Democratic gubernatorial candidate Scott Matheson Jr. released a 10-point plan Thursday to better serve Utah's growing elderly population, including forming a short-term "commission on aging" to come up with more specific programs.

Matheson faces Republican Jon Huntsman Jr. in the November.

Matheson's "A Pledge To Older Utahns" has some specifics, like the state joining with other states to drive down costs of prescription drugs via bulk-buy negotiations, but it also points to problems of older Utahns and says a Matheson administration will work hard to improve state services and join with local governments, mass transit operators, schools and businesses to better serve the growing number of older citizens.

His whole plan can be read at www.mathesonforgovernor.com.

Utah has, on average, the youngest population in the nation, points out Matheson, who is taking a leave of absence from being dean of the University of Utah law school to run for governor.

But "baby boomers, those who were born between 1946 and 1964, are now or will be the senior boomers," said Matheson. "Within the next 25 years, the number of Utahns age 65 and older is projected to increase by over 165 percent, growing from 180,000 to over 480,000."

The number of Utahns over age 85 has doubled since 1965 and is the fastest-growing segment of the population, he added.

That puts state and local governments and school districts in a double bind: The schools must deal with 145,000 new students over the next decade while senior citizen services will be crunched at the same time.

Matheson's 10-point plan includes: Expand access to health care for seniors while making prescription drugs more affordable; provide more options in home health care and assisted living; improve housing options; make public transportation more senior-friendly; and provide better support for elderly caregivers.

He also wants to improve end-of-life care; form a short-term commission on aging; help get qualified seniors into public education classrooms, including retired teachers who might consider going back for adequate pay and increased retirement benefits; help seniors who still want to work find re-employment after retirement; and provide better protection and public safety for seniors.

As he has on other of his election platforms, Matheson said he doesn't plan to raise taxes to pay for better senior programs.

"We need to address the cost of prescription drugs," he added. Nearly one-fourth of Utahns 55 or older spend at least $100 a month out-of-pocket on drugs. Six percent pay more than $200 a month.

Matheson said a statewide coordinated effort on such drugs for seniors should be undertaken. Utah already has some information programs, like the senior Prescription Drug Assistance Program, that help seniors buy drugs at reduced costs.

But Utah, either alone or with other states, should explore contracting with drug companies to provide bulk-buying of drugs.

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