Colorado Baby Boomers
Amanda K. Belles

http://www.pmcaregivers.com/images/village%20people.jpg

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Demographic bulge
Post-WWII
“special generation”
More educated
“liberal”
Free spirited
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Experimental
Sexual freedom
Shockwave
Individualism
Social cause oriented
Rock and Roll

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Assassinations: JFK,
MLK Jr. Robert
Kennedy, Malcolm X
Man on the moon
Vietnam draft/War/protests
Roe v. Wade
Civil Rights Movement
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Stonewall Riots
Women’s Movement
Environmental
Movement
Woodstock
Beatles
Jimi Hendrix

2011

Colorado Baby Boomers
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500,000 adults born between 1942-1952; leading edge of the generation
33% of Metro Denver population born between 1946-1964; U.S. Baby Boomer
Capital
None of this accounts for the boomers planning on moving to Colorado
Loveland, Colorado

Focus Area #1: Workforce
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Rose Community Foundation study:
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55 to 65 year-olds in Metro Denver not planning to retire
Planning to Retire in next 10 years:
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23.3% African-American
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33% Latino
37% Caucasian
Past 3 years, 55 years and older have landed nearly 3 million jobs

Focus Area #1: Workforce
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NEGATIVE Reasons for not retiring:
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Inadequate retirement savings
Cuts in pension and health benefits
POSITIVE Reasons for not retiring:
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Staying active
Want to start their own business
Helps provide for travel and leisure activities

Focus Area #1: Workforce
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Problems/Issues:
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Age Discrimination in the Workplace
Lack of resources to assist baby boomers as they strive to continue in the workforce

Focus Area #1: Workforce
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Positives in Colorado:
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2005 – American Association of Retired
Persons award two Colorado employers as
“best employers for workers over age 50”
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University of Colorado Hospital Authority
Pinnacol Assurance
Resources Available for Boomers
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The Boomer Group – Denver
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“What’s Next Career Transition Services” division

Focus Area #2: Housing
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Baby Boomers are redefining housing when it comes to retirement
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No on the cookie-cutter approach
No to moving to beach and warm weather communities
Yes to areas with tax incentives, health care options, property values
Yes to amenities that are tech-ready, have home offices, big kitchens, and storage space

Focus Area #2: Housing
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Colorado = “the new beach front property”
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Colorado Boomers are not moving, but staying to be close to family and friends
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Loveland, Colorado
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#1 on the America’s Top Places for Boomers to retire
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“small town feel, with big opportunities”
Denver Regional Council of Governments study:
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1990-2000: Age 65+ population in Colorado increased over 20%
2010-2020 predictions: Age 65+ population in
Colorado will increase by 130%

Focus Area #2: Housing
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Problems/Issues:
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Not enough senior-type housing to meet the needs of the predicted number of baby boomers in Colorado over the next ten years
Adequate housing with adequate amenities

Focus Area #3: Health Care
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Shortage of health care professionals
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World Health Organization: “a chronic shortage of 4 million college trained health care workers in 57 countries”
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: baby boomers in need of health care will be at least 10 million in next ten years
2016: health care jobs in demand will rise by
22%

Focus Area #3: Health Care
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Shortage (continued):
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Over the next decade:
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Boomer population – increase by 36%
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College-aged/health care population – increase by
2.9%
American Association of Colleges of Nursing:
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By 2020: 44 states will face a nurse shortage
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Between 2010-2030: elderly caregivers will decrease by 40%

Focus Area #3: Health Care
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Other related issues:
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Medicaid:
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By 2009: Medicaid costs were at a high $2.6 billion
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Costs for Medicaid continue to rapidly be on the rise
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Seniors, Disabled, Low-Income populations

Focus Area #3: Health Care
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What Colorado is Doing:
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HB10-1053 (Sen. Boyd & Rep. Riesberg)***
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Implement two studies focused on possible cost savings that could potentially translate into more resources/services for seniors
Study cost-effectiveness of waiver programs that would provide services to specific Medicaid-related communities
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Require Colorado Department of Human Services
(CDHS) to hire a firm to focus on the costeffectiveness of the “Older Coloradans Act programs” – which serve 60+ in various capacities

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Workforce:
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More training services available – The Boomer Group
Curbing Age Discrimination
Housing:
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More adequate senior housing/retirement communities
More Senior focused amenities
Health Care:
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More health care professionals – incentives
Funding for Medicaid – HB10-1053

I realize these proposed recommendations will absolutely cost more money, money that currently and will not be available for years to come due to the economic situation. HOWEVER, they at least initiate the much needed conversation about what needs to be done to meet the currently unknown needs of the baby boomer generation over the next decade.