Sunday, April 19th, 2020
The Hudson Valley, like many parts of the country, is home to an increasingly older population. As detailed in the recently released Out of Alignment report, this trend caused by the confluence of increased life expectancy, young people leaving the region, and the baby boomer generation entering their later years. While not unique to the Hudson Valley, the Silver Tsunami is more pronounced in our region relative to New York City and the rest of the country. An aging population is presenting many Hudson Valley communities with new challenges including shifting housing needs and increased demand for healthcare services. Now, as the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic spreads throughout the country and the world, the Hudson Valley is faced with yet another challenge: a large and growing population of residents who, according to the CDC, are particularly vulnerable to the Coronavirus due to their age and underlying health conditions.
The CDC has determined that older adults and those with serious underlying health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory disease are at a higher risk from the Coronavirus. Unfortunately, the Hudson Valley is home to many residents who fall into these categories. According the most recent data available from the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2018 there were approximately 548,000 residents aged 60 or older, accounting for 23% of the total population. Since 2000, the total population of the Hudson Valley increased by 6% while the population aged 60 and older ballooned by 42%.
The table above shows the percentage of the total population aged 60 and older, and hospitalization rates from the NYS Department of Health for three health conditions that increase the risk of Coronavirus. Overall, the Hudson Valley compares favorably with New York State as whole, but the data indicates that there are some counties with a higher share of at-risk residents. Columbia, Greene, and, Sullivan counties all have a higher rate of cardiovascular and diabetes hospitalization than New York State, and a higher percentage of residents aged 60 and older.
As the region braces for the full impact of the Coronavirus, preventive measures are being implemented to protect this vulnerable population. For example, many grocery stores are offering seniors-only shopping hours to limit potential exposure to the virus. Going forward, preventative steps such as this will be an important tool for mitigating the impact of the virus for the Hudson Valley’s significant number of at-risk residents.
