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THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SENIOR CENTER NETWORK MODE_, <br />i <br />Final Report and Recommendations <br />of <br />The Task Force on Southern Orange (Chapel Hill- Carrboro) <br />Senior Center Space <br />January, 1991 <br />I. INTRODUCTION <br />A city- county Task Force was established in April, 1990 to <br />investigate the need for additional senior center space in Chapel <br />Hill. Subsequently, its mission was expanded to include space <br />issues for southern Orange County including Carrboro. Elected <br />officials and citizen representatives from Orange County, Chapel <br />Hill, and Carrboro (Membership- Appendix 11) were invited and <br />participated in the Task Force's deliberations resulting in the <br />following report and recommendations. <br />II. STATEN M OF THE ISSUES <br />According to the 1990 Census projections, some 11,500 Orange <br />County residents are over sixty years of age, with approximately <br />6,000 living in the Chapel Hill- Carrboro area. The older <br />population will be the fastest growing segment, especially <br />the old -old over 80 years of age. The older Chapel Hill segment <br />(60 +) is projected to increase to 10,357 by the Year 2000 ( a 103% <br />growth) and to 15,406 (a 203 % growth) by the Year 2010. For the <br />old -old segment the Town of Chapel will grow by 150% or 2,111 <br />older adults age 82 or over for the Year 2000. (Source: Town of <br />Chapel Hill's Comprehensive Plan, 1989, Growth Chart- Appendix 12) <br />Some of the major needs to be found among older citizens <br />include: <br />1. A highly visibIS focal point for easy access to <br />coordinated services and activities of many kinds. <br />2. AA equQt9 space in Chafe Hill and religl2lelsecure space_,in <br />C ra rboro for a variety of social & recreational <br />activities. <br />3. X2chanism for older adults as a group to deal <br />effectively with issues,concerns and interests. <br />4. A place to gg at any time to find friendship and support. <br />Public and private agency resources and services have grown <br />dramatically, but more often than not have planned independently <br />of each other. Competition for limited space has resulted in <br />activities and services being dispersed throughout the community. <br />For instance, the Chapel Hill and Carrboro Parks and Recreation <br />