Demographic projections suggest a gray wave is building in Colorado, with nearly 25 percent of the state’s population expected to be older than 60 by 2030. As Coloradans age, the state must prepare for that shift. To do so, the Colorado Legislature convened a strategic planning group to anticipate the effects and implications of aging on all aspects of the state’s economy, infrastructure and resources. This endeavor, if done well, will prepare Colorado for an older populace.
Housing, workforce, sales, income and property taxes, public programs, schools and transportation will be affected, and, in order to address the changing dynamics, the planning group is charged with recommending policies, programs, services, projects and procedures that reflect the aging population. Specifically, it will consider how the shift will influence state and local budgets and fiscal policies, what impact the aging population will have on Medicaid and other social-service programs, the long-term care services and resources necessary to adequately serve the aging population, and the implications for Colorado of any federal entitlement reform.
These questions will not be easy to answer, given that many of the solutions will require resources already over-allocated in Colorado. The 23-member group convened to craft a long-range plan that considers the many facets of aging in Colorado has a challenging call, but one that is critical to anticipating and preparing for the state’s future, and that of its aging residents. It is a needed prescription for forward-thinking.