Project Proposal

With the aging of the "baby boomers" comes a new world of responsibility for younger Americans. There is a growing need for specialized care of our senior population, which allows the families who care for their parents an opportunity for a lifestyle that includes some relief from the heavy responsibilities that come with caring for elderly parents.

In 2012, the U.S. Government took a census survey of the American population.  The United States population was over 300 million.  The population in Georgia was almost ten million.  11.5% of the Georgia population was over the age of 65.  Almost 40% of these had disabilities.

This report also estimated 805,147 households in Georgia and 171,119 of them included people over 65.  Families with elders have become caregivers in addition to their other responsibilities. The Census Bureau also took statistics from 1900 - 2010 and projected that Americans age 85 and older could grow from 5.5 million in 2010 to 19 million by 2050.  This means that our senior population is increasing at a greater rate than our young people.(www.agingstates.gov)

One issue that family caregivers face is the prospect of taking care of an elderly parent and still have the freedom to work away from home.  This can be quite challenging since there are still few Adult Day Care Centers which provide services for those with dementia.

The Census Bureau reports that in 2010, the population in Fulton County, Georgia was 920,581.  9.1% of those were over 65.  This same report shows 376,377 households in Fulton County.  17.1% of those households include persons over 65 making up part of their family. (www.cdc.gov)

15% of Fulton County, Georgia households

include elders over the age of 65.

I   propose to create a space which not only takes care of the numerous needs of the elderly, but is near the most concentrated work force in Fulton County, which is the City of Atlanta.  According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, there are almost 2.5 million jobs in the City of Atlanta, inside the perimeter as of November 2013. (www.bls.gov)  This will make it easier for families who are caregivers to get to work on time, particularly if they live in the suburbs of Atlanta.

Having a center where there is a gerontologist, a clinic, and a physical rehabilitation area will facilitate relief of many caregiver duties that would normally mean taking time off work since the need for Adult Day Care Centers is becoming greater, the city of Atlanta would be a prime location for a facility of this type.  This facility will also be open for patients outside the scope of the Adult Day Care Center.  Its location next to Crawford Long Hospital makes it a one-stop place for taking care of the needs of the elderly in Fulton County.