Aging Population: Recent HeadlinesAging Population: Recent Headlineshttp://www.understandingvt.org/aging-population-recent-headli/2008-10-09T16:47:19ZSquarespaceBennington battery plant celebrates zero-mercury hearing aid batterieshttp://www.understandingvt.org/aging-population-recent-headli/2008/10/9/bennington-battery-plant-celebrates-zero-mercury-hearing-aid.htmlVCF Staff2008-10-09T16:42:29Z2008-10-09T16:42:29ZThe Bennington Banner reports that "Energizer celebrated its 'first-in-the-world' mercury free button cell battery at its Bennington plant Wednesday, marking the company's engineering feat by donating the new product used in hearing aids to local seniors" with the Bennington Project Independence program. To date, "Energizer is the only battery maker in the world to offer zero-mercury hearing aid batteries. The company said the breakthrough in technology is the result of newproduct design, purer raw materials and a new manufacturing process." Notably, "the zero-mercury battery comes two years ahead of the date set by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association to completely remove mercury from hearing aid batteries. The technology is a patented company secret, but if other battery manufacturers develop their own mercury-free batteries, several tons of mercury would be removed from circulation." The plant in Bennington "will be the sole site producing the battery."
]]>'Meals' volunteers feel the fuel pinchhttp://www.understandingvt.org/aging-population-recent-headli/2008/10/9/meals-volunteers-feel-the-fuel-pinch.htmlVCF Staff2008-10-09T16:40:12Z2008-10-09T16:40:12ZThe Bennington Banner reports that the Bennington Meals Program, which delivers free hot meals to residents age 60 or older, may be effected by fuel costs this year. Notably, the organization "depends primarily on volunteers using their own vehicles to deliver food to meal sites and private homes in Bennington County," and finance manager Peter Noyes "expects fuel costs to possibly decrease the twice-per-week deliveries to certain meal sites to once per week." Last year "gasoline prices cost the program $20,000." That money reimbursed volunteer drivers at 37 cents per mile, "but the program's board of directors is working to raise that amount." Noyes said that "the 2008 fiscal year would see 50,000 meals served which is 5,000 more than the year before." He was not sure if the increase is due to the rise in the cost of living or not.
]]>Vt., N.H. Birth Rate Lowest in the Nationhttp://www.understandingvt.org/aging-population-recent-headli/2008/8/21/vt-nh-birth-rate-lowest-in-the-nation.htmlVCF Staff2008-08-21T20:07:47Z2008-08-21T20:07:47ZWCAX News reports that a report by the U.S. census bureau has found that " the birth rate in New Hampshire and Vermont was 42 births per 1,000 women," lower than the national average of 55 births per 1,000 women. The findings suggest that both states have the
lowest fertility rate in the nation. "Vermont officials worry the low
birth rate could threaten to shrink the state's work force. The median age of Vermont's work force is just over 42-years-old, the highest in the nation."
Link to article]]>Census shows Vermont population is aginghttp://www.understandingvt.org/aging-population-recent-headli/2008/8/7/census-shows-vermont-population-is-aging.htmlVCF Staff2008-08-07T16:18:04Z2008-08-07T16:18:04ZVermont Public Radio reports that according to new U.S. Census figures, "Vermont's population is aging and slowing becoming more diverse." Indeed, "the median age rose in each of the state