Realtors such as Ron Kroeger of Coldwell Banker see a trend of people moving to the area to retire, though it isn't only people over the traditional retirement age of 65.

"There's a lot of what I would consider young people moving here to retire, people in their 50s," he said.

Kroeger works with homebuilders often, and many of them are building more single-level homes to accommodate the aging population - homes that have few, if any, stairs.

"It's more of what people are asking for. Over the last few years, they've found people want main-floor-type of stuff," he said.

As far as homebuying, Kroeger said, retirees' tastes run the gamut from single level to townhomes, and everything in between.

"It all depends on the individual. The ones I've had, I can't think of one of them that wanted the same thing," he said.

With the percentage of people older than 65 expected to double in the next 20 years, according to U.S. Census Bureau studies, Rapid City professionals and organizations are taking steps to cater to an aging population.

Charitable groups

Renee Parker, director of the United Way of the Black Hills, said one of the challenges for United Way agencies will be to help seniors remain in their own homes longer.

"Once they go in a nursing home, it is extremely expensive. Very quickly, their resources are depleted, and they're right on Medicaid, which will be very costly," she said.

"The more services we can provide in the home, and the longer we can delay people going into a nursing home, the better that will be for everybody."

Some of the current programs include home health care, Meals on Wheels and Senior Companions, which matches seniors with other seniors who may need assistance with making meals, shopping or transportation to the doctor.

Parker is not concerned about a dip in donations as more people retire.

Though older people tend to give more, because they can, Parker said she is amazed at the number of young people who donate. She believes the younger generation will step up and fill the need.

Civic center

Brian Maliske, general manager of Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, said changing demographics led to the current practice of booking shows for more mature audiences.

Maliske said the change in marketing has been gradual over the past several years, but it is noticeable.

He said the civic center gears more shows toward people in their mid-30s to mid-50s, because that group is the biggest and typically has the most disposable income.

"When we do go out and book shows, we do look at the demographics and who's buying tickets," he said.

"With the aging of our community, we're seeing more disposable income coming from a more mature group because there's more of them."

Though geared toward compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the civic center is planning to modify its theater to be more accessible, something that will also help seniors with mobility problems.

A consultant is currently reviewing the theater and will likely recommend seating, stair and ramp modifications.

Rapid Transit

Rich Sagen, Rapid Transit division manager for the city, said most people can access the fixed route bus service. Those who can't because of a disability take advantage of the Dial-A-Ride service, which is a curb-to-curb or door-to-door service.

"It's not specifically an age driven service. It's based on disability," Sagen said.

"But it just happens that, as the population ages, a lot can develop those kinds of conditions."

Sagen said the service has grown considerably over the past several years and now has a database of 3,000 individuals certified to use the service.

Not all are elderly or retirement age, but many people with disabilities are elderly, and as the population ages, he expects more people to apply.

Regional Hospital

Rita Haxton, vice president of patient-care services at Rapid City Regional Hospital, said the top need identified in patient surveys is more private rooms, something the hospital is addressing by building additional private rooms on a floor in the hospital.

Haxton believes private rooms are an expectation of the baby boom generation, but private rooms also help control infection.

In addition to health care and facility growth, the hospital also wants to ensure that older workers have a quality work environment and can keep working longer at the hospital to fill a work-force need as the hospital serves more patients.

Many hospital employees are older than 65, Haxton said, and she doesn't want to lose that source of knowledge and experience.

"That's one of the things that I think we're also focusing on with regard to the baby boomer generation. You cannot just look at, 'How am I going to care for them when they're sick?' but, 'How am I going use their skills and abilities longer?'" she said.

Flexible scheduling is probably the biggest way the hospital helps older workers continue to stay on the job.

Haxton said the hospital allows workers to cut back on hours worked per week and also allows working shorter shifts than the standard 12 hours.

Keeping people on the job is important for an around-the-clock profession.

"It works for people who are getting older and still want to work, but it also works for the people who are younger and have children and want to work part-time," Haxton said.

Contact Scott Aust at 394-8415, or scott.aust@rapidcityjournal.com.