Here are a few statistics from Clearwater’s Office on Aging to illustrate the needs for quality Clearwater senior care:
According to the 2000 U.S. Census, Clearwater had the highest proportion of residents aged 65 years and older (21.5 percent) for those cities with a population of 100,000 or more.
In 2006, Clearwater’s percentage of residents age 65 or older had risen to 22 percent of the population.
In 2000, Clearwater had the highest percentage of its population over the age of 85 (3.4 percent). In 2006, Clearwater’s population of residents age 85 or older had risen to 4.1 percent.
Additionally, Florida and Clearwater in particular has traditionally been a popular area for retirement as reflected in these statistics. Many of those among this aging population moved to Clearwater from other areas of the country. This means that it is more likely they do not have a support system of family here. While some retirees return to live near adult children when they get older or experience health issues, the increase in the 85+ population demonstrates that many residents are “aging in place”. Our anecdotal information also indicates many Clearwater elders do not wish to move after many years making this area their home, and especially when it involves moving to a cold climate.
Some of the primary needs and concerns that come with Clearwater’s senior population include:
- Need for sufficient and high quality care providers for a variety of needs and budgets
- Help for long-distance families, advocacy and oversight services to ensure the continued safety of elders living alone
- Transportation services and help with non-medical needs, which can help seniors stay more independent and avoid further problems
As the Clearwater population ages, there is demand for increasing senior services to meet the above mentioned needs. There is a well-established Area Agency on Aging, which covers Clearwater and all of Pinellas and Pasco counties. The Area Agency on Aging serves to oversee many of the government-funded programs for elders as well as to serve as an information and referral source for all types of services.
Clearwater also has a established community of non-profit and private businesses dedicated to senior care, from Clearwater home health companies like EasyLiving to senior care facilities of all types. At EasyLiving, our mission is community-focused because we have been a long-time part of the Clearwater and Pinellas County community. We try to serve our community in a variety of ways, and we can better serve clients and families as well because we are integrated with many resources and can help families locate the senior care services they need.
If you would like more information on Clearwater senior care services or options, our care advisors are always here to help. We know that for long-distance caregivers, finding quality information can be one of the biggest challenges. Call us at 727-448-0900 or click below:
EasyLiving helps Clearwater seniors with solutions to some of the top concerns. We offer senior transportation services, high quality home care and companion/homemaker services which can be tailored to fit many budgets.
If you are a long-distance caregiver, you might also benefit from our Long-Distance Caregiver Checklist. This is a great tool to plan visit to your loved one, prioritize needs and tasks, find resources and determine what questions you need to ask. You can find this and a lot of other great senior care resources, downloads and links at EasyLiving’s Senior Care Resource Center.
