SENIORS HAVE DIFFERENT AGENDA TODAY

With a little creativity, some knowledge of local agencies that help senior citizens, and the means to solve day-to-day problems, older adults can do much more than cope.

In fact, Virgie Alcorn Evans, 64, said her ability to turn her home into a bed-and-breakfast has given her a new outlook on life. Evans said one of the biggest concerns for senior citizens today is the quality of their life as they approach the year 2000.

"Finding something to supplement Social Security benefits and being able to afford prescription drugs are just a few of the things we talked about," Evans said, referring to the first group discussion on economic security.

Evans was one of more than 200 people who attended the Area White House Conference on Aging at Drury Lodge Wednesday.

"A little creativity and the ability to find solutions to day-to-day problems can mean the difference of living in your own house or a nursing home," Evans said. "With the bed-and-breakfast, I just about break even on what it costs to live in my home, but it also gives me the opportunity to meet new people," said Evans, a retired schoolteacher.

Evans, who lives in Elsinore, is living proof that today's senior citizen has a different agenda than the older adult of a decade or two ago.

Dr. Shelba Branscum, Southeast Missouri State University associate professor, offered a humorous portrait of how different today's senior citizen's lifestyle is compared to 20 or 30 years ago by way of a top-10 Christmas list. Branscum compared what senior citizens might have asked for in the past compared to today.

"Instead of granny blankets, ask for lightweight luggage," Branscum quipped. "Today's older adult is not sitting around; they're on the move. Instead of Geritol or little liver pills, today's older adult needs a personal beeper so their children and grandchildren can keep track of them."

Said Branscum: "Instead of knitting needles, ask for money for college tuition or maybe money to enroll in elder hostel classes. There are over 1,500 taking classes at the university who are 60 years or older."

Branscum said the notion that most senior citizens are on the verge of senility, or are prime candidates for Alzheimer's disease, are myths. "Less than 1 percent have that dreaded disease we call Alzheimer's," Branscum said. "The number of people who are dysfunctional or in nursing homes is less than 5 percent."

Other speakers were Cape Girardeau Mayor Al Spradling III; Craig Felzien, area manager for Southwestern Bell; Matthew Quay, chairman of the board for SEMO Area Agency on Aging; and Deborah Pullam of the Division of Aging. Glenda Hoffmeister, executive director for SEMO Area Agency for Aging, also participated.

Round-table discussions were held after lunch to develop a policy recommendation report that will be sent to the National White House Conference on Aging Committee. The recommendations will be discussed when the committee meets in the spring in Washington, D.C.