The Kentucky Elder Readiness Initiative (KERI)

The Kentucky Elder Readiness Initiative (KERI) seeks to develop information and provide support to Kentucky's communities so that elders and their families are provided with the opportunity to age in place and enjoy the highest possible quality of life for the longest time.

Kentucky's demographics will begin to change rapidly as Baby Boomers, those born after World War II, begin entering retirement.  People are living longer, healthier lives and have needs and wants that have implications across all aspects of society including:  health care, recreation, transportation, education, economy, housing, and business.

Recently, Governor Ernie Fletcher urged an audience at a forum held by the Kentuckiana Regional Planning and Development Agency (KIPDA) in Jeffersontown, KY to start preparing now for a significant increase in the population of Kentuckians age 60 and over.  Cabinet for Health and Families Services Secretary Mark D. Birdwhistell and Dr. Graham Rowles, University of Kentucky Graduate Center for Gerontology, presented KIPDA regional findings from the  KERI survey at this forum.

Preliminary findings from the survey show that most Kentuckians are unaware of the magnitude of the changes Kentucky will confront as a result of the aging of the Baby Boomers.  Focus groups and community forums were held during Phase I of KERI to gather feedback used to develop this survey for Phase II.  Responses to the nearly 9,000 surveys collected earlier this summer were evaluated to determine opportunities and awareness about programs and services for seniors and their caregivers.

* Nearly three-fourths of Baby Boomers surveyed said they worried about being prepared for retirement, and nearly a quarter of that group said they never wanted to retire completely.  Nearly a third of respondents 62 and older said they continue to work part or full time, and 69% said they planned to work during retirement mostly due to financial needs.  Another main reason for working during retirement is health care and other benefits.

* Nearly 40% of older adults who responded and 62% of Baby Boomers said they were unfamiliar with services available in their communities for seniors.

Information gathered from forums like the one held in Jeffersontown will be used to help local communities and state officials prioritize needs and make recommendations for improvement.  To meet the needs of communities experiencing an increase in the number of elders, the KERI initiative brings together local organizations, community leaders, and citizens, to form partnerships and collaborations in an effort to meet the needs of our growing senior populations.  To read the full KERI report and survey results for the KIPDA region and the rest of the Commonwealth, click here.