Community Assessment for Elderly

Community Assessment for Elderly

Thursday, March 21, 2019

Norbert DeAmato

In this “class”, we will use photography to look at various aspects of Somerville such as its facilities, businesses, and infrastructure and living conditions and discuss how conducive they are for senior living. This will be an interactive class, with attendee participation.

The process of using images and text to visually display our findings and to promote Community change is called

Photovoice:  a participatory research methodology first formally articulated by Caroline Wang and Mary Anne Burris (1997), provides a process by which people can “identify, represent, and enhance their community through a specific photographic technique”.

What are Age Friendly Communities?

Age friendly communities promote policies, services, settings and structures that support active aging.

According to the AARP: As the U.S. population ages and people stay healthy and active longer, communities must adapt. Well-designed, livable communities promote health and sustain economic growth, and they make for happier, healthier residents — of all ages. The United States was home to 46 million senior citizens as of 2016 -- about 15% of the total population. In Massachusetts the percent of the population age 65 and up is 15.8%.

By 2060, the number of Americans 65 and older is projected to more than double to nearly 100 million and comprise roughly 24% of the total population. As the country ages and the number of retirement-age citizens hits all-time highs, the health and well-being of American seniors is more important than ever. 

The quality of life for elderly Americans often depends on the facilities, businesses, and living conditions in their community and home state. As is the case for Americans of any age, senior citizens are more likely to be happy and healthy if they are financially secure and living in a safe area with a low crime rate. Other factors, including access to public transportation, medical treatment facilities, and social venues, are often far more important for elderly Americans than for other age groups

Somerville stats:

Somerville MA, a city only 4.2 square miles in total area but with a population of around 82,000, it is the most densely populated municipality in New England according to the US Census Bureau. Somerville has a medium age of 31.6 (2016 figures), and there are 10,289 Somerville seniors, which is around 12.5 % of the population.

Topics to discuss:

1.     What services does Somerville provide?

·        Council on Aging

·        In Somerville there are 6 Federal and 6 State housing units for seniors. 

·        Somerville’s 311 service. 311 is a one stop number for constituent services hotline to report non-emergency concerns or questions. Some of the calls made to 311 are for: potholes, missed trash pickups, illegal parking, or to get a TV or computer monitor picked up,

·        Green and Yellow cab Senior discounts, The Ride.

·        Senior tax exemptions, tax deferral, or the Tax Work-Off program

2.     What services should be provided?

·         large automatic buttons to open the front door, the ability to use a fob to open her unit, and age friendly designs built into the

3.     What is working in our communities?

·          There are more than 80 parks and open spaces and 11 active community gardens throughout the City of Somerville. For a listing of all Somerville parks visit:  https://www.somervillema.gov/sites/default/files/somerville-parks-map.pdf

·        Community path

·        Local Cable TV, ex: Televised City Council meetings

4.     What is not working or needs to be improved or what needs to be implemented in our communities?

·        Construction/detours

·        Experiences that we have encounter that make life "non age friendly". Ex: elevator in her building closes very fast.

·        No bench or protective covering at bus stops.

·        Trying to cross some major streets where the walk signal does not allocate enough time for elderly, handicap or mothers with little children to cross.