Florida State Plan on Aging – 2009-2012

Overview

Floridians age 60 and older account for 50 percent of all new home construction and provide $135 billion in spending power. In preparation for this aging demographic, the Florida Department of Elder Affairs created and submitted its state age plan per the requirements of the Older Americans Act.

Key Points

Florida has long wrestled with the implications of an older demographic. They understand the economic value and possibility for an older constituency.

Other plan highlights include:

1. The Consumer Directed Care (CDC) program seeks to maintain the independence of older adults. Through the CDC program, consumers are given a budgeted cash allowance to purchase services from providers, neighbors, and/or family members.
   
2. Floridians donate over $3.5 billion to charities. As Florida’s aging demographic expands from 27 percent in 2008 to 35 percent in 2030, so too, does its capacity for driving change through non-profits.
   
3. The state plan measures the success of the activities outlined therein by the number of older Floridians actually served by this program (page 40).
   

Florida’s State Plan on Aging is useful to consider in your own planning efforts for two reasons: 1) Florida’s economic impetus to work out its aging plan increases efficiency, and 2) the method by which Florida assesses the success or failure of its programs is directly relatable to the amount of older Floridians actually served.

How to Use

Local governments should use Florida’s state plan to evaluate benefits of leveraging the economic power of older people. Their economic force can affect everything from local politics to new construction. Consider adding this component to your own proposals for funding or for communicating new services.

View full report: Florida State Plan on Aging – 2009-2012 (PDF – 704 KB)