Baltimore County seniors static as population, active as individuals

Bucking a trend seen at the national, state and local levels, Baltimore County's population of 65-and-older residents has not significantly increased as a percentage of the county's overall population since 2000, according to recent census data.

While census data shows a slight drop in county residents age 65 or older (14.4 percent in 2009, compared with 14.6 percent in 2000), local officials and administrators who work with Baltimore County's aging population said they have seen an uptick in the number of seniors showing up at the county's senior centers and asking for active, physical programming.

"We've been preparing for that for some time, because we have been looking ahead," said Joanne Williams, director of the county's Department of Aging. "We've tweaked our programming and the focus of our programs and services to be appealing to the baby boomer, the younger senior, and dealing with multi-generations of seniors."

Only two other counties in Maryland – Caroline and Somerset on the Eastern Shore – saw percentage decreases for 65-plus residents. Every other county in the state, including all of the counties that border Baltimore County, saw increases. In Baltimore City, the 65-plus demographic remained unchanged at 13.2 percent.

In Maryland, the 65-and-older population went from 11.3 percent to 12.2 percent. Nationally, it went from 12.4 percent to 13 percent.

The reality of multi-generational seniors in Baltimore County has dramatically altered the character of many of the county's senior centers. While the centers remain clubhouses of sorts where their oldest members may play cards, eat communal meals and otherwise spend time together, center officials have launched martial arts and exercise classes, opened fitness centers and scheduled more alternative programming for active seniors.

"We added the fitness center; we try to do things like alternative medicine; we've tried Zumba, things that might appeal to younger members," said Julie Lynn, director of the Bykota Senior Center, in Towson. "We probably have a pretty diverse offering anyway, but whenever we are thinking of new programming, we definitely think about attracting younger people."

"As older folks age out of our services, we are seeing younger folks," said Nicole Sheehan, director of the Catonsille Senior Center. "I had one lady a couple months ago, the day after she turned 60, she came right in."

"Oh my gosh, I have 50-year-olds wanting to join here," said Barbara Franke, director of the Jacksonville Senior Center, which is open to those 60 and older. "Happily, they're really not looking at a senior center negatively, like it's for old people. They're really looking to see what they can do here."

According to Judah Ronch, dean of the Erickson School at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, in Catonsville, which focuses on the study of aging and aging services, there has been a clear shift in what it means to be a "senior" today, as compared with a generation ago.

"We know that people who are 65 now are much younger than people who were 65, 40 years ago. The whole idea of, 'What is a senior?' is undergoing a major change, and that's based on the experience of people as they age," Ronch said.

"As the boomers start to age, or come into that 65 age group, they don't see themselves as aging at all. To them, being 65 is not that much different than being 55, so a lot of the categories we have used in the past are becoming obsolete."

For Alicia Mandato, 67, of Timonium, the fact that seniors today are viewing their lives, and the amount of activity in their lives, through a different lens than their parents did is a truth that extends well beyond the baby boomers, to people in their 80s, she said.

"The seniors of today are not the seniors of yesterday," said Mandato, who teachesyoga at both the Cometa Wellness Center, in Cockeysville, and the Jacksonville Senior Center.

On a recent Monday afternoon, Mandato led 17 seniors in their 60s, 70s and 80s through an hour-longyoga session at the Jacksonville center that had the women standing on one foot, kneeling, crouching and bending. When the course started three years ago, 10 of the women were confined to chairs. Now, all of them use mats.

"I've always enjoyed floor exercises and I like it, it makes my body feel good," said Ellen Jo Litsinger, 74, of Baldwin, who joined the class about two years ago and whose husband, Bill Litsinger, 75, founded a golf team at the center.

Ginger French, 63, of Monkton, praised Mandato's course as well.

"My joints came back to where they were a long time ago," the former mountain climber said. "It does keep all the parts moving. That's what's great about it. You don't have to be that old to benefit."

On a recent weekday at the Arbutus Senior Center, which will celebrate its one-year anniversary Aug. 24, a group of women was getting cardio exercise in a line-dancing class, high-fiving as they sidestepped by each other.

For Nancy Longo, 62, of Halethorpe; Beverly Luers, 63, of Arbutus; and Joyce Holton, 64, of Arbutus, the new center has become a hub of activity where none existed before, they said.

"When this opened up, it was like, 'Wow, this is marvelous! Someone remembered we lived here,'" Luers said.

"I just retired last year, so it came at the right time," Holton added.

"They have such a variety of activities here," said Longo. "You can do yoga, line dancing, go to the gym here. It's really great."

According to Williams, the county is committed to continuing to diversify its programming for younger seniors. But that's not its only focus.

In line with changes at the federal level, her department is also becoming what is known nationally as an "Aging and Disability Resource Center," Williams said.

"What that means is that we're going to be stretching our wings a bit in terms of serving the community of those with disabilities," she said.

Williams' department is essentially preparing to be a clearinghouse of information not just for the elderly, but for caregivers and people with disabilities as well.

"We are expanding our information and referral system to be able to field questions that come from people with disabilities or those caring for loved ones," she said. "Just making sure that we have as many resources so that when people do contact us we can point them in the right direction."

That, together with the ever-evolving programming for younger and more active seniors, is keeping her department quite busy, census increase or not, Williams said.

"We feel we have a good variety of things going on," she said, "that should reflect the diversity of the people we serve."