Wyoming Public Radio Interviews Kaye About Aging Population
Lenard Kaye, director of the University of Maine Center on Aging and professor in the UMaine School of Social Work, spoke with Wyoming Public Radio for the report “Wyoming elderly tough it out even as younger generations migrate away.” According to the report, 15 percent of Wyoming’s population is over 65 and a high percentage of them live on ranches and in small towns. With younger generations leaving for more urban jobs, few are staying behind to take care of their elders, the report states. “The bad news is that in rural communities, our formal network of health and human services is uneven at best and resources are scarce,” Kaye said. He added it takes a whole community to make a difference in helping seniors. “Local communities need to take action,” he said. “They need to be advocates for themselves. Frequently, the kind of programs we’re talking about can be organized and maintained at very little cost.”