Co Cond nducting Commu Communi nity Ne Needs ds Assessmen ments: Planning for the growing older population Jan Mutchler, PhD Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging Gerontology Institute University of Massachusetts Boston Massachusetts Council on Aging Membership Meeting 2015 February 6, 2015 Conducting Needs Assessments | October 3, 2012
Outline of Today’s Presentation: ▸ What is a needs assessment? ▸ How can a needs assessment be helpful to a Council on Aging? ▸ Steps in a needs assessment ▸ Developing data for a needs assessment
What is a needs assessment? ▸ ”Needs assessment is the process of identifying needs, prioritizing them, making needs-based decisions, allocating resources, and implementing actions in organizations to resolve problems underlying important needs .” • Mertens & Wilson, 2012
How Can a Needs Assessment be Helpful to a Council on Aging? ▸ Provide backdrop for planning ▸ Achieve internal goals ▸ Achieve external goals
8 Steps for Conducting a Needs Assessment Identify parameters S1 S1 Identify needed information Determine what information exists already S1 Design methods/instruments S2 S2 Collect/analyze data Prepare report S3 Obtain stakeholder feedback S3 Formal dissemination S3
Pre-assessment: Stage 1 ▸ Understand WHY you are conducting a needs assessment ▸ Broad and informative, or targeted to a specific goal ▸ Develop a roadmap and timeline for the process ▸ Accept that this will change and be delayed ▸ Identify areas of concern or potential barriers ▸ Develop strategies about how to overcome them ▸ Promote Awareness
Assessment: Stage 2 Demographic overview Sample Asset map survey Potential components of a needs Community Community assessment Forum comparison Key Focus groups informant interviews
Some sources of demographic data ▸ U.S. Census Bureau ▸ Decennial census ▸ American Community Survey ▸ Other organizations that generate projections ▸ Donahue Institute at UMass ▸ Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC ) ▸ Organizations that package demographic data from these and other sources ▸ MAPC ▸ http://mahealthyagingcollaborative.org/data- report/explore-the-profiles/
Using demographic data ▸ Opportunities and examples: ▸ Data from the decennial Census (latest was 2010) for every community: age, race, sex, household composition, owner occupied residence ▸ Data from the American Community Survey (conducted annually). Available every year in one- year files (for the largest communities); in three year files (for medium-sized communities) and in five year files (for small communities)
Source: 2010 Census of Population
Growth of older population for Hingham, 2000-2010 Population Population % growth 2010 2000 All ages 22,157 19,882 11% Age 50-59 3,299 2,989 10% Age 60-79 4,020 2,872 40% Age 80+ 1,715 828 107%
Growth in the number of residents by age group, 2000-2010, Littleton 50% 45% 38% 40% 37% 37% 30% 20% 9% 10% 0% -3% -10% Total all Under age Age 50-59 Age 60+ Age 60-79 Age 80+ ages 50 Source: 2010 and 2000 Census, Summary File 1, Table QT-P1
Springfield: Change in number of residents age 60+, by race and ethnicity (2000-2010) 120% 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% All age 60+ White non- Black non-Hispanic Hispanic -20% Hispanic -40% Source: 2000 and 2010 Census of Population
Source: 2010 Census of Population
Source: Donahue Institute, University of Massachusetts
Source: Donahue Institute, University of Massachusetts
In Falmouth, seniors are expected to make up nearly half of the population 25,000 Under age 60 20,000 15,000 10,000 Age 60 and older 5,000 0 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 Source: 1980-2010 Census of Population; Donahue Institute (2020-2030)
Some features of population composition, from the U.S. Census Bureau website
Percent of homeowners who are age 60+ Newton 42% Hingham 40% Boston 32% Falmouth 55% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% Source: 2008-12 American Community Survey
Percentage with disability among residents age 65+ 45% 40% 41% 35% 34% 30% 25% 23% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Barnstable Brockton Massachusetts
Percentage of 65+ residents with an independent living disability* 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Barnstable Chicopee Cambridge Plymouth Worcester *having difficulty doing errands alone, such as Source: 2008-2012 American visiting a doctor’s office or shopping Community Survey
Median household income in Worcester $50,000 $44,580 $40,000 $25,955 $30,000 $20,000 $10,000 $0 Householder 65+ All householders
Springfield Fall River Source: 2008-2012 American Community Survey
Percentage in Linguistically Isolated Households, Boston 25% 20% 19% 20% 15% Age 45-59 12% Age 60-79 Age 80+ 10% 5% 0%
Conducting a Survey ▸ Establishing scope of the survey ▸ What is the purpose of your assessment? ▸ What information do you already have? ▸ What information will you obtain some other way? ▸ Prioritize your needs for information and keep your focus
Conducting a Survey ▸ Creating a questionnaire ▸ Harvest questions from existing questionnaires ▸ Plan how you will use every question asked ▸ Think about your respondents when designing the questionnaire ▸ Consider typeface and white space ▸ Do not make it too long ▸ Ask only one question at a time ▸ Pilot your questionnaire with appropriate respondents
Conducting a Survey ▸ Choose a means of distribution ▸ Mailing or other hard-copy delivery ▸ Telephone ▸ Online ▸ In-person ▸ To sample or not to sample?
