63% of Virginia business leaders say planning efforts are important to ensure their community is prepared for the aging population, with 25% saying planning efforts are "very important." Source: 2008 Older Dominion Project Business Leaders' Study
Members/Partners
Member Profiles
Name: Christine J. Jensen, Ph.D.
Title: Director of Community & Health Services Research
Company/Organization: Center for Excellence in Aging & Geriatric Health (Also: Adjunct Asst. Prof. of Psychology, College of William & Mary)
ODP Member Since: December 10, 2007
ODP Committee Affiliation: Shared Database Work Group
Summarize your professional background relevant to Age Wave preparedness.
I have been involved in aging research for a number of years with a particular interest in elder care and dementia, as well as community assessments of senior services. I have been involved with two large-scale multi-tiered needs assessments in the Williamsburg area. On behalf of the Senior Services Coalition, I’ve drafted a “Community Action Plan On Aging” (similar to the 2020 Plan in Charlottesville) for Williamsburg. This is a ten-year (2010-2020) Community Action Plan, which outlines specific goals, timelines, and strategies to assure the Greater Williamsburg Area is a “more livable community for seniors.” Since our local population of adults 60 years of age and older already exceeds 20% of the total population, I am proud that our community has shown initiative in establishing this Plan.
What expertise or other strengths do you bring to the Older Dominion Partnership?
I am a gerontologist by training and have been teaching at the college level for 15 years. Through my teaching in the Psychology Department at the College of William & Mary, I strive to help my students develop a better appreciation for issues facing older adults and their families. I have learned many students have very little exposure to these issues and it is important to understand the implications the aging of their grandparents and parents will have on them and their community. I’m also active with the Gerontological Society of America, the Southern Gerontological Society and the Alzheimer’s Association. I work closely with the Alzheimer’s Association-sponsored support groups in the Williamsburg area.
What do you believe are the most pressing issues in Age Wave-preparedness in Virginia today?
Preparation at the community and at the neighborhood level; there has been growing interest in the Beacon Hill Model and other “aging in place” initiatives. I believe the ODP can be a critical resource for communities wishing to become more “age-friendly.” The ODP can also offer assistance to communities in the delivery of a true “continuum of care.”
What advice do you have for age wave planning in Virginia?
It is critical that we have Boomers and older adults engaged in the discussion and planning efforts.