Despite growth slowing down in the county, the senior population continues to grow in Carroll County -- and continues to provide a greater demand on emergency medical services, according to Neal Roop, county government liaison for the Carroll County Volunteer Emergency Services Association,

"The senior population is exploding," Roop said. "There's going to be a need for more EMS calls."

The senior population has increased by 34 percent in the past 10 years, according to Census and Carroll County Department of Planning figures. In 2000, the county had 16,267 residents who were 65 years and older, while an estimated 21,790 seniors will live in Carroll in 2010.

Since 2000, the county has seen 2,517 housing units approved for seniors, while another 441 units are under review, according to Kimberly Golden Brandt, Development Review and Concurrency Manager for Carroll County.

The county also has seen 290 beds built for assisted living housing this decade, according to Golden Brandt.

Roop said increased senior housing has an impact on EMS calls because seniors simply have greater needs.

For instance, Carroll Lutheran Village had 440 service calls in 2008, Roop said -- that made up 10 percent of the Westminster Fire Department's total calls.

But it is not just senior housing developments that have a high call volume -- it is seniors in general, saidWestminster Fire Chief Jim Bangerd. Some seniors have to call for non-emergency help because they have no one else, he said.

"A lot of these people don't have a support system," he said. "There's no one for them to call in the immediate area, so they're forced to call 911."

"You can't force someone to live with a relative, and some people don't have the financial means to come sit with them," he said. "I don't know what the answer is, really."

The association eyes two ways to help offset the demand.

One is by requiring senior care homes and hospitals to hire paramedics and have an in-house emergency service, said Doug Alexander, CCVESA president. Most at least provide non-emergency ambulance transport services now, he said, but they do not provide emergency medical staff.

"If (Carroll Lutheran Village) had an emergency transport unit there, they could cut down calls significantly," he said.

Another option is to create a specific paramedic tax or impact fee for senior housing.

Impact fees for residential homes offset capital expenses for schools and education. However, senior housing is exempt from such fees. But, the senior home population places a greater demand on emergency services than other parts of the population, Alexander said.

By the numbers

21,790 -- estimated population of senior citizens in Carroll County.

2,517 -- senior housing units approved in Carroll County since 2000.

441 -- senior housing units under review by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

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user comments (2)

user avondale says...

Your saying Carroll Lutheran Village made up 10 percent of Westminster EMS calls. What percentage of their EMS calls we related to Drug overdose? What percent of their calls were refusal or no need? You comment about an "Impact fees" does that apply to everyone or just Seniors? What percent of your Heath Insurance collection actually goes to EMS? What percentage of the Heath Insurance you collect go towards the up keep and purchase of new Fire Equipment? You comment about Senior Centers hiring paramedic. How do you expect them to do that when the Fire Departments are having difficulty hiring paramedic throughout the State.

Posted 4:27 PM, 12.31.09

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user carrollresident says...

I don't quite understand why there are no impact fees associated with senior housing units. Just another case where the young are paying more and more for the old amongst us. That is fine to a certain extent, but we've reached a saturation point and frankly, enough is enough.

Posted 1:49 PM, 01.03.10

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