Secretary of the Department of Aging Teresa Osborne remarked on numerous hot-topic senior issues at the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania conference on Wednesday.

During the closing of the CCAP's conference at Split Rock Resort, Osborne discussed concerns and strategies for taking care of an increasingly elderly PA population.The Department of Agingis responsible for the administration of all programs and services for the elderly in the state, seeking to enhance the quality of life for seniors.While it may be one of the smallest state agencies, it does have a significant budget. The department receives 78 percent of its $800 million in funding from the Pennsylvania Lottery fund, with the remaining 22 percent coming from federal funding."Daily, across this country, 10,000 baby boomers turn the age of 65 every day. This will occur daily for the next 13 years," Osborne said. "Pennsylvania has the fourth highest percentage of residents age 60 or over."About 70 percent of people 60 or over are expected to need long-term care at some point in their lives. This may include everything from in-home support to round-the-clock care from medical professionals."Our aging population will continue to challenge and stretch the social safety net," Osborne said, in reference to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security programs.Unfortunately, Carbon County ranks as 58th out of 67 in terms of overall health, according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's County Health Rankings. This data could indicate even more complications for those 65 and over, who account for nearly 20 percent of Carbon County residents. In addition, the county ranks 62nd in overall health factors - problems which include obesity, smoking and physical inactivity."Our population is aging rapidly, and in many ways, we are not always necessarily aging all that well," Osborne said.However, she adds that advances in medical technology have allowed more people to live to age 60 and beyond."A longer life does provide for many things, such as the chance to pursue new activities, to further one's education, to perhaps fulfill a lifelong passion, to make valuable contributions to our families and communities. But let's be honest, to the extent to any of these opportunities can be fully realized depends heavily on one factor, and that factor is health," Osborne said.Osborne explained how the Department of Aging adheres to the principals of the Older Americans Act, which provides a basis several programs. Caregiver support, health and wellness programs, meal deliveries, transportation to and from medical facilities, and other initiatives stem from the act. The Department of Aging helps connect seniors to such programs, allowing for better access to treatment and preventive care.Osborne took time to reinforce the key points of Gov. Tom Wolf's senior plan, introduced at the beginning of his service. "Aging in place" is a major issue, which seeks to help seniors live where they wish in noninstitutional settings, allowing for better life satisfaction. "Access to elder justice," focuses on ensuring the safety of seniors and prevention of abuse. "Community health choices" revolves around establishing quality of care and quality of life for all seniors, along with the accessibility of long-term care options."Our seniors have spent their lives working hard to provide for their families, building our communities and protecting our country during times of crisis. Clearly, we have work to do, but we have a good start," Osborne said.