TOOLS

Community Assessment

A livable community assessment begins with assessing the needs of the community creating the plan.  This can be done using the Aging in Place Components  [link to other part of site] and the Aging in Place Scorecard [link to list below].  Other assessment tools are available from:

Partners for Livable Communities Blueprint for Action

AARP Evaluation Tool for Livable Communities

EPA Smart Growth Livable Communities Guide

Gap Assessment

Planning often starts by identifying the gaps in current services relative to the community’s current and future needs.  In order to identify gaps, two main types of data are needed:  data on services, and data on the population:

Finding and Using Demographic Data

To see the overview of demographic issues related to Aging in Place presented by Essex County Office for the Aging head Patty Brashaw on September 15, 2009, click here.  To view her PowerPoint slides, click here. [link to 2015 updated 9-09]

Reasons for Collecting

Number of older people by age, sex, and ethnicity helps in planning services

Estimates of demand for services, including market studies for senior housing

Types.  Breakdowns by 5- or 10-year age groups, cross tabulations by income, gender, or other characteristics.

Sources

County Office for the Aging

County Planning Department

Service providers (senior centers, meal sites)

Factfinder.gov – provides population and housing data by zip code from 2000 census

Note:  both the Census and the Adirondack Regional Assessment Project Report CD with information on each town include housing and population data.

Location data is useful to identify residences of people in need of assistance in case of emergencies

GIS data.  Used by some towns

Service provider mapping

Data Collection Tools

In some cases, additional information may be desired on the community’s needs and perception of services.  Common methods for collecting data include:

Focus or discussion groups, where a small number of people gather to define the issues. Focus groups are usually used first to help define what questions will be asked.  They can be conducted with consumers or service providers;

Surveys, distributed to a larger number of people to understand how the issues are prioritized by different people.  Surveys can be made of consumers in general or of groups know to represent elders, like volunteers who work with them, and of service providers.

Visual assessments, where features of a community are recorded and photographed to identify good practices and needed changes.

Using Focus Groups – when, how

Sample Livable Community Survey Tools

Sacandaga Task Force on Senior Living

Michigan Community for a Lifetime

Traverse Livable Community Survey

Visual Assessment Tools

Walkability

For a useful checklist that you can start working with immediately, go to Walkable America’s Walkability checklist.  The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) is a national clearinghouse for information about health and safety, engineering, advocacy, education, enforcement, access, and mobility for pedestrians (including transit users) and bicyclists. The PBIC serves anyone interested in pedestrian and bicycle issues, including planners, engineers, private citizens, advocates, educators, police enforcement, and the health community.

Complete Streets

The streets of our cities and towns are an important part of the livability of our communities. They ought to be for everyone, whether young or old, motorist or bicyclist, walker or wheelchair user, bus rider or shopkeeper. But too many of our streets are designed only for speeding cars, or worse, creeping traffic jams.   Now, in communities across the country, a movement is growing to complete the streets. States, cities and towns are asking their planners and engineers to build road networks that are safer, more livable, and welcoming to everyone.  This website provides all the tools you need for understanding practice and policy.

Aging in Place Score Card

1.   Community is friendly to people of all ages

• Elders are able to enjoy a fullness of life, living independently in residential settings of their choice, for as long as possible
• Community recognizes that each person has an immeasurable value and innate dignity that is not diminished by socio-economic factors, mental or physical deficiency, or by age
• Holistic care is provided to addresses the intellectual, physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs is available to each person
• Compassionate and empathetic interest and concern for elders is expressed through companionship, friendship, counsel and assistance as needed
• Elders are integrated into the life of the community
• Elders and infirm living independently are connected with their community through active supportive relationships with family, friends or friendship volunteers, and are able to participate in and maintain a sense of belonging to the community.
• Organizations provide programs for elders and all organizations make special efforts to include elders in their activities and to foster intergenerational programs that benefit from the interests and talents of elders
• Housing, public and commercial facilities, as well as transportation and services are designed to accommodate the needs of elders.

