Nevada’s growing pains continue

Sito Negron

Wednesday, March 10, 2004 | 10:54 a.m.

U.S. Census Bureau calculations released today indicate Nevada is the state with the fastest growing populations of those older than 64, older than 84 and younger than 14.

The numbers mean there is no end in sight for Clark County School District's expensive growth pains and could also spell trouble at the other end of the age spectrum because more services for the elderly will be required.

The numbers were calculated to show growth from 2000 to July 2003, and surprised few in the Las Vegas Valley, where growth in all its forms is always at the forefront of public discussion.

Nevada continued to gain adults, at a rate of 11.7 percent for ages 18 and older, nearly triple the national average of 4.1 percent, according to the latest census numbers.

Nevada was ninth in the number of people age 65 or older, but the state's percentage gain of 14.6 led the nation. The gain nationally was an average of 2.6 percent. The percentage of those over age 65 in Nevada was calculated at 11.2, slightly lower than the national average of 12.4. Nationally the 85-and-older population rose 11 percent, and Nevada saw the biggest jump in that population, rising 30 percent.

Nevada also was one of only 14 states with an increase in the elementary school-age population, defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as ages 5 to 13. The state gained 35,000 youngsters, fifth most in the nation in numbers, but first in percentage increase, at 13 percent, according to the Census Bureau.

D.J. Stutz didn't need to see those figures to understand what's happening to her the Clark County School District.

"When you're in a school district that in the last 14 years is opening on average a school a month, it doesn't take a brain surgeon to tell you you're growing," said Stutz, president of the Nevada PTA. "You could ask the kindergartners about that and they'll understand."

Nationally, there was a drop of 274,000 in the elementary school-age population.

"It is really hard to find other PTAs dealing with the growth issues that we are," said Stutz, who also sits on the national PTA board. The Clark County School District, the fastest-growing in the country, already is sixth-largest in the nation with 270,000 students and 30,000 employees.

The growth issues for Clark County are well-documented, with an average of about one new school being built each month and a per-capita student funding level that places Nevada 48th out of the 50 U.S. states.

The district is in the midst of a $3.5 billion building program, and plans to seek voter approval in 2006 for another school construction bond.

The challenges for the education system might be mirrored by the social support system for people over age 65, if not now, then within the coming years, some experts said.

Mark McConnell, executive director of Charleston Residential and Assisted Living, said despite the growth in the population over age 65, "what we've seen is decline in the number of people living in our types of communities."

He said many people over age 65 move to Las Vegas to pursue an active lifestyle, and choose to live on their own for as long as possible. Some also can afford to stay at home and purchase such age-specific personal services as meal preparation and shopping assistance.

For those who cannot afford such services, McConnell said, "we're certainly anticipating some influx into communities like ours. In the Las Vegas Valley, only a few facilities like ours will accept low-income seniors at a rate under $3,000 a month."

He said his complex has a waiting list, "but we can't take everyone that's out there. ... The social programs haven't kept up with the associated cost of residing in one of these facilities or receiving these services in the home. It's going to get worse, because more and more people will need the services."

Charles Perry, executive director of the Nevada Health Care Association, said the number of nursing home beds is about the same as it was in 1999.

"One of the reasons for that in my opinion is we just have a really severe shortage of nursing and it doesn't do any good to bring new beds on line when we can't get the staff to take care of the residents," Perry said.

He also said that many retirees who are choosing Las Vegas simply don't need such services, because they're still active and are moving here for the lifestyle -- age-restricted communities and golf courses, for example.

Still, even with such retirees, the growth in population over age 65 -- and for that matter, those pushing 65, the so-called "Baby Boomer bubble" -- experts are anticipating a severe strain on the social support systems.

"When the Baby Boomers start retiring, and right now the best information seems to be that's six or seven years out, that's going to have a huge social impact not only on the need for facilities and accommodations but on the Social Security retirement system, Medicare, a whole plethora of things," Perry said.