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They say that the only constants are change and taxes. I would add another item to this list: the census.

Since our country’s founding, the census has been taken every 10 years with the intention of counting all individuals living in the United States and logging their demographic information.

You’re probably more than familiar with how the census works — or, should I say, worked: For 2020, the census is changing. For the first time, it will be primarily conducted online.

While the census was conducted mainly on paper for hundreds of years, the 2020 census will offer U.S. citizens the opportunity to respond via the Internet for the first time. The Census Bureau hopes this method will be more efficient and ultimately reduce costs.

So next year, there will be three ways to complete the census: online, by phone or by mail. The process takes about 10 minutes and is required by law. Most households will receive a letter in the mail starting in mid-March 2020.

If people don’t respond in any of these ways, they will be visited at home by a Census Bureau employee equipped with a smartphone rather than a pen and paper. Even from home, residents will be asked to complete the questionnaires digitally, with the help of a census worker, on an iPad, laptop or smartphone.

Balancing privacy interests

The notion of an online census is certainly appropriate, given the time period in which we live. Additionally, the digital nature of the reconfigured questionnaire will make it far easier for demographic information to be stored, processed and reviewed.

However, while these benefits of the online census are evident, so too are the potential problems associated with its digitization.

First, many Americans may be anxious about what an online census means for their privacy and information security. However, the Census Bureau states it is taking measures to protect all personal data and prevent any data hacks.

Another issue is that the transition to an online census can be intimidating for some older adults who are not as easily able to navigate the Internet. In fact, for many, the switch from paper to screen may prompt them to ignore the questionnaire altogether.

However, it is very important to be counted. An undercount results in less money for schools, roads, hospitals and other public services in your area.

The purpose of the census is to ensure that all citizens receive proper representation in the House of Representatives.

Furthermore, governments at the state and federal level require data from the census to budget for social welfare programs, some of which assist older adults. And the information from the census is also used to plan local developments, such as new hospitals and housing.

Finally, the census forces us to acknowledge the ways in which our country is changing and to modify our behaviors to ensure a safe and healthy future.

An example of this that is extremely pertinent to seniors is that the United States will soon join Japan and several European countries in having more adults over the age of 65 than children.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that by 2035, people age 65 and over are expected to number 78 million, while children under age 18 will number 76.7 million. In addition, the median age of the U.S. population is expected to grow from age 38 today to age 43 by 2060.

This demographic shift leads to a host of entirely new problems: How do we manage healthcare? What do we do about the increasingly imbalanced work-dependency ratio, as now fewer young people must support a nation of older adults? How will the government continue to fund Medicaid?

This is the reality that the census is forcing us to confront. In fact, these would be great questions to consider the next time you have a conversation with a younger friend.

Where to get help

The process of filling out the census questionnaire online does not have to be intimidating. If you are struggling to complete the census, you can contact the Census Bureau’s call center at (301) 763-INFO (4636) or 1-800-923-8282 or visit ask.census.gov.

If you don’t have access to a smartphone, online response kiosks may be available at libraries, post offices or city-owned buildings.

This could also be a great opportunity for some intergenerational bonding. If your teenage friend has a knack for technology, they may be able to help you to navigate the web and access the questionnaire.

Ways to help others (for pay!)

And if you aren’t fazed by the technological aspect and are interested in helping facilitate the data collection process, there are ways for you to get involved (especially if you speak another language in addition to English).

You can take roughly 30 minutes to complete the online job application at 2020census.gov/en/jobs and be hired to a position updating maps, working as an office clerk, conducting follow-up interviews with citizens in your area and more. Most of these jobs will begin in late April 2020 and, not including some mandatory training, last a month or two.

For more information about jobs, scheduling and pay, you can call 1-855-562-2020 or visit 2020census.gov/en/jobs.

Whether you are choosing to play your part in the census by simply participating or by lending a working hand, you can be proud to take part in a process that goes back hundreds of years and, hopefully, goes forward many hundreds more.

And when you next encounter your younger friend, take some time to discuss the pros and cons of the census-taking process, the transition from paper to digital questionnaires, and the ways in which the census benefits our country.