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o f suburbs to genera
<br /> KAY HARVEY STAFF WRITER jus don't have everything from 'bus serv to
<br /> housekeeping help" •'to one -level housing `units in a
<br /> land of split-levels.'
<br /> Scrap the stereotype of the senior citizen as a
<br /> little old lady living alone on public Suburbanites now account for almost two thirds assistance in a
<br /> city high -rise. the .metro areas 304,358 elderly. That is a su bs t of an
<br /> There's anew breed of elderly Twin Citians who tial increase over 1980, when only half of residents
<br /> have reached the age of 60 or' more while livi ng over age 60 lived outside Minneapolis and St. Paul.
<br /> ,quietly in their suburban communities. And as they Suburban elders,typic_allyhave aystrong sense of
<br /> continue to age, this "graying of .the suburbs >.will community, said Houston;''a Metropolitan
<br /> generate a set of problems all its own. Co planner who prepared the report.
<br /> A new Metropolitan Council studyy shows the sub-
<br /> urban elderly will be demandln services their cities ELDERLY CONTINUED ON 6A P
<br /> JEER PRESS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10. 1992_
<br /> AGE 1
<br /> A
<br /> J
<br /> ELDERLY f 1.I getting to a bus stop several miles
<br /> whe the etlr pi
<br /> x 3 away. Many suburbs have esprpss
<br /> V CONTINUED FROM IA area's elde �t 9 bus service only, .seldom useful,,,to
<br /> r k get a home health care aide to' a
<br /> People don't want to move 7 -cou ty t 1wir,Cl�ti suburban client's home. Van- trans-
<br /> from their communities to get ser portation programs hampered
<br /> vices," pgp Ulatid 6g6 O g ms are
<br /> limited
<br /> on where 1 s, you she said. live whether ou "It really depends et `44 r r l by l raph ical areas.
<br /> money and restricted cted'
<br /> Y Y g geograph
<br /> some services or not."
<br /> When they become frail and a Assistance for minorities
<br /> need assistance, the suburban .el- S5o� Non- English speaking minorities
<br /> derly want their communities to >Q require a translator when they'vist
<br /> bring services to them, the study 3 Urban it a doctor, use public transpor
<br /> found. Health care, housing and rya Y ,A tionor shop for supplies. Member,§
<br /> transportation top their list of ser 0til�" A r ,a, of minority groups also complain
<br /> vices they say are inadequate. :13:11,4'4.7--.':,.,.;:',....:"' F that congregate= dining progrartiS
<br /> The profile of typical elderly i p �'a and home- delivered meals do not
<br /> m
<br /> suburbanites is younger than their r pik +,s t�.ss;m� include ethnic gnus.
<br /> city counterparts: 75 percent are.
<br /> s �e m
<br /> Quality of ilife. Seniors like
<br /> between age 60 and 75. They have
<br /> at least a high school education Source. MetropoiitanCou life in the suburbs for its open
<br /> and are more affluent, with say- and 1990' censs a u space and feeling of safety. But
<br /> ings accounts and an average in- PIONE PRE G ties to do v 1 n more work�a d�to
<br /> come of between $10,800 and attend recreational, cultural and
<br /> $12,000.
<br /> They are asking ,for-services popularity of multistory home de- educational activities. Seniors „ia
<br /> they say *e s signs, living accommodations on Apple Valley, JEagan, Mount's
<br /> tent near thei one floor are scarce in the sub- View and New Brighton, among.
<br /> High quality, affordable urbs. For those seeking subsidized others, said they would like a se:. health care. Senior citizens want senior housing; a two- to five -year !nor citizens' center nearer theirs
<br /> medical clinics and physicians, in- waiting list is not uncommon. home: i
<br /> eluding specialists, and therapeu- i
<br /> tic swimming pools. Household maintenance ser- For community planners, Hour.
<br /> vices. Sixty -one percent of subur- ton said, the findings pose a tough•
<br /> Health care advocacy. They ban elderly said they have prob- question: Should seniors go to
<br /> want more assistance in determin- lems with housekeeping chores. vices, or should services go those''
<br /> ing home care vs. nursing -home But in Dakota and Washington niors?
<br /> costs and more general advocacy counties, there is no organized
<br /> to protect themselves from paying chore service available. "We've been moving from long-
<br /> too much for health care, insur- term care in nursing homes to ti3d:
<br /> ance, in -home services and bospi- Transportation services. For idea of in -home care," she s&Id j
<br /> tal visits. the 26 percent of suburban elders "In all communities, the suburbs
<br /> who do not own a car, options are in particular, we're going to have
<br /> Moderate- income and subsi- few. Even in areas that have pub- to look at how we are going .td
<br /> dized housing. Because of the lic bus service, it usually requires serve that."
<br /> .,1,
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