New state office tackles issues facing growing senior-citizen population

PHOENIX — By the year 2020, one in four Arizonans is expected to be over age 60. With that in mind, Gov. Janet Napolitano has opened a state Office of Aging to coordinate the efforts of various agencies dealing with issues facing the state’s fast-growing population of seniors.

“Aging Arizonans have the right to live independently and with dignity, and we want to help them do that,” said Melanie Starns, tapped by Napolitano to direct the office.

Until now, the governor’s office had relied solely on an advisory council to understand and respond to the state’s changing demographics.

“As we look forward, we have to take a proactive approach,” Starns said.

“Retired people aren’t just going to go play golf,” Starns said. “Older adults want to be utilized and be a voice in society.”

The four-person office already is working on ways to protect seniors from identity theft and to ensure access to dental care, Starns said.

Its chief role is coordinating the work of 14 state agencies that deal with various issues facing the elderly.

“We very much support it, because it raises awareness about the aging population,” said Mary Beals-Luedtka, director of the Northern Arizona Council of Governments’ Area Agency on Aging.