The Council on Aging recently hosted a presentation of the initial results of a long-anticipated needs assessment study geared toward examining the experiences and anticipated needs of older adults in Hull.
The goal of the assessment – a collaboration among the town, the COA, and UMass Boston’s Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging – is to support the town’s planning efforts to better serve residents 55 and older.
Caitlin Coyle, representing the UMass team, reported that more than 1,700 residents of all ages participated in the survey that was part of the assessment. A number of focus groups were held, and town officials were also interviewed to help meet that objective.
“We had an overwhelmingly amazing response to the survey,” Senior Center Director Lisa Thornton said. “We’re here today following a lot of work and effort by the team and the residents of Hull [of all ages] who contributed to the survey and participated in the focus groups.”
Coyle walked the participants in the remote meeting through the highlights of the initial report, with recommendations to come at a later date, along with further presentations.
“The purpose of this assessment is to raise awareness about the needs [of older Hull residents] and to decide how to make changes,” Coyle said.
She noted that this group of citizens comprises a higher share of Hull’s overall population than is represented in the percentage of older residents of Massachusetts as a whole.
“By 2035, 43% of Hull’s population will be ages 60 and older,” according to Coyle.
Results of the survey indicate in part that:
* Most respondents would like to remain in Hull as they age.
* Concerns include taxes and affordability, the need for consistent and dependable transportation, the importance of dealing with the effects of climate change and natural disasters on Hull, traffic and local infrastructure issues, the ability to remain independent and healthy, the lack of senior/affordable housing, among others.
* There’s an interest in the senior center offering programs related to health and wellness, technical skills, indoor and outdoor exercise, and day trips.
* 59% of respondents view the COA as playing a role in their lives or the lives of someone they know. At the same time, of those who have ever visited the senior center, 70% said they go there only about once a year for special events. That’s due in part to the fact that 31% of older Hull residents are still working, 22% are not interested, and 20% said they are not old enough to use the facility, including 8% of respondents ages 70 and older.
* When asked what would increase the likelihood of using the senior center, responses ranged from knowing more about the services and program offerings and better parking to the desire for more convenient hours and easier transportation to the center.
* Programming preferences relate in part to holistic wellness and skill-building.
The survey also indicated that 6% of respondents don’t drive, and that 26% limit their driving for one reason or another.
“Eighteen percent of those who do not drive or drive with limitations have missed a medical appointment in the past year due to a lack of transportation, representing 25% of all respondents,” Coyle said.
A sobering fact is that 43% of survey respondents have been affected by substance abuse in one way or another. Forty-seven percent have been a caregiver in recent years, with 65% finding it “challenging to provide this care while also meeting their daily responsibilities,” according to Coyle.
Seventy-six percent of Hull residents ages 65 and over said they have no disability, while 12% have one disability, and 12% two or more.
Some residents lack an adequate social network, with 11% of respondents reporting that they do not know someone living nearby on whom they could rely for help. At the same time, 56% reported being willing to ask for help and 50% willing to provide assistance to neighbors for minor tasks.
Resident Steven Greenberg found the initial presentation helpful.
“You’ve defined an impending service need for the community to address,” he said.
Polly Rowe said she was “struck” by the number of respondents who said they weren’t familiar with the senior center.
“Wow! This seems like an easy thing to fix,” she said. “I was also stunned by the perception [mentioned in the presentation] of the high percentage of seniors who seem to feel that our local officials aren’t hearing their voices.”
Rowe also noted that while many Hull residents are concerned about high property taxes, they aren’t alone.
“It seems as though [many other] communities are also being hit with increasing taxes,” she said. Coyle said she has found that to be true.
Coyle agreed that the perception of the senior center “can definitely be tackled.” With regard to the issue of economic uncertainty, she noted that taxes and the rate of inflation are big concerns in the other communities in which she has participated in studies, and also people feeling that they don’t have the means to remain in the towns where they have lived for many years.
“Some people don’t feel they have enough income to meet their basic needs,” Coyle said. “This issue is linked to housing,” specifically, the need for more affordable units and the high costs associated with home maintenance, high taxes, and the cost of utilities.
Following her presentation, Coyle thanked COA Chair Jim Richman for his leadership in this effort. She also outlined the timeline moving forward.
“We’re finishing up the final report, which will include a long appendix with all the survey questions and age groups of the respondents,” she said. “The actual report will be a narrative of what stood out to us and our recommendations. I envision that by mid-March we’ll be ready to go public with this.”
COA Co-Chair Robert Goldstein said he’s looking forward to continuing the “ongoing conversation” and encouraged residents who participated in the earlier focus sessions and survey to continue to remain involved. “The [full] report will be available to the broader community at a later date.”
Hull residents with questions are asked to contact Thornton, who will forward them to Coyle. More information about future presentations will be available at a later date.
Goldstein commented about the timing of the expected completion of the needs assessment.
“Having these ideas bloom as our world comes back to life with the arrival of spring,” he said. “I’m looking forward to taking the information from this [study] and acting on it.”