Conducting a Survey ▸ From responses to data ▸ Confidentiality ▸ Analyzing the data ▸ Making sense of the responses
Percentage Feeling Sad or Depressed in the Past Month Boomers 24% 6% Seniors 23% 4% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% Sometimes Often or always
Difficulty Providing Care for Disabled Adults (among caregivers) Boomers 68% 17% 15% Seniors 37% 36% 27% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Very or somewhat difficult Neither difficult nor easy Somewhat or very easy
Driving Involvement Age 80+ 21% 56% 23% Do not drive Modified driving Drive without modification Age 60-79 5% 44% 51% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Percentage Willing to Pay a Nominal Fee to Participate in Senior Center Programs and Activities 90% 86% 85% Senior Center 80% participants Senior Center 75% nonparticipants 73% 70% 65%
Support for Tax Work-off Program in the Community (Respondents 60+) 50% 47% 45% 40% 35% 30% 27% 25% 18% 20% 15% 10% 5% 3% 5% 0% Strongly Oppose Neither favor Favor Strongly favor oppose nor oppose
“What are your greatest concerns about staying in your community as you grow older?” ▸ “I live on $1,317 a month Social Security check. My car is 16 years old. My house will need a new roof soon. I don’t know where I will get money for these things.” (Female, age 69) ▸ “How will I get around for errands and social activities when I can no longer drive?” (Female, age 52) ▸ “(I worry) that my spouse will die and leave me” (Male, age 82) ▸ “Getting mind and body to the end at the same time” (Female, age 85)
Focus groups ▸ Adding depth to survey findings ▸ Adding life to demographic results ▸ Learning about special issues or difficult-to- reach populations ▸ Obtain input from other stakeholders, such as other Town offices or organizations ▸ Hearing from the community when a survey is not practical
Organizing a focus group ▸ Prepa epare who, where, when, and why ▸ Develop prompts and follow-ups ▸ Aim for groups of 6-10; sessions 60-90 minutes long ▸ Bring a note-taker or record the event ▸ Bring food ▸ Attempt to hear from everyone in the room ▸ Attempt to keep the conversation focused on the subject at hand (for the most part) ▸ Respect time limits ▸ Allow time afterward for the team to review notes and transcripts, discuss, and draw conclusions
Focus group prompts ▸ NOT ▸ “Do you think your department works well with the Council on Aging?” ▸ BETTER ▸ “Tell me about your department’s experience with the Council on Aging”
Post-Assessment: Stage 3 ▸ Dissemination of results ▸ Printed and/or electronic report ▸ Public presentations ▸ News articles ▸ Fact sheet
Concluding Thoughts ▸ Be clear about the PURPOSE of your assessment ▸ Have a detailed timeline and roadmap of the process ▸ Build in extra time ▸ Create awareness in the community ▸ Consider research partners ▸ Determine appropriate sources of data ▸ Stay realistic ▸ NEED versus WANT
Thank you! Jan E. Mutchler: jan.mutchler@umb.edu http://www.umb.edu/demographyofaging
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