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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Oregon: Getting Older, Not Better?

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Monday, November 17, 2008   

Portland, OR - One thing Oregonians have in common is they're not getting any younger. With a senior population that is growing rapidly, not only in terms of size but in diversity, now is the time Oregon should be planning ahead to meet the challenges, senior advocates say. They are gathering today in Portland for a "Diversity and Aging Forum," co-sponsored by AARP Oregon.

Chad Cheriel, a senior researcher at the Portland State University Institute on Aging, says these trends could be setting the state up for a real crisis, because people are living longer with less money in savings.

"All these factors are coming together, and compounding all of this are our concerns about the current Medicare and current Social Security programs. We have a huge problem ahead of us."

Cheriel says it's hard to get communities and state agencies to think 30 or 40 years down the road, but he hopes the forum will change that. Oregon once was known as a leader in the development of senior and eldercare services, he adds, but the state has been unable to maintain sufficient funding, even for some of the programs that work well to keep people in their homes.

Diversity also is a major focus of the conference. Oregon is home to seniors of all races, sexual orientations and income levels, but they don't have equal access to health care and housing options. National AARP vice-president and chief Diversity officer Percil Stanford is among today's presenters. In most communities, he says, there are unspoken feelings -- especially about race -- that need to be addressed.

"That's a very hard thing for a lot of people to talk about. But the election we just went through affords an opportunity for us to begin to really face that kind of discussion again, and do it in an honest way."

U.S. Census Bureau figures show the nation's senior population is expected to double in fewer than 20 years.
According to AARP, half of Americans over age 65 have some type of disability.

The "Diversity and Aging Forum" will be held at the Lloyd Center DoubleTree, Portland, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The forum is free but registration is required by calling 1-877-926-8300.



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