Aging in Hingham: 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 Town of Hingham. The goals of this project were to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of Hingham’s residents aged 45 or older. The contents of this report are meant to inform the Department of Elder Services, the Hingham Council on Aging and Senior Center, and the Senior Center Building Committee that was appointed in 2020. As well, organizations that work with and on behalf of older residents of Hingham will find this information useful for the purposes of planning and coordination of services. The report will also help to build awareness about issues facing Hingham among community members at large. Substantial growth in the number of older Hingham residents has been growing. Already, more than 1 out of 4 residents of Hingham is age 60 or older. Future estimates suggest that by the year 2035, older residents will make up 39% of the community’s population. This central overarching observation—that the older population of Hingham 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 responding to this demographic shift and anticipating future growth of older residents, the Hingham Council on Aging (COA) 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 45 and older. As part of this assessment, we conducted key-informant interviews to hear from Hingham leadership. In addition, a sample survey was developed and administered to 5,000 Hingham residents age 45 and older. A total of 1,179 questionnaires was returned, reflecting a strong return rate of 24%. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau and other sources were examined in support of the project aims. Information from peer community Senior Centers was reviewed, as well. A broad range of findings are reported in this document, highlighting the many positive features of Hingham as well as concerns expressed by older residents. The report is intended to inform planning by the Hingham Senior Center as well as other Town offices, private and public organizations that provide services and advocate for older people within Hingham, and the community at large. While many of our findings, and the recommendations that follow, intersect with the scope of responsibility of the Hingham 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

It\u27s the Little Things: A Community Resource for Strengthening Social Connections

Now, more than ever, it is imperative that we prioritize connection for ourselves and the people around us. The global COVID-19 pandemic and the national reckoning with systemic racism has made people more aware and appreciative of their relationships and has made some painfully aware of how distant and disconnected they are. While the evidence is clear that social isolation is bad for health and well-being, the evidence base of solutions is far less so. Thus, this report sought to harness the energy, creativity, and progressive thinking of cities and towns in Massachusetts by documenting their efforts to keep people connected well before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold and the efforts they will sustain in the aftermath. This document is a resource of ideas about actions, big and small, that can be taken to strengthen social connections in your community. It is intended to kick-start conversation, and the ideas embedded here are meant to be adapted for your local culture. It is our hope that by equipping communities with ideas of where to start, we can begin to build strong empirical evidence for solutions that have been implemented and evaluated. So consider these ideas, generate your own, and continue to think about the work you do as a neighbor, volunteer, leader, advocate, and professional in promoting social connection for those you serve

Building an Age & Dementia Friendly Barnstable: An Action Plan

The Town of Barnstable has long-been aware of its aging population and, as a result, has initiated a number of planning processes to advance the livability of the community for all ages---this report documents the Age & Dementia Friendly planning process and associated ideas for action

Aging in Hamilton: Planning for the Future, A Community Needs Assessment

Like many communities across Massachusetts, the population in the Town of Hamilton is aging. According to projections created by the Donahue Institute at the University of Massachusetts, a trend toward an older population is expected. Donahue Institute vintage projections suggest that by 2035, more than one out of each three Hamilton residents will be age 60 or older—32% of the Town’s population will be between the ages of 60 and 79, with an additional 9% age 80 and older. As the demographics of Hamilton shift toward a population that is older and living longer, the demand for programs and services that address aging-related needs will likely increase as well. The Town’s Council on Aging serves as an important and valued resource that is a central point of contact for many older residents. Planning is necessary to ensure that the Town is adequately prepared to meet the challenges and to capitalize on opportunities that an aging population will present. In addition, it is increasingly relevant and necessary for those who provide services and amenities in the Town to recognize opportunities for collaboration and coordination to ensure that residents have the opportunity to age well in their community. This report presents research findings from a study conducted by the Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging at the University of Massachusetts Boston (UMass Boston), in collaboration with the Town of Hamilton. The purpose of this study was to investigate and document current and future needs and preferences of Hamilton’s older residents. To this end, we conducted a web-based survey of residents as well as four key-informant interviews with the aim of identifying concerns related to aging in Hamilton, with the added benefit of learning about the preferences and intentions of residents as they relate to programming and services offered by the Hamilton Council on Aging (COA). The contents of this report are intended primarily to inform planning by the Hamilton COA and other municipal departments. In addition, contents may be of interest to community stakeholders in other public and private organizations that operate programs, provide services, and/or advocate for older adult residents in and around the Town of Hamilton

It\u27s Late but Everything Comes Next : Creative Aging in Modern America

The emergence of “Creative Aging” Programs, or fine arts programs exclusively for older adults, invites analysis of these new institutions and their influence on the social elements of the aging process. Drawing on ethnographic methods including participant observation, interviews and content analysis, the present study initiates the sociological and anthropological study of a topic that has primarily been addressed by fields like psychology, neuroscience and gerontology. This paper demonstrates Creative Aging programs to have a unique discourse characterized by the self-deprecation of older adults and the affirming language of instructors. This pattern of interaction renders such programs sites for the contestation of negative popular discourses around aging

Text-based irony use

A series of studies investigating how people use and comprehend irony over text-based media