An analysis of the services provided to senior citizens and residents age 50 and up in Rapid City shows a need for improved transportation, affordable single-level housing and better neighborhood shopping opportunities as areas in need of improvement.

The University of South Dakota conducted the study, using telephone surveys and focus groups, and presented the findings to the city council. Both the Power Point presentation and the full report are attached to this post.

Research participants identified three areas as exceeding the need for seniors in the community: Read more »

South Dakota is aging faster than the nation as a whole, with 14.3 percent of the state's population over age 65 compared to 13 percent nationally, according to a report from iGrow, a service of South Dakota State University Extension. (The full report is attached to this post.)

By 2035, the counties of Campbell, Custer, Fall River, Gregory, Haakon, Jerauld, McPherson, Perkins, Potter and Walworth are expected to have 1 in 10 people over the age of 85. Read more »

Rapid City's senior citizens report trouble getting medical care, finding transportation and housing and recreation opportunities in a recent survey conducted by the University of South Dakota.

This Rapid City Journal article quotes Sandy Diegel of the John T. Vucurevich Foundation saying there is a need for centralized information that seniors can access. Read more »

According the US Census Bureau, South Dakota is growing faster than the nation as a whole and the Black Hills region is one of the fastest growing parts of South Dakota. In addition, South Dakota is becoming older and more racially diverse. The Rapid City Journal article reports that by 2020 South Dakotans older than 65 will exceed the number of 5-17 year-olds.  In 1960 only 4 percent of South Dakotans were persons of color. Read more »

The Daisy House has openings in Spearfish and provides physical and mental rehabilitation to clients, the Black Hills Pioneer reports.

The non-profit facility is designed to support caregivers and allow adults to remain independent or with family members as an alternative to institutional or nursing home care.

Read more about the Daisy House and South Dakota Cares at this website.

Spearfish schools have reported that there has been an increase in student enrollment numbers, according to the BH Pioneer.

For the full article, click here.

The Milken Institute has used a series of indicators to determine America's best communities for retirees and aging. Rapid City ranks 10th for small metro communities, while Sioux Falls ranks first. Read more »

The median age in the Black Hills region varies from county to county. The two most populous counties, Pennington, and Meade, have median ages of 38.8 and 35.9, in line with the national median age of 37.5.

The county with the oldest population is Fall River, with a median age of 50.5 and 23.1 percent of its citizens over the age of 65. Shannon County has the youngest population with a median 23.5 and 45.5 percent of its population under the age of 21.