Report provides county-by-county data on Missouri’s senior population

COLUMBIA, Mo.– As baby boomers age, older Americans will make up a growing proportion of the population. By 2030, about one in five Missourians will be 65 or older. That has important implications for communities on issues such as housing, health care, infrastructure, transportation and social services.

The Missouri Senior Report, produced by the University of Missouri Extension Office of Social and Economic Data Analysis (OSEDA) in collaboration with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, presents county-by-county data on older Missourians to help policymakers, health care providers, businesses and families make informed decisions about plans and priorities.

“The Missouri Senior Report gives local and statewide decision-makers a snapshot of the senior population,” says Kimberly Keller, research associate at OSEDA. “And they can track that snapshot over time to keep track of the changing needs of Missouri seniors.”

That snapshot includes data related to health and wellness, economic well-being, civic engagement, housing status, and access to health care, transportation and other services, she said.

The 2013 report is the fifth since OSEDA and DHSS published the first Missouri Senior Report in 2006. A newly redesigned website at www.MissouriSeniorReport.org lets users easily browse data, compare differences over time or from county to county, and generate custom charts and maps. Users also can download data as spreadsheet files.

These features let decision-makers examine trends and compare indicators in different parts of the state, helping them highlight needs, identify problems and evaluate outcomes, Keller said.

Unlike the static maps in previous editions, the interactive color-coded maps in the 2013 report let users see the underlying data by hovering over individual counties, she said.

Sponsors include Clay County Senior Services, AARP, the Missouri Association of Area Agencies on Aging, and the Missouri Senior Services’ Tax Fund Boards.