RD197 - Annual Progress Report of the Department of Social Services on the Effect of the Aging Population on State Agencies


Executive Summary:
This report on the Department of Social Services' response to the impact of the aging population evaluates the extent to which the department is preparing to meet the needs of the growing numbers of older individuals in the Commonwealth. Demographic studies show that Virginia's elderly population will grow significantly over the next 20 years with the aging of the "Baby Boomers" and Virginia's popularity with out-of-state retirees. According to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission's 2005 report, "The Impact of an Aging Population on State Agencies," the number of Virginians age 60 or older will grow from the present 15 percent to 24 percent in 2030. By 2030, nearly one in every four Virginians will be over 60, about the same percentage of older residents as the present population of Florida.

This growth, an increase of 120 percent or 1.3 million persons from 2000 to 2030, will trigger a corresponding surge in demand for public services for older Virginians. Services required by this population will be more complex and costly because of the impact of the movement toward community integration of persons with disabilities and longer life spans made possible by modem health care.

The impact of an aging population is already demonstrating a significant demand for services delivered by the Department of Social Services. Programs for older Virginians are administered by 120 local departments of social services across the Commonwealth with state supervision from the department. According to the Code of Virginia, the age qualification for social services for older Virginians is 60 and older. Among the Department of Social Services' services are long-term care, including home-based services; financial assistance; protective services; regulation and licensing of assisted living, adult foster care and adult day services; and information and referral.

By statute, the Adult Services (AS)/Adult Protective Services (APS) Program serves adults age 60 and over and adults age 18 to 59 who have a disability. The Department of Social Services provides services to the aged population to address several needs, including those related to health care/wellness, education and public safety. In fiscal year 2005, the following activities were noted:

• 4,870 adults age 60 and over received home-based companion, chore, or homemaker services.
• 737 Adult Protective Services calls were taken by the APS 24-hour Hotline between July 2005 and May 2006.
• 2,672 aged, 3,589 disabled and 14 blind residents of assisted living or adult foster homes received Auxiliary Grants.
• 603 assisted living facilities with a total capacity of 34,460 were reported.

The Department of Social Services plans to continue addressing the impact of the aging of Virginia's population in several ways, including:

• Continuing to revise service area plans to sharpen goals and improve services to older Virginians.
• Partnering with the Department for the Aging to plan and execute the Governor's Conference on Aging in September 2007.
• Establishing an Adult Services/Adult Protective Services Advisory Committee and a taskforce on financial exploitation composed of consumers, state and local AS/APS staff, providers, advocates and other stakeholders.

Based on guidelines from the Secretary of Health and Human Services, this report includes information on the following five areas: (1) the number of persons age 60 and over who received services; (2) services used by older Virginians in significant numbers and unmet demand; (3) agency programs designed to meet the needs of older Virginians in HealthCare/Wellness, Education, Public Safety, Recreation, Financial Security, and Transportation; (4) consumer-oriented publications and websites; and (5) other current or planned services or programs to address the impact of the aging population.