Montana growing toward gray

Among all the trends for the future that businesses need to pay attention to — technology gains, workforce changes, outsourcing and the rest — the one key to future success will be tailoring business to meet the needs of an aging population.

That was the message from Bellingham, Wash.-based consultant Bob Morton, in Helena this week to speak to the annual meeting of Gateway Economic Development Corp. and in other meetings with local business leaders.

By JOHN HARRINGTON – IR Business Editor

For the full article: http://www.helenair.com/articles/2004/12/05/business/e01120504_01.txt

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Senior status: Graying of Montana stretches resources

By ALLISON FARRELL
Gazette State Bureau

Bill Ballew is 71 and living alone on East Broadway in Helena. Five days a week, the only hot meal he eats is delivered to his front door by Meals on Wheels workers.

"That’s my main meal," Ballew said. "Meals on Wheels puts out, as far as I’m concerned, excellent meals."

Ballew said he eats TV dinners on the days Meals on Wheels doesn’t come, but those meals just don’t stick with a man.

Full Article: http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2004/12/05/build/state/30-senior-status.inc

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America’s old-age boom

By The Helena IR – 12/05/04

As is often pointed out, it’s difficult to make predictions — especially about the future. But there’s one fact about the future that is inescapable. It will have a lot of old people in it.

A story in the business section of today’s newspaper reports on a presentation made in Helena last week by Bob Morton, a consultant from Washington state who urges business people to take advantage of the quickly growing market of aging customers. Today, he said, about 14 percent of the U.S. population is 65 or older. In just 20 more years, that figure will jump to 25 percent. For businesses, it will be a different world.

Full article: http://helenair.com/articles/2004/12/05/opinions_top/a04120504_01.txt

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