50+ Lifestyles

The Invisible Tsunami

As a community, we need to decide if we will harness the energy of this force of nature
or drown as we ignore the storm.

By Laura L. Kopp, MS
CASI President/CEO

Over the last ten years, the 65 and older population in Scott County has grown by nearly 40%.  Spurred by the aging Baby Boomer generation and further fostered by improved healthcare and access to services like those offered through Senior Centers, this steady and impressive growth is often referred to as the Silver Tsunami.

In juxtaposition, over the same ten year time period, CASI’s revenue has declined by 22%. This reduction of resources has included:

• A complete defunding by the United Way in 2018, after nearly 40 years as a funded partner agency, as their funding priorities shifted to youth and education.
• ZERO funding increases through our long term, sustainable funding streams in more than 15 years. This includes ZERO COLA increases. CASI currently has 3 social worker positions sitting vacant because we cannot afford to hire staff at the current competitive wages. CASI employees also do not receive health insurance benefits because of these funding shortfalls.
• CASI remains one of the only not for profits in the community to have suffered a yearlong shut down due to COVID. This shut down led to a loss of close to $700k in earned revenue which still impacts the organization.
• Current proposed funding cuts that would result in the closure of Eastern Iowa’s only Adult Day Services program for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

In 2023, more than 55% of CASI’s revenue was budgeted to be generated through earned income at the center (i.e., Eleanor’s Café, the CASI Gift Shop, Activity fees, membership, fees for service, etc.) and internal fundraising efforts including the 41st Annual CASI St. Patrick’s Day Race, the 15th Annual Hat Bash, Rock the Lot and the 2nd Annual Chip in Fore Seniors Golf Tournament. While historically successful, these events start at zero every year and are not a long term, sustainable source of funding for mission based programming. In addition, the planning of these events takes months each.  And without the support of a marketing or special events staff, this responsibility falls to the CEO and executive leadership team, thus prohibiting more effective fund development strategies.

Research has shown that older adults who have access to the services and supports offered through a senior center, experience better health outcomes, improved mental health and report a better overall quality of life.  By extension, our community benefits through lower long term care costs per older adults over the lifespan, decreased hospitalizations, decreased urgent care visits, delay of long term care placement, lower incidences of suicide, elder abuse and substance abuse. Our community is stronger, healthier and wealthier when adults have a place they can go to find connection, wellness, and support.

There is a tsunami coming. It’s not a matter of “if.” It’s a matter of “when,” and the “when” is now.  As a community, we need to decide if we will harness the energy of this force of nature or drown as we ignore the storm.

Be a Force of Nature and help us create a community where aging is not a liability. Learn more at www.casiseniors.org

Laura L. Kopp, MS is President/CEO of CASI, located at 1035 W. Kimberly Road, Davenport, IA  52806. For information call (563) 386.7477 or email info@CASIseniors.org.