Needs Assessment for the Topsfield Council on Aging

The Town of Topsfield’s older population grew substantially during the last decade. Increases are expected to continue as the number of seniors increase moving forward, as well as the share of the Topsfield population they represent. In response to these demographic changes, a study was undertaken to generate and organize information on the older residents of Topsfield and the community organizations supporting their well-being. Special focus was placed on needs of older residents along with the capacity of the Topsfield COA to meet those needs. Methods used included description of existing data, key informant interviews, and focus groups aimed at identifying concerns related to aging in Topsfield, with an emphasis on services and amenities that facilitate aging in place. Assessment methods were designed to identify areas of concern with respect to aging in Topsfield, and to provide a context for planning to address future aging-related needs of the Town’s population

The Gap Remains: Social Security Benefits Continue to Fall Short of Covering Basic Cost of Living for Older Americans, 2015-2020

Older Americans rely heavily on Social Security to support an independent lifestyle. Recent estimates suggest that among adults aged 65 years or older, more than half rely on Social Security for at least 50% of their family income, while nearly a quarter depend on Social Security for 90% or more of their family income.Despite this substantial reliance on Social Security among older adults, Social Security benefits fall short of what is required to cover a basic cost of living across the United States, according to new estimates based on the Elder Index, a county-by-county measure of the income older adults need to secure an independent lifestyle. Nationally, the average Social Security benefit fulfills just 70% of basic living expenses of housing, food, transportation, and health care for a single renter in 2020, and 82% for an older couple.Each September, a cost of living adjustment (COLA) is determined for Social Security benefits, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W), and incorporated into the coming year's benefit adjustment. Typically, the COLA results in a modest increase in benefits, although benefit adjustments have been set at zero three times since 2009. The COLAs used for benefit adjustment do not account for expenses that disproportionately impact older adults, such as medical care, nor do they incorporate differences in costs of living across geographic locations.In this report, the authors document spatial and temporal aspects of Social Security benefits' coverage of older Americans' cost of living by comparing average Social Security benefits to the Elder Index in 2015 and 2020. First, they briefly introduce the Elder Index and how it is calculated to measure cost of living specific to older adults. Second, they document the extent to which average Social Security benefits cover cost of living for older adults at the national and county levels in 2020. Third, they compare patterns of coverage between 2015 and 2020, identifying states where Social Security benefits' coverage of the Elder Index has increased, stayed flat, or decreased over time. The report concludes by discussing policy implications.Click 'Download' to access this resourc

Salem for All Ages: An age-friendly action plan

The City of Salem is dedicated to being an ideal place for people of all ages and abilities to live, work, learn and play. Towards this goal the City applied, and was accepted, to the World Health Organization’s Network of Age-Friendly Communities in 2015. Almost entirely directed by passionate resident leaders from Salem and with the support and enthusiasm of Mayor Kimberly Driscoll and participating City Departments, a series of activities were undertaken to assess the needs of Salem’s older adult population. In June 2016, the City of Salem invited collaboration from the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging in the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston to guide the development of an Age-Friendly action plan. The contents of these collaborative planning efforts are described in detail in this report. The contents of this report are formed by results of a community needs assessment effort taken up by the City of Salem, the results of which can be found in a separate document (see Additional Files below). Elements of this needs assessment include a demographic profile of Salem, a series of three focus groups, and a systematic review of existing documents in Salem, all of which were conducted by researchers at the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston. In addition, the results of six public listening sessions and a web-based community survey are included in the needs assessment document. These two efforts were facilitated by leaders in the community and, together, included input from over 500 residents of Salem

Living Below the Line: Economic Insecurity and Older Americans Insecurity in Massachusetts 2016

