Age-Friendly Boston: Assessing need and charting a course of action

Boston’s population of residents age 60 and older is rapidly growing in size as well as racial and ethnic diversity. In response to these demographic features and as a means of assuring Boston’s commitment to current and future older residents, Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced in 2014 that the City of Boston would join the World Health Organization’s Age-Friendly Cities Network, in cooperation with the Massachusetts AARP. Boston’s Age-Friendly Initiative promotes eight domains of age-friendliness: outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment, communication and information, and community supports and health services. In this report, we describe the needs assessment portion of the age-friendly transformation process

Mapping Boston\u27s Assets to Improve Livability for Older Adults: Boston\u27s Age Friendly Community Initiative; and Building Bonds to Last a Lifetime: Creating Community among Beverly’s Aging Population

The Boston Age Friendly Community Initiative is working with the City of Boston to document a comprehensive and inclusive baseline assessment of needs within domains that influence health and quality of life of older adults. In a separate project, UMass Boston worked with the City of Beverly Council on Aging and Senior Center to develop a database that would allow the Senior Center to locate and contact both new and long-time resident seniors in the hopes of building a better relationship with them

Aging in Falmouth: Assessing current and future needs of our aging population

This report describes the collaborative efforts undertaken by the Town of Falmouth Council on Aging Senior Center and the Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging, within the McCormack Graduate School at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Beginning in Spring 2013, these organizations joined to conduct a needs assessment to investigate the needs, interests, preferences and opinions of the Town’s older resident population, with respect to aging in Falmouth. The focus of this report is on two cohorts of Falmouth residents—those aged 45 to 59 (referred to as “Boomers”), and the cohort of individuals who are currently aged 60 and over (“Seniors”)

Aging in Place in Marion: A Community Endeavor

This report describes collaborative efforts undertaken by the Friends of the Marion Council on Aging (FMCOA) and the Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging, within the McCormack Graduate School at the University of Massachusetts Boston (UMass Boston). Beginning in Fall 2014, these organizations partnered to conduct a study to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of the Town’s older resident population, and the priorities of other stakeholders in the Town, with respect to living and aging in Marion. In the earliest phase of the project, we met several times with members of the FMCOA to discuss and better understand their concerns about current and future aging-related needs of the Town and their evaluation goals. We used information gathered at these meetings to develop a research plan to systematically address the questions and issues that arose. During this assessment, multiple research methods were used. We began the process by examining public data from the U.S. Census Bureau to describe basic demographic characteristics, as well as economic traits, living situations, and disability status of older people living in the Town. We also conducted three focus groups to obtain feedback from multiple stakeholders, including representatives from municipal departments, private organizations, and older residents themselves. Finally, we conducted a comparison of Councils on Aging in five municipalities that are similar to Marion in order to assess how needs of older adults are met in other communities. Collectively, the contents of this report are intended to inform planning by the Marion Council on Aging (COA), other offices within the Town, and organizations that provide services to and who advocate for Marion’s older residents

Aging in Scituate: An Assessment of Services and Programs for Our Community

This report describes collaborative efforts undertaken by the Town of Scituate and its Council on Aging (COA), and the Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Beginning in Summer 2014, these organizations partnered to conduct a needs assessment study to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of the Town’s older resident population, with respect to living and aging in Scituate. The focus of this report is on two cohorts of Scituate residents—those aged 45 to 59 (referred to as “Boomers”), and the cohort of individuals who are currently aged 60 and over (“Seniors”). During this assessment, multiple research methods were utilized to create a multidimensional overview of the Town’s older residents that could be used to plan and implement current and future services for older adults in Scituate. We began the process by examining public data from the U.S. Census Bureau to describe basic demographic characteristics, as well as economic traits, disability status, and living situations of older people living in the community. Early in the project we met with the Town Administrator, the Director of the COA, and members of the Steering Committee of the COA developed for this project to discuss their concerns about current and future aging-­‐related needs of the Town. We used information gathered through these conversations to develop the main research instrument—a resident survey, administered to a sample of residents from both age cohorts. We also conducted a focus group to obtain insight from stakeholders who work closely with populations who are at high risk of experiencing unmet need in the community. We conducted four key informant interviews to gain input from leaders in the community who have broad experience with Scituate residents, including older adults. Finally, we conducted a comparison of Senior Centers in five municipalities to assess how needs of older adults are met in other communities. Collectively, the contents of this report are intended to inform the Town of Scituate, its COA, other offices within the Town that have a stake in helping to secure the well-­‐being of Scituate’s residents, and organizations that provide services to older people throughout the Town and region. Additionally, those who advocate for older residents and community members at large will find use for the information provided within this report

