The Council on Aging of Martin County has in recent years assisted over 4,200 seniors annually with services such as Meals on Wheels, adult day care and geriatric care management. Martin County's senior population – and the need for these critical services – continues to grow.

 

In fact, more than one-third of Martin County's population is now age 60 years and older. The aging process impacts multiple generations, as well: Three out of every four families will be faced with caring for a dependent grandparent, parent or elder spouse.

 

The Charles and Rae Kane Senior Center will help to address these increasing demands, while actually reducing the tax burden of subsidized nursing home care. How? By engaging seniors earlier in the aging process and instituting proactive care, the institutionalization of frail seniors can be delayed or perhaps prevented altogether. Small improvements can result in major gains: The Florida Department of Elder Affairs estimates that just a one percent increase in the number of well elders would decrease Medicaid expenses by 33 percent each year.

 

The construction of the Kane Senior Center is an idea whose time has come. Services at the Center will enrich the lives of our seniors, make life manageable for their care-giving families, and make solid financial sense.