New estimates from the 2016 Elder Economic Security Standard IndexTM reveal that in Massachusetts, six out of ten older adults living alone, and three out of ten living in two-person households, cannot afford the basic necessities of life such as food, housing in a safe community and health care. The Gerontology Institute compares 2016 household incomes for adults age 65 and above living in one- and two-person households to the 2016 Elder Economic Security Standard IndexTM for Massachusetts to calculate Elder Economic Insecurity Rates (EEIRs), the percentage of independent adults age 65 or older living in households with annual incomes that make them economically insecure. The EEIRs allow state and local governments to better understand and benchmark how many and which older adults are at risk of financial instability. With an EEIR of 61%, Massachusetts ranks near the top among the states in percentage of singles with incomes below the statewide Elder Index value, second only to Mississippi. In every state, more than four out of ten older singles are at risk of being unable to afford basic needs and age in their own homes

Living Below the Line: Economic Insecurity and Older Americans Insecurity in the States 2016

New estimates from the 2016 Elder Economic Security Standard IndexTM suggest that half of older adults living alone, and one out of four older adults living in two-elder households, lack the financial resources required to pay for basic needs. The Gerontology Institute compares the 2016 household incomes for adults age 65 and above living in one- and two-person households to the 2016 Elder Economic Security Standard IndexTM for each state and Washington, DC to calculate Elder Economic Insecurity Rates (EEIRs), the percentage of independent older adults age 65 or older living in households with annual incomes that do not support economic security. The EEIRs allow state and local governments to better understand and benchmark how many and which older adults are at risk of financial instability. National averages suggest that 53% of older adults living alone, and 26% of older adults living in elder couple households (with an older spouse, partner, or some other older adult), have annual incomes below the Elder Index value. In every state, more than four out of ten elder singles are at risk of being unable to afford basic needs and age in their own homes

Living Below the Line: Economic Insecurity and Older Americans, Insecurity in the States 2019

New estimates from the 2019 Elder Index (TM) suggest that half of older adults living alone, and 23% of older adults living in two-elder households, lack the financial resources required to pay for basic needs. The Gerontology Institute compares the 2019 household incomes for adults age 65 and above living in one- and two-person households to the 2019 Elder Index for each state and Washington, DC to calculate Elder Economic Insecurity Rates (EEIRs), the percentage of independent older adults age 65 or older living in households with annual incomes that do not support economic security. The EEIRs allow state and local governments to better understand and benchmark how many and which older adults are at risk of financial instability.Click "Download" to access this resource

Living Below the Line: Economic Insecurity and Older Americans, Insecurity in the States 2019

New estimates from the 2019 Elder Index (TM) suggest that half of older adults living alone, and 23% of older adults living in two-elder households, lack the financial resources required to pay for basic needs. The Gerontology Institute compares the 2019 household incomes for adults age 65 and above living in one- and two-person households to the 2019 Elder Index for each state and Washington, DC to calculate Elder Economic Insecurity Rates (EEIRs), the percentage of independent older adults age 65 or older living in households with annual incomes that do not support economic security. The EEIRs allow state and local governments to better understand and benchmark how many and which older adults are at risk of financial instability.Click "Download" to access this resource

The Future of Aging in the Town of Chatham: Chatham Council on Aging Needs Assessment Study

This report describes efforts undertaken by the Town of Chatham Council on Aging (COA), in partnership with the Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of Chatham’s older population. The focus of this report is on two cohorts of Chatham’s residents—those aged 50 to 59, and those individuals who are currently aged 60 and over. The content of this report is intended to inform the Town of Chatham, the Chatham Council on Aging, and organizations that provide services to older residents, as well as those who advocate for older people, and community members at large

Late-Life Gender Disparities in Economic Security: Evidence from the 2022 Elder Index

Estimates from the 2022 Elder Index illustrate the elevated risk of economic insecurity experienced by older women, especially those living alone. We use the Elder Index to calculate the percentage of older adults living in one- and two-person households with annual incomes that do not support economic security. National averages suggest that half of older women living alone, along with 42% of older men living alone, have annual incomes below the Elder Index. In addition, 21% of older couples have annual incomes below the Elder Index. Women in same-sex couples experience greater levels of disadvantage than men in same-sex couples and people in opposite sex couples. Moreover, women who are age 85 or older are at especially high risk of economic insecurity. These findings highlight the sizable impact of gender inequality throughout the life course on retirement security

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”)