STATE COLLEGE – Central PA seniors now have a new resource to help them age successfully. Crystal Little, CSA, with Home Instead Senior Care, recently completed a comprehensive course through the Society of Certified Senior Advisors (SCSA) and earned the designation of Certified Senior Advisor (CSA). SCSA is an international organization that has trained more than 20,000 professionals to meet the changing needs of a growing senior population.
“The health, financial and social needs of seniors are different and more complicated than those of any other age group. SCSA keeps professionals from a wide variety of fields abreast of all these issues by providing education, training, support and communication resources to those of us dedicated to serving seniors,” Crystal Little said.
The explosion in growth of the senior population is one of the most important demographic developments of the 21st century. Two-thirds of the people who have lived past the age of 65 are alive today. In the United States alone, seniors (age 65 and older) number 35 million and will continue to increase (with women being the largest segment), leading an unprecedented shift in the age of the population. By 2030, the U.S. Bureau of Census predicts there will be about 70 million people who are 65 and older – one in five Americans will be seniors.
This demographic shift requires an educated response in how professionals work with seniors and the challenges and opportunities they face. Crystal said, “With more people living longer, we are already beginning to see changes in how seniors function in our society, from retirees who choose to start a second or third career, to various forms of alternative senior housing and new approaches to diet, exercise and overall health care for seniors”.
As a CSA, Crystal Little will participate in continuing education that emphasizes ethical selling and business practices and volunteer service specific to seniors.
