Older Adult Population
The older adult population of the six-county region is 76,227 as of 2022, a 1.7 percent increase from the total older adult population of 2021. Every county in the region saw an increase in their older adult populations. Snyder County saw the greatest increase at 5.1 percent, followed by Union County (four percent), Lycoming County (1.6 percent), Columbia County (one percent), Montour County (one percent), and Northumberland County (0.1 percent). Statewide, the older adult population increased by three percent between 2021 and 2022.
Seniors Living Alone
The number of older adults living alone in the six-county region is 21,615 as of 2022, a 1.1 percent increase from the total number of adults living alone in 2021. Columbia, Lycoming, Snyder, and Union Counties saw an increase in the number of seniors living alone (3.3 percent, 4.9 percent, 15.0 percent, and 3.1 percent, respectively), whereas Montour and Northumberland experienced a decrease in their number of seniors living alone (5.7 percent and 6.9 percent, respectively). Statewide, the total number of seniors living alone increased by three percent between 2021 and 2022.
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
The number of grandparents raising grandchildren in the six-county region is 2,093 as of 2022, a 2.6 percent decrease from the total number of grandparents raising grandchildren in 2021. Montour and Northumberland Counties saw an increase in the number of grandparents raising grandchildren (5.2 percent and 8.2 percent, respectively), while Columbia, Lycoming, Snyder, and Union Counties experienced a decrease in their number of grandparents raising grandchildren (11.2 percent, 2.3 percent, 1.2 percent, and 26.5 percent, respectively). Statewide, the total number of grandparents raising grandchildren decreased by 4.2 percent between 2021 and 2022.
Skilled Nursing Care
The number of nursing homes in Pennsylvania has shown a slow decreasing trend since 2017, while remaining stable in the six-county region. The number of beds per 1,000 residents aged 65 years and older has declined in the six-county region and statewide in the most recent period. Except for Snyder, all counties in the region have more beds per 1,000 seniors than the state overall.rnrnThe daily room rates at long-term care facilities in Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, and Northumberland Counties are lower than rates statewide. Additionally, the rates of Columbia, Lycoming, Northumberland, and Snyder Counties have increased at an overall rate of 6.4 percent, 0.3 percent, 2.8 percent, and 71.0 percent, respectively, since 2020-2021. In contrast, Montour and Union Counties decreased at an overall rate of 5.8 percent and 1.4 percent, respectively, since the same period.
Disability
On average, 14.8 percent of the total population in the six-county region has a disability, higher than the statewide total of 13.8 percent. Individuals with ambulatory difficulties comprise the highest share of disabilities in Columbia, Lycoming, and Northumberland Counties (53.0 percent, 44.6 percent, and 45.9 percent, respectively), as well as the state level (47.4 percent). In Snyder and Union Counties, individuals with cognitive difficulties comprise the highest share of disabilities (56.7 percent and 45.9 percent, respectively).
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Community Vital Signs