Aging in West County Communities: Coming Together to Age in Place

This report describes collaborative efforts undertaken by the Towns of Ashfield, Buckland, and Shelburne Consortium of Councils on Aging (hereafter, The Consortium) and the Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging, within the McCormack Graduate School at the University of Massachusetts Boston (hereafter, UMass Boston). Beginning in Fall 2014, these organizations partnered to conduct a study to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of older residents in communities in West Franklin County (hereafter, West County), and priorities of stakeholders who interact with older adults in various capacities. Early in the project, researchers from UMass Boston communicated with stakeholders from The Consortium to discuss and better understand their concerns about current and future aging-related needs in communities in West County. We used information gathered at these meetings to develop a research plan to systematically answer the questions that arose. During this assessment, multiple research methods were used. We began the process by examining public data from the U.S. Census Bureau to describe basic demographic characteristics, as well as economic traits, living situations, and disability status of older people living in the towns that participate in The Consortium. In addition, we examined selected census variables pertaining to six additional towns, which are potential consortium participants. Six one-on-one key informant interviews were conducted with community leaders to identify ways in which services provided to seniors in West County could be improved. We conducted two focus groups to obtain feedback from multiple stakeholders, including representatives from municipal departments, private organizations, and older residents themselves. Finally, we conducted a comparison of COAs in eight towns that are similar to those that participate in The Consortium in order to assess how needs of older adults are met in other communities. Collectively, the contents of this report are intended to inform planning by The Consortium, as well as other offices within the towns, and organizations that provide services to and who advocate for West County’s older adult residents

Aging in Barnstable: Striving for High Livability in a Cape Cod Community

This report describes collaborative efforts undertaken by the Town of Barnstable Senior 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. Beginning in Fall 2014, 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 Barnstable. The focus of this report was on two cohorts of Barnstable residents — those aged 50 to 59 (referred to as “Boomers”), and the cohort of individuals who are currently aged 60 and over (“Seniors”)

Evaluating Needs of Older Adults in Massachusetts Communities

Throughout Massachusetts, the ongoing demographic shift toward an older population has required most cities and towns to reevaluate the adequacy of services and programs for older adults. By 2030, the vast majority of municipalities in Massachusetts will have unprecedented proportions of people age 60 or over

Aging in Boston: Preparing today for a growing tomorrow

Boston’s population is becoming older than ever before. The oldest Baby Boomer is approaching 70 and reinventing what it means to be a “senior citizen.” Waves of Boomers will forge a new path into later life, creating a population of seniors that is larger and more long-lived than previous cohorts, and diverse in new ways. In 2010, more than 14% of Boston’s residents were 60 years or older, representing 88,000 older people. By 2030, projected increases in the older population will result in as many as 130,000 seniors residing in Boston. How will Boston accommodate its growing older population? What steps may promote livability for Boston residents of all ages; where residents will want to, and can expect to, age in place with security, dignity, and well-being

Assessing Current and Future Needs of Residents Aging in the Town of Andover

This report describes the collaborative efforts undertaken by the Town of Andover Division of Elder Services and the Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging, within the McCormack Graduate School at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Beginning in Fall 2014, these organizations joined to conduct a needs assessment to investigate the needs, interests, preferences and opinions of the Town’s older resident population, with respect to aging in Andover. The focus of this report is on two cohorts of Andover residents—those who are age 50 to 59 (referred to as “Boomers”) and the cohort of individuals who are currently age 60 and older (“Seniors”). Within the older cohort of Seniors, we also conducted selected analyses on subgroups (e.g., ages 60 to 79; 60 to 69; 70 to 79; and 80 and older) to highlight important differences by age group. During this assessment, several research methods were utilized in order to sketch a multidimensional image of the Town’s older residents that could be used to plan and implement current and future services for older residents in Andover. We began the process by examining public data from the U.S. Census Bureau to describe basic demographic characteristics, as well as economic characteristics, disability status, and living situations of older people in the Town. Early in the project we invited Town residents to attend a community forum, to better understand how residents perceive current and future aging-related needs of the Town. We used information gathered at this meeting to develop a survey instrument to be administered to a randomly selected sample of residents from both age cohorts. We conducted two focus groups to obtain feedback from various stakeholders who regularly interact with older residents, regarding issues and concerns about aging in Andover. We conducted interviews with four key stakeholders to acquire input from local experts on the implications of the aging population, and the functioning of the Center at Punchard. We produced three maps depicting town resources that are perceived as assets to aging in place in Andover by older adult residents. Finally, we conducted a comparison of Senior Centers in three towns that are similar to Andover to assess how needs of older adults are met in other nearby communities. Collectively, the content of this report is intended to inform the Andover Division of Elder Services and the Center at Punchard, along with other offices within the Town with a stake in the aging of Andover, and organizations that provide services to older residents, as well as those who advocate for older people, and community members at large