LifeWise Initiates Solutions By SeniorsLifeWise Community Press Releases: Jun 15, 2005
Author:Patrick Cronin pcronin@seacoastonline.com |
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Seniors begin flexing their money muscles
By Patrick Cronin pcronin@seacoastonline.com HAMPTON - Bruce A. Montville EE says it’s time for older residents of the county to wield their demographic and economic clout, and that’s why he has become the leader of Solutions by Seniors, formerly known as the Rockingham Area Committee on Aging. Montville said the group aims to be more proactive in coming up with solutions to issues of importance to seniors. "We are a serious consumer group that is seeking value and access," said Montville. "It is time to talk, to build partnerships, to find solutions." The first two items on the agenda for the group are retail discounts and public transportation. Those two items will be discussed at the group’s next two public meetings being held at the Hilton Auditorium in the Rockingham County Complex on North Road in Brentwood from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays, May 10 and June 14. "We’ve invited chamber of commerce leaders and transportation providers and planners, senior services providers and the public from the Seacoast area to join us in discussions about how we can work together to strengthen consumerism by seniors through a broad base of retail discount programs and enhanced public transportation," said Montville. Montville said the two issues go hand and hand. "While entitlement continues to be of major significance to seniors, we must re-establish ourselves with community involvement and continue to earn our value," said Montville, on why they are hosting the meeting. Montville said if retailers want to improve their sales they need to start catering to the senior population, which continues to grow rapidly in New Hampshire. According to the census, New Hampshire was home to 148,000 people older than 65 in 2000. By this year, it was projected that there will be 408,000 people older than 65 in the state, which has a total population of 1,586,000, an increase of 167 percent. In Rockingham County, Montville said seniors make up 70 percent of the wealth and 25 percent to 30 percent of the almost 250,000 population. "Senior consumers will flock to those that are known to be senior-friendly businesses," said Montville. "The growing number of seniors are more than willing to become business friendly as customer service and discounts incentives become available." Montville said the discounts that businesses give seniors would be offset by the number of seniors who would patronize their stores. And, he said, the only way seniors will flock to those businesses is if they have the transportation to get there. "The access of more transportation means more commerce," said Montville. "We’re prepared to give the business community plenty of consumer loyalty, but they have to earn it. Getting us to market certainly is a major incentive to motivate us to spend our disposable income." Montville said he doesn’t expect a solution overnight, but at least they will get people talking about it and heading in the right direction. Montville is the founder and president of LifeWise Community Project, a nonprofit organization. |
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Bruce A. Montville EE
President & CEO
President & CEO