Virginia cities buck trend of a grayer Old Dominion

NORFOLK

As Virginia ages, its cities have bucked the trend.

On the eve of the baby boomer generation moving into the 65-and-over demographic, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Richmond and a host of other urban areas of the state saw their senior populations decrease in the past decade, according to 2010 census figures released today.

Virginia's number of residents over 65 increased, especially in suburban areas such as Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and York County.

Older, urban cities saw the reverse. In Norfolk, the senior population fell to 9.4 percent of residents in 2010 from 10.9 percent in 2000. Portsmouth saw a less drastic drop, but its numbers of elderly slid as well, to make up 13.2 percent of the population.

"It's hard to pinpoint exactly one reason," said Qian Cai, director of the Demographics & Workforce Group at the University of Virginia's Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.

Norfolk and Portsmouth both saw a general out-migration of residents, she said, and seniors were likely part of that movement.

"In a way, it's consistent with the trend of the city," Cai said. "When you look into the details, you see people are moving out."

In the meantime, the oldest residents of the two cities, both of which had a very large population of seniors 10 years ago, died, she said.

Despite the declines in the most urban areas, Cai and other experts on aging warned the state would see a leap in the elderly population before 2020. As a whole, Virginia saw a nearly two-year increase in its median age, which rose to 37.5.

"It's not a big increase - yet," Cai said, adding that the senior population would "absolutely" grow faster the next decade.

"There's no baby boomer play in the 2010 census. The baby boomers - even the oldest, they're not 65 yet," she said. "They're going to change the way cities are. Their choices will change how we're living right now."

Boomers are likely to "age in place" - stay in their homes as they age, creating issues of accessibility, services and transportation, experts said.

In a national survey done by AARP last fall, 88 percent of people over age 65 said they wanted to stay in their homes as long as possible, said Ginger Thompson McDaniel, communications director for AARP Virginia.

"Wanting to remain in one's home and community as they age is paramount," Thompson McDaniel said. "The challenge is to make homes and communities ready to meet the needs of the current population."

Across Hampton Roads, officials said dealing with a larger, more active senior population means new challenges.

For Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia, it's more time spent helping new seniors navigate Medicaid, and to help those in need access food stamps, in-home care and other social services programs.

"You've got a real steady and increasing flow of first-time recipients," said John Skirven, the group's chief executive officer. "We continue to serve more and more people."

Skirven said he's worried that losing seniors in the region's urban core could affect funding for programs aimed at the elderly. With that population set to explode as the boomers age, he said his organization will need more funding - not less - to serve people.

"My main concern is that this region retain the resources to serve those in the most need," Skirven said.

In Virginia Beach, where the senior population saw the biggest jump, the city is seeing a demand for services such as companions to help cook meals for older adults, in the hopes of allowing them to stay in their homes, said Alice Testerman, a media coordinator with the Department of Human Services.

In Chesapeake, where the senior population makes up nearly 10.5 percent of the residents, the city's Committee on Aging has seen increased participation in social events and a heightened interest in active classes, such as Zumba fitness, and travel, chairwoman Toni McBeth said.

"It's just a whole different group now," she said. "We've seen an upswing in being physically fit, taking care of yourself personally. I plan trips and activities of what I might want to do, what makes me happy.

"You're giving them some youthfulness."

At Norfolk's PrimePlus Senior Care Center on Wednesday, Doris Jordan and Edith White checked in submissions to the center's Senior ArtFest, which opens June 6. Years ago, White had a difficult time finding artists to participate, she said. This year, nearly 90 artists are involved.

Down the hall, Boots Bradshaw played a harmonica while Eddie Hill carved the head of a mallard duck out of wood. The men, both 91, meet with a group of like-minded artisans once a week at the center to "carve and talk," Hill said, taking another shaving with a curved knife.

"What keeps you young is being active," Jordan said.

"There's no reason for someone to be sitting home alone when you have something like this."

 Staff writer Deirdre Fernandes contributed to this report

Meghan Hoyer, (757) 446-2293, meghan.hoyer@pilotonline.com