Story Package Script

 

Story: Older American’s Month Video News Release

TRT:    1:40

 

NARRATOR:

THIRTY-FIVE MILLION AMERICANS ARE NOW 65 YEARS OLD OR OLDER ACCORDING TO CENSUS 2000 … A FIGURE THAT’S INCREASED MORE THAN 10 TIMES OVER THE PAST CENTURY AND IS STILL ON THE RISE. 

 

LOUIS KINCANNON

Director, Bureau of the Census

“Between 2011 and 2015, this population will grow four to five times faster than other population segments.”

 

NARRATOR:

THE CENSUS ANALYSIS REVEALS THAT SENIORS ARE ALSO LIVING A MORE ENJOYABLE LIFESTYLE– IN FACT THE NUMBER OF OLDER AMERICANS LIVING IN A NURSING HOME HAS DROPPED FROM 25% IN 1990 TO 18% IN 2000.  A DRAMATIC CHANGE FROM YEARS AGO.

 

LOUIS KINCANNON

Director, Bureau of the Census

In 1960 life expectancy was 70. In 2000 it was 77.  And if the trends continue by 2010 life expectancy will be 79 years.

 

NARRATOR:

RESEARCHERS BELIEVE THEY KNOW SOME OF THE REASONS WHY SENIORS ARE LIVING LONGER.

 

Dr. Richard Hodes

Director, National Institute on the Aging

They certainly include a good number of public health measures taken over the past century.  They also include a greater degree of awareness of the American population about the importance of healthy behaviors.

 

NARRATOR:

WHILE SOME OFFICIALS WORRY ABOUT A STRAIN ON HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS FROM THE EXPANDING OLDER POPULATION, OTHERS SAY THAT HAVING A LARGE NUMBER OF SENIORS CAN BE BENEFICIAL TO SOCIETY.

 

Senator Robert Byrd, D-West Virginia

Some people have accomplished more in their older years  than ever before in their lives and they can really influence things by virtue of that age.

 

NARRATOR:

EXPERTS SAY WITH COMMUNITY PLANNING AND SUPPORT, OLDER AMERICANS CAN LIVE THEIR GOLDEN YEARS TO THE FULLEST.  IN WASHINGTON, I’M JANE WATREL REPORTING.