2.  Health and Human Services

• Access to health care options that meet a variety of needs
• At least one primary care physician for every 1,000 residents (of all ages)
• Exercise and wellness programs, including programs for health concerns such as heart disease
• Free preventative screenings
• Nutrition classes for specific health/financial needs
• Communal meals at a recreation/senior center
• Meals delivered to homes
• Local parks and other exercise venues are accessible through several modes of mobility
• Inexpensive transportation services offered to and from health care facilities
• Information about health and wellness programs is easily accessible
• A single entry point or one-stop-shop for resources and services
• In-home support services (e.g., home care) enable older adults to live independently
• Projects coordinated by local government, Area Agency on Aging, other organizations

3.  Transportation and Mobility

• Streets have larger signage, left turn lanes, and clear road markings
• Varied types of community transportation options
• Public transportation for senior centers, adult day services, grocery stores, faith communities, cultural events
• Sidewalks and street crossings safe and accessible (bump-outs, crosswalk countdown, island in middle of street)
• Sidewalks link housing and essential services for walking residents
• Residents walk or use public transportation for grocery store, doctor’s office, pharmacy
• Bus stops are enclosed, have seating, and post timetables
• Programs to increase public transit ridership by older adults (travel training, route and service adjustments, low-floor buses, discounted fares)
• Community audits its walkability and improves pedestrian and bicycle access accordingly
• Comprehensive land use plans coordinated with transportation planning

4.  Public Safety

• Most older adults say they feel safe living in our community
• Elder abuse/neglect identification and prevention
• Neighborhood Watch programs
• Specialized training for frail elderly
• Plans for evacuation of older adults in a natural disaster or homeland security emergency
• Police and fire departments actively focus on preventing injuries and threats to older adults
• Law enforcement and fire department employees receive training on how to be sensitive to the changing needs of adults as they age
• GIS layout/ knowledge of older adult residences in case of severe weather or other situations that prevent residents from leaving their home

5.   Housing

• Home maintenance and repair assistance available
• Skilled, reasonably priced home modification and repair services available to residents
• Service modification for older adults (snow shoveling, backyard trash collection)
• Subsidized housing facilities
• Most housing is accessible or visitable and accommodates the needs of aging adults
• Impact on local property taxes of high percentage of fixed income citizens addressed
• Housing codes that meet the needs of an aging community
• Assisted living options available and affordable
• Many households headed by seniors paying over 30 % annual income on housing

6. Finance Services

• Tax relief for older adults with limited incomes
• Education and information about financial fraud and predatory lending
• Discount options for transportation
• Discount options for other public services

7.   Workforce Development

• ?Job retraining opportunities
• Flexible job opportunities
• ?Job banks for older adults
• Discounts for older adults who want to take classes at local colleges/universities
• ?Bi-lingual classes for non-English speaking older adults

8.  Civic Engagement and Volunteer Opportunities

• Opportunities for older adults to volunteer
• Intergenerational volunteer opportunities
• Volunteer opportunities for older adults to serve as mentors or share their expertise
• Cultural opportunities reflect ethnic and demographic differences
• Central clearinghouse that people for volunteer opportunities
• Older adults on government advisory boards and other committees
• Local community organizations provide volunteer opportunities suited to older adults
• Older adults been surveyed about their volunteer interests

9.  Culture and Lifelong Learning

• Community library delivers books to people in their homes
• Community centers or other public facilities offer programs on topics of interest to older adults
• Community provides opportunities for lifelong learning
• Low-cost programs in computer skills available and marketed to older adults
• Residents of all ages, backgrounds, and cultural interests can actively participate in the civic and cultural life of the community

10. Public Policy and Zoning

• ?Zoning requirements and building codes support the development of active older adult communities
• Zoning requirements and building codes support the development of assisted living facilities
• Zoning requirements, subdivision regulations or building codes that promote/support other senior housing options (flexible housing arrangements, shared housing, accessory apartments)
• Plans to ensure all land use patterns, transportation routes and community facilities meet the needs of an aging society
• Zoning allows mixed-use and pedestrian-friendly development in appropriate areas such as town centers
• Comprehensive plan allows needed adjustments in land use to accommodate aging population
• Residents can safely and conveniently get needed goods and services without having to drive
• Most residents understand the process by which decisions about development are made,
• Most residents consider the process fair and predictable

11.  A Good Place to Grow Up and Grow Old

• Local leadership strives to promote interaction between all generations
• City understands that universal design concepts not only aid a specific demographic, but society as a whole
• ?Local government acts as an advocate and catalyst for developing