Decade at a Glance: Tinley's Senior Population Grows 3 Times Faster Than Average

It's no coincidence that the local senior center is bustling these days.

"It comes and goes, but oh yes, it's picked up," said Marge Weiner, a member of the commission for the . "We've lost a lot of people who were in their 90s … But I know we do have a lot of older adults here in town."

She's right. But it's not just here. The country's demographic of seniors has grown faster over the past decade than the total U.S. population—a trend that has been more than mirrored by your local .

Between 2000 and 2010, the nation's population of those 65 years old and older grew 15.1 percent, while the total U.S. population grew 9.7 percent, according to data released last month by the U.S. Census Bureau. The charts show an even greater disparity in .

In 2000, seniors made up 10.7 percent the local head count, which at the time was 48,401. The bureau's 2010 stats show that the 65 and older population now makes up about 13.3 percent of Tinley's 56,703-person population.

That jump from 5,179 to 7,528 is an increase of a whopping 45 percent — about triple the national average.

Representatives at a regional organization for older adults said there are several explanations for the influx. AgeOptions is one of 13 area agencies on aging in Illinois and one of 600 in the U.S. The Oak Park-based group connects older adults with resources and care. It serves all of Suburban Cook County, including Tinley Park.

"For one thing, people are living longer and they're aging in place," said Diane Slezak, chief operating officer and vice president at AgeOptions. "Generally, the inner ring suburbs and the city of Chicago are the oldest. The core of the older population is living closest to the lake where people first settled."

The "phenomenon" of the quickly growing senior population radiates out from the center of Chicago and into the outer-ring suburbs she said. Census Bureau statistics show that the ripple effect just reached Tinley Park in the last decade.

"It's a pattern that you see very uniformly as you move outward," Slezak said.

AgeOptions Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Lavin said the concept that the population branches out from the city is key to understanding an increase in the Southland. 

"The fact that people who were in these suburbs to begin with are now older is noteworthy," he said. "You also have to add in the fact that they have their own aunts and uncles, brothers and cousins who move in to either be near them or provide care."

Another contributing factor, Slezak said, is of course, the Baby Boomer generation. The latest census includes the first cluster of that group.

"We just saw the very front edge sliver of Baby Boomers," she said, adding that those born in 1946 are considered the first wave of the generation. "The largest cohort of Baby Boomers was born in 1950 but because of when the census was taken, we only saw a small portion show up."

Weiner said the local senior center often gets visits from Baby Boomers. She noted that the organization serves adults who are 55 years old and older.

"We get new members in at least a couple times a week," she said, adding that the center is only open two days a week. "We have about 280 members here."

As the demographic continues to grow in our nation's communities, Lavin says it will become more and more visible. Today, 19.25 percent, or about 1 in 5 Cook County residents are 60 years old or older, he said.

"Older people have a big impact on a community," he said. "Think about those who need protective services ... or the public health, social service and police-type resources that older people need. That can change things on a local level, in terms of the role of a municipality."

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