Draft Senior Assessment Available for Review Tonight

The Columbia Plan Commission was honored Friday by the Area Agency on Aging of Southwest Illinois for its efforts in undertaking an assessment of senior services--even though the effort hasn't been completed yet. The Commission’s work will be available for review by the public tonight from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Auditorium at Columbia City Hall.

Members of the Columbia Plan Commission--an advisory body to the Columbia City Council--began a community assessment last year to focus upon the Columbia community and its readiness for the impact of an aging population upon various aspects of community life. Increased life expectancy is resulting in record numbers of people aged 65 and older--while this age group represented only 13% of the U.S. population in 2000, it will grow to comprise about 21% of the population in 2030.

Columbia was one of eight communities honored last week at the luncheon held at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Also recognized were Collinsville, Edwardsville, Granite City, Greenville, New Baden, Red Bud and Waterloo.