The current ”0lder Americans Month” designed by President Ronald Reagan is a good time to point out some little-realized statistics on the growing ratio of senior citizens in the country. Did you know, for example, that one in every nine Americans – ll percent is 65 or older? More surprising. though. calculations presented in Congress by Rep. Ralph Ftegula. R-Ohio show that in just 20 years the number of older Americans will grow by 20 percent, and that by the year 2030 their numbers will double to 22 percent of the U. S. population. Of course. the nation d0esn’t recognize older Americans this month because of their growing numbers. The intent is to focus on the contribution ot’ this segment of the citizenry in building and defending the country in their time and contributions they still make. Countless people are working now until age 70 and beyond. President Reagan himself is 70 and many of our leaders in the legislative and judicial branches are in the older Americanscategory. Out through Middle America you’ll find numerous people in their 70’s and even 80’s operating business enterprises. Older Americans carry a big share of the burden in volunteer programs such as Foster Grandparents. Boy Scouting. and in civic. adult education and chamber of commerce leadership. If you’re interested in the arts. look about you and note the many people in their 70s and 80s still lunctioning well as musicians. artists. writers and actors. Statistics presented in the Senate indicate that H0 to 85fpercent of the older Americans are ambulatory. alert and in reasonably good health e and most own their own homes. More than 8.000 senior centers are supported by individual communities. These affirm the dignity. self-worth and independence of older persons by tapping their experience. skills and knowledge. With the life span markedly extended from former years. it’s important that “older American” planning be exerted that the energy and creativity of our seniors can be utilized effectively. As Rep. Toby Roth. RWis. said in a Congressional Record statement: “Each of us will someday face advanced age. The actions we take now to achieve a prominent social role and dignified economic conditions for the elderly will rebound directly upon us and ours.”