impact the Baby Boomers will have on the chang- ing demographics. A common statistic quoted is that by the year 2030, 20percent of our population will be 65 or older. The TV evening news often highlights various aspects of these changes. But, did you know that: • The fastest growing population is the 85+ group. • Over the next 16 years, the population over 50 will grow 74percent while the population under 50 will grow only 1percent. Just think about the significance of this on things like entitlement programs. There will be fewer people paying for a greater number of people receiving Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. • By 2020 there will be more people over 65 than in their teens, and more people over 85 than under 5. Yet, there are only 600 physicians specializing in geri- atric medicine in the United States. Wow!! I can only wonder how many pediatricians there are in the U.S. • 40 years ago, the number one concern of seniors was dying. Now, the number one concern is outliving assets, followed by maintaining inde- pendence, and one's health and safety. My, the times they are "a chang- ing". • According to a recent AARP study, 85percent of older adults want to remain at home for as long as they can. As the population ages, there will be an increasing need for in-home care provided by family members, friends, and home care organizations. • North Carolina used to be one of the "best kept secrets" but is now a "state of choice" for retirement. NC's over age 65 senior population is projected to exceed the national average of 20percent. People are retiring here because of great cli- mate, terrain, historic and tourist attractions, lower cost of living, closeness to family, and even to avoid the con- gestion. We have people who retired to Florida originally, and are now called the "half-backs" because they recently moved "half-way back to their original hometown". North Carolina tomorrow will look like Florida today. Yes, the tsunami wave of an aging America is rolling our way. We still have time to prepare. Let's charge ahead because, "to us, it's personal!" Martha Owen and Susan Guy are local franchise own- ers of Home Instead Senior Care, a licensed home care organization providing personal care, companionship and home helper services. They both have personal experience as family caregiv- ers and have a wealth of knowledge to share with the community in preparation for the "Aging of America." For more information, call 910-484- 7200, email hisc647@gmail.com or log on to www. homeinstead.com. Tsunami Coming to North Carolina by MARTHA OWEN & SUSAN GUY SENIOR CORNER SENIOR CORNER

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