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Statement Of Donna Morstad
Environmental Protection Agency
Aging Initiative Public Listening Session
San Antonio, Texas
April 8, 2003
Donna Morstad, M.P.
Senior Aging Policy Analyst
Texas Department on Aging
Senior Aging Policy Analyst
Texas Department on Aging
Good afternoon, my name is Donna Morstad. I'm the Senior Aging Policy Analyst at the Texas Department on Aging and I'm very happy to be here today.
At the Department on Aging, we are pleased to see that the EPA has made protecting the health of older adults a top priority.
Improving the quality of life for older adults is an important public policy priority, and addressing environmental hazards will improve and even extend their lives.
I'd like to start by reminding everyone of something we already know. The Texas population is aging.
In fact, the older adult population in Texas is increasing at a faster rate than the US older adult population.
Projections indicate Texas' 60+ population will increase 32 percent between 2000 and 2010 compared to a 23 percent increase among the entire US 60+ population.
The tremendous growth in the older adult population requires that we examine the effect environmental hazards have on older adults.
Environmental hazards can cause or worsen health problems, particularly for older adults, children, and those who already suffer from certain illnesses.
Older adults are more susceptible to environmental pollutants because of weaker immune systems, chronic diseases, and a lifetime of accumulated environmental and occupational contaminants.
For example, indoor and outdoor air pollutants exacerbate respiratory conditions, trigger asthma attacks, and limit activity levels.
75 percent of older Texans live in urban areas. Many of these areas face special environmental challenges, such as failing to meet federal air quality standards.
Furthermore, 65 percent of licensed Texas nursing homes are 35 years of age or older and have problems with their heating and air conditioning units. These problems result in poor indoor air quality, affecting the health and quality of life for nursing home residents.
Addressing environmental hazards, such as air pollution, will improve health and cut health care costs associated with the impacts of pollution exposure.
I believe that EPA's Aging Initiative fits in well with a campaign we have at the Texas Department on Aging called Aging Texas Well.
Through our Aging Texas Well campaign we are helping individuals and society prepare for the aging of the population.
This includes helping to ensure that government agencies, elected officials, communities and individuals prepare for aging in several areas, such as physical and mental health, housing, transportation, volunteeerism, employment and many other areas.
EPA's Initiative is addressing two of the Aging Texas Well areas - physical health and volunteerism.
Older adults have the right to achieve and maintain the best possible physical health. Addressing environmental hazards that impact the health of older adults is an important part of this.
We also need to create opportunities for older adults to participate in and contribute to meaningful volunteer activities.
I was glad to see that part of this National Agenda on Aging and the Environment will focus on volunteerism. Expanding opportunities for older adults to participate in volunteer activities that help protect the environment is beneficial both to the older adult participant and the environment.
Closing
In closing, let me say that environmental hazards can affect everyone - young and old, healthy and sick. Nobody is immune to the potential effects.
Reducing environmental hazards helps not only older adults, but the health of our planet in general.
At the Department on Aging, we look forward to working with the EPA to secure a healthy environment so older adults can enjoy a high quality of life.