Helping the elderly prepare for the future

By RYAN COLLINGWOOD

Staff Writer

COEUR d'ALENE — According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the global population of adults aged 65-plus will soon surpass those aged 5 and under for the first time in history.

But as the world's older population continues to grow, so do many of its aging-related questions.

What are the best ways to stay healthy and active in the late stages of life?

How does one properly plan financially and take the burden from family members?

What mistakes should one avoid when applying for Medicare?

The Village at Orchard Ridge, a nonprofit senior home in Coeur d'Alene, created the faith-based program P.E.A.C.E. — Professionals Easing Aging Concerns through Education — to help people through that process.

P.E.A.C.E. offered a workshop Saturday at St. Pius X Catholic Church to a group of nearly 100 senior citizens, featuring a handful of speakers.

The workshop, which lasted nearly seven hours, touched on the program's four pillars titled: Navigating the Journey; Accepting Our Season in Life; Preparing for the Future and Receiving Encouragement and Support.

Dr. Susan Melchiore, a longtime geriatrician, was the keynote speaker, emphasizing physical and mental wellness.

“The question a lot of people have are, 'What do you do with growing older?’” said Melchiore, who worked at UCLA before relocating to Coeur d'Alene 20 years ago. "Because there's so many possibilities and health care is so chaotic and so fragmented.

“I think education is huge to really empower people to take a path that's best for them. The more people know about what their resources are and how to navigate this journey, the easier it will be for them with better outcomes."

Kent Green, who markets Orchard Ridge and the new P.E.A.C.E. program, said Saturday's turnout was more than doubled what he expected. He said 20 churches, including St. Piux X, have sponsored the program.

“People don't think about being prepared until it's too late or it's crunch time,” Green said. “So our effort is not only to provide the resources, but to keep people aware of it an earlier stage so they can plan better and correlate throughout each of those stages.”

Mary Stewart of Orchard Ridge spearheaded the P.E.A.C.E. program. She was also a speaker Saturday, along with Melchiore, Brad Miles of The Miles Insurance Team, Craig Ziegler of Yates Funeral Home and others.

Peggy Smith, an 80-year-old senior companion, said she took in a wealth of knowledge from the event.

“I get asked all kinds of questions from different families, so it was good to get the information I can pass on,” Smith said. “This has given me some more insight.”

Smith said it's always good to be prepared.

“You don't want to wait until something happens to a family member, not know what to do and be a nervous wreck,” she said.