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 Place: Evolution of a Research Topic Whose Time Has Come

Over the past 30 years, policy makers and professionals who provide services to older adults with chronic conditions and impairments have placed greater emphasis on conceptualizing aging in place as an attainable and worthwhile goal. Little is known, however, of the changes in how this concept has evolved in aging research. To track trends in aging in place, we examined scholarly articles published from 1980 to 2010 that included the concept in eleven academic gerontology journals. We report an increase in the absolute number and proportion of aging-in-place manuscripts published during this period, with marked growth in the 2000s. Topics related to the environment and services were the most commonly examined during 2000–2010 (35% and 31%, resp.), with a substantial increase in manuscripts pertaining to technology and health/functioning. This underscores the increase in diversity of topics that surround the concept of aging-in-place literature in gerontological research

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 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”)

Home Modification and Repairs for Older Adults: Challenges and Opportunities for State Units on Aging

The home environment plays a critical role in adults' ability to stay in their homes and communities as they age, commonly referred to as aging in place. Yet the majority of older adults' homes lack supportive features. Home modification is the process of making changes to a home to increase independence, safety, and health. Often combined with related repairs, home modification and repair (HMR) can be minor, such as adding grab bars and removing tripping hazards, or major, such as installing roll-in showers and ramps. Although HMRs can support people as their needs change and even preclude moves to institutional settings, numerous barriers challenge the ability of older adults and caregivers to access them.In response, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) funded the University of Southern California (USC) Leonard Davis School of Gerontology to implement the project, "Promoting Aging in Place by Enhancing Access to Home Modifications." Its goal is to address the barriers to home modification access and service delivery by increasing the availability and awareness of home modification at the national, state, and local levels. A key activity of this project was to develop a knowledge base of state HMR activities and programs for older adults and persons with disabilities with a focus on the State Units on Aging (SUAs). These agencies develop and implement state plans and support services for older persons, adults with physical disabilities and their families. SUAs administer funds, including those provided through the Older Americans Act (OAA), to support HMR services through local Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and other state and local entities (e.g., OAA Title VI organizations that serve older Native Americans). SUAs can play a significant role in HMR by including it in state plans, providing designated funding, raising awareness, and coordinating with other state agencies such as housing, disability, and health.In October 2019, USC and its ACL project partner ADvancing States administered an online survey of directors of the 56 SUAs (which ADvancing States represents). The 10-question closed and open-ended survey sought to ascertain SUA activities, challenges, and opportunities in HMR. With extensive follow-up through February 2020, 50 SUAs completed the survey (an 89% response rate).This report summarizes the survey results, giving a bird's eye view of SUA roles in HMR and shining a light on examples of SUA HMR activities. Its purpose is to encourage greater involvement and coordination in HMR service delivery among agencies with a stake in assuring older Americans' ability to age in place.Click "Download" to access this resource.Tags: Older Americans Act, Area Agencies on Aging, State Units on Aging, Home-and Community-Based Service

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”)

Needs Assessment for Littleton Elder and Human Services and the Council on Aging

This report describes efforts undertaken by the Town of Littleton Council on Aging, 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 Littleton’s older population. The focus of this report was on two cohorts of Littleton residents—those aged 50 to 59 (referred to as “Boomers”), and the cohort of individuals who are currently aged 60 and over (“Seniors”). The content of this report is intended to inform the Town of Littleton, the Littleton Council on Aging and Senior Center, and organizations that provide services to older residents, as well as those who advocate for older people, and community members at large

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