Age & Dementia Friendly Cape Ann: A regional needs assessment

This report describes research undertaken by the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, on behalf of SeniorCare, Inc. (hereafter referred to as SeniorCare), to learn about the age- and dementia-friendliness of the region of Cape Ann, including the Massachusetts municipalities of Essex, Gloucester, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Rockport. The contents of this report are intended to inform SeniorCare for the purposes of planning and implementing the Age & Dementia Friendly Cape Ann (ADFCA) Initiative. The ADFCA Initiative builds on ten Areas of Focus, which are essential components of a livable community derived from the Age- and Dementia-Friendly frameworks. These ten Areas of Focus include housing, transportation, outdoor spaces and buildings, respect and social inclusion, communication and information, community and business supports, social participation, civic participation and employment, healthcare and continuum of care, and legal and advanced planning. The purpose of the research described here was to assess Cape Ann assets and gaps in each of the ten Areas of Focus, for seniors and individuals with cognitive impairment. Data for the study were drawn from several sources, including publicly available information obtained through the U.S. Census Bureau and the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative, as well as data collected expressly for this study. Primary data collection included four community forums, one forum conducted in each of the four communities of Cape Ann; nine key informant interviews with community leaders, including Council on Aging directors and municipal leaders representing each of the four communities; and four focus groups, including residents, caregivers, and key stakeholders who serve Cape Ann

Envisioning a Watertown for All Ages

Watertown for All Ages is a group of residents working to improve the livability of Watertown for residents of all ages and abilities. They work closely with the Watertown Council on Aging/Senior Center. The Watertown Council on Aging/Senior Center provides a variety of social, health, educational, recreational, advocacy, and support programs designed to help Watertown’s older adults age well in the community. Services provided to seniors living in the community range from transportation support to nutrition services and social services, along with a range of programs and activities meant to enhance well-being and quality of life. Similar to many Councils on Aging, the Watertown COA also provides leadership in the community, as the community as a whole addresses the growing number and changing needs of senior residents. As a means of learning more about community concerns and values relating to aging in place, the Watertown Senior Center arranged a public forum to be held at the Watertown Free Public Library in cooperation with the resident-led community organization Watertown for All Ages. This event was held on November 30th, 2017 at 6:30PM. The forum was moderated by Caitlin Coyle, PhD, from the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Claire Wickersham, a doctoral student in Gerontology at UMass Boston, served as note-taker. The purpose of these forums was to introduce the community to the age-friendly community framework, as outlined by the World Health Organization; to present selected demographic features of Watertown relevant to planning for an age-friendly future; and to elicit input from the community about Watertown as a community in which to age in place. The purpose of this document is to report on each of these elements of the forums

Town of Needham: Center at the Heights Planning Study

This report describes research undertaken by the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston and the Institute for Human Centered Design (IHCD), on behalf of the Town of Needham’s Department of Health & Human Services. The purpose of this study is to identify the aspects of the programming and environment that can be adjusted to ensure that, according to the Mission of the Needham Council on Aging, a “welcoming, inclusive, and secure” environment is maintained for Needham residents. This study was conducted over the course of 10 weeks (April 2020-June 2020). At this time, the world was responding to the global COVID-19 pandemic; as a result, nearly all activities associated with this project were done remotely. A demographic profile was completed, based on existing, publicly available data about Needham from the US Census Bureau and projections from the Donahue Institute at the University of Massachusetts and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC). Two tours of the Center at the Heights (CATH) were completed—one via video conferencing and one building survey that was conducted in-person by partners from ICHD. The project included a web-based survey of residents age 60 and older. In May of 2020, all residents age 60 or older received a postcard inviting them to participate in the online survey. The survey generated a total of 679 responses from residents in this age category (18 responses came from residents younger than 60). Two focus groups were conducted via video conferencing with staff of the CATH and board members from the Council on Aging. These conversations provided first-hand accounts of the ways in which the spaces are used. Finally, peer community interviews were conducted with directors of five senior centers that have recently undergone a building design process and could provide their experiences and suggestions for how to capitalize the use and benefit of newly constructed space

Cairing4Carlisle: A Community Health Needs Assessment

Caring4Carlisle (C4C) is a community initiative aimed at addressing the social, emotional, spiritual and physical health of Carlisle residents. Community Health Network Areas (CHNAs) were created by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health in 1992. There are 27 CHNAs in the Commonwealth, and Carlisle belongs to CHNA 15. In July of 2016, Carlisle was awarded a planning grant ($20,000) from CHNA 15 to engage in a community needs assessment process with the intention of identifying priority community health needs to be addressed in Carlisle. The Carlisle Board of Health served as the lead Town Department with the Gleason Public Library, the Council on Aging, and the Planning Board named as essential partners. In addition, a C4C Steering Committee was assembled with the purpose of guiding the public health initiative in Carlisle beyond the initial phase of assessing community health needs towards taking action to address these needs. The C4C Steering Committee includes residents, community stakeholders, and Town staff. The leaders of the C4C project agreed to seek professional consultation for the data collection and analysis aspects of the needs assessment project. The Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging at the Gerontology Institute of UMass Boston (UMB) was awarded the contract in August 2016

Wenham Connects: An age and dementia friendly needs assessment

Wenham is a small residential community of approximately 5,000 residents located about 22 miles north of Boston. Public transit access to downtown Boston located in the neighboring town of Hamilton provides access to employment and recreational activities outside of the town’s boundaries. In addition, Wenham is home to abundant green space (e.g., wetland systems and Wenham Lake) that provide residents with opportunities to enjoy the natural beauty of the area. The Wenham Council on Aging (COA)is a municipal department designed to serve the needs of Wenham’s residents age 60 and older. It is responsible for advocating on behalf of Wenham’s older adults and with enriching their lives by providing social, financial and health programs and services. The COA relies on a combination of Town funds, grants, user fees, donations, and volunteer services. The Wenham Senior Center serves as the hub through which COA programs and services are delivered, some of which are available to residents of all ages, including selected transportation services, access to information and referral services, and volunteer opportunities. Currently, 20% of Wenham’s population is age 60 and older. It is expected that older adults will continue to make up a significant portion of the community in the coming years. Commissioned by the Wenham COA, this report will serve to help the COA and Town to better understand Wenham’s current assets, potentials, and challenges, and to plan for changing town and community needs. In June of 2018, Wenham was accepted into AARP’s network of Age-Friendly Communities. The Wenham COA has taken the lead in planning for Age-friendly designation and will use the contents of this report to guide the development of an Age-Friendly Action Plan. Further, the COA and the Town have recognized the importance of discerning the specific needs of residents living with dementia and their families in this work. As a result, they have been intentional about the inclusion of residents living with dementia and their families in the initiative. This initiative is referred to as Wenham Connects. At the request of Jim Reynolds, Director of the Wenham COA, and with the financial support of the Town of Wenham (via reallocation of Community Compact funds), CSDRA was contracted to conduct a demographic profile of the community, key informant interviews, and focus groups to draw upon insights from the community about current ways in which Wenham is already an age-friendly community, and suggest areas in which it could improve. This report is the result of that process

An Assessment of Veteran’s Services in the Town of Natick, MA

UMass Boston’s Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging, and the William Joiner Institute for the Study of War and Social Consequences agreed to assist the Council on Aging and the Veterans Service Office for the Town of Natick to assess the current situation, services, and current and future needs of veterans and their families. This study includes identifying the priority veteran service needs and addressing the challenges to find effective ways to reach more Natick veterans of different eras and sociodemographic backgrounds so they can access needed and desired services, programs, and activities

Aging in Holliston: A Community Needs Assessment

This report describes research undertaken by the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging (CSDRA) within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, on behalf of the Holliston Council on Aging (COA). The goals of this project were to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of Holliston’s residents age 55 or older by engaging the community regarding their experiences and needs relevant to the COA’s objective to identify and serve the needs of all Holliston citizens 55 and older. The contents of this report are meant to inform the Town of Holliston, the Holliston COA, Senior Center, and organizations that work with and on behalf of older residents of Holliston for the purposes of COA mission fulfillment alongside planning and coordination of services for current and future needs of residents. The report will also help to build awareness about issues facing Holliston among community members at large. The population of Holliston is comprised of about one quarter older adults (24%); and an additional 16% age 50-59 are expected to move into this demographic within the next few years. This central, overarching observation—that the older population of Holliston is already large and will continue to expand—makes clear the importance of considering how well features of the Town, the services and amenities available, and virtually every aspect of the community align with the age demographic moving forward. In preparing for this demographic shift, the Holliston Council on Aging and the Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging at the University of Massachusetts Boston partnered to conduct a study to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of the Town’s residents age 55 and older. As part of this assessment, we conducted interviews and focus groups to hear from Holliston leadership, key stakeholders in the community, and specific cohorts of residents. In addition, a survey was developed and administered to Holliston residents age 55 and older. A total of 1,332 questionnaires was returned, reflecting a strong return rate of 26%. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau and other sources were examined in support of the project aims. A broad range of findings are reported in this document, highlighting the many positive features of Holliston as well as concerns expressed by older residents. The report is intended to inform planning by the Holliston COA as well as other Town offices, private and public organizations that provide services and advocate for older people within Holliston, and the community at large. While many of our findings, and the recommendations that follow, intersect with the scope of responsibility of the Holliston Council on Aging, it is understood that responding to many needs and concerns expressed in the community will require the involvement of other municipal offices or community stakeholders, and some will require substantial collaborative effort

Aging in Eastham: A Community Needs Assessment

This report describes research undertaken by the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, on behalf of the Eastham Council on Aging. The goals of this project were to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of Eastham’s residents age 50 or older. The contents of this report are meant to inform the Town of Eastham, the Eastham Council on Aging and Senior Center, and organizations that work with and on behalf of older residents of Eastham for the purposes of planning and coordination of services. The report will also help to build awareness about issues facing Eastham among community members at large

Aging in Reading, Massachusetts: A community needs assessment

This report describes collaborative efforts undertaken by the Town of Reading’s Elder and Human Services Division and the Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging, within the Gerontology Institute at the McCormack Graduate School, University of Massachusetts Boston. During Spring 2017, these organizations partnered to conduct a study to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of the Town’s older resident population, with respect to living and aging in Reading

Live Peabody: An Age-Friendly Action Plan

The vision of the Live Peabody Initiative is to inspire change in the City of Peabody so that residents of all ages and abilities can thrive. The success of this initiative is dependent on the involvement of a dedicated and passionate group of residents and stakeholders that will proactively spearhead this age-friendly effort. These individuals will actively collaborate with civic, business and non-profit organizations as well as state and local government officials to heighten awareness of the age-friendly movement and implementation of the action items outlines in this report—all to spur positive change for the City of Peabody. This report signifies a milestone in the continued efforts and calls for community involvement in the age-friendly process to improve the quality of life for Peabody residents across generations