A Look at Some Harbor Village Relevant Facts

WE ARE GETTING OLDER.  In Benton County, 26.8% of the population is over age 62 compared to 15.9% for the state overall.  Benton County has the second highest aging population (65 and older) in Missouri totaling 30%.

WE ARE GROWING.  The County has experienced a 35% growth rate from 1990 to 2006. It is expected to grow at least another 10% by 2010. Many of those residents are older citizens as the median age for Benton County is 45.6 as compared to 37.4 for the State.

WE ARE A GREAT PLACE TO RETIRE AND LIVE. The Truman Lake and Lake of the Ozark area is becoming a Mecca for retirees. Many are drawn to Benton County as it offers numerous and immediate access to both lakes. Many Missouri residents of all ages enjoy the area’s recreational opportunities. Once Missourians retire, they find they are able to devote more time to their pastimes such as hunting and fishing in a very economical area yet remain within driving distance of friends and family.

WE COULD LOSE SOME WEIGHT. The 2007 Missouri Senior Health Report, published by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, indicates that 41 percent of individuals 65 years of age or older in Benton County are overweight and that 20 percent have diabetes, in both instances the percentage is higher than for Missouri as a whole.

WE NEED HEALTH SERVICES BUT DON'T ALWAYS GET TREATMENT. The 10 year age adjusted death rate for self inflicted injuries in Benton County is 23.2 per 100,000 individuals, compared to Missouri at 14.7.  Although inpatient hospitalizations for mental disorders for the same 10 year period (1996-2006) was only 80.8 per 10,000 compared to the state rate of 117.5, it is believed that individuals are not seeking treatment for mental health disorders.

WE KNOW THAT AGING AND POVERTY IMPACTS ONE'S STATE OF MIND.  A significant statistic is the rate of suicide for Benton County. From 1996 to 2006, Benton County ranks in the first quintile of Missouri counties as the highest in suicides.

WE ARE NOT INSURED. The percentage of uninsured people is 28.5 in Benton County, much higher than for Missouri at 12.3. The uninsured live sicker and die younger than those with insurance. They forego preventive care and seek health care at more advanced stages of disease. As a result society then bears these costs through lower productivity, increased rates of communicable diseases, and higher insurance premiums.