Increased demand fuels growth of Ohio's assisted-living industry.(Health Care Report)

Concept appears far from growing old with seniors

With assisted-living facilities popping up all over town, you might get the idea that the market's become saturated.

Think again.

The new facilities locally are simply a reflection of supply keeping up with demand, those in the industry say.

"It may be oversaturated in areas like Florida where you have more retirement-age people, but it is just beginning here, and there is room for more," said Connie Mancuso, executive director of Franklin County's newest assisted living facility, Windsor Court in Dublin. Built and furnished for approximately $6 milton, the 59,000-square-foot facility has 54 units for assisted living and 30 for Alzheimer's patients.

Indeed, those like Mancuso who say the demand is only growing have to point to only a few statistics to support their argument:

* The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) projects the number of elderly people in the U.S. living beyond the age of 85 will jump from 3 million to 12 milton between 1990 and 2040.

* Ohio's elderly over the age of 85 should reach 146,700 next year, while those 65 and over will comprise nearly 1.5 million of Ohio's projected total population of 11.2 million. By 2010, Ohio's 85 and over population will increase 27 percent and those over 95, by 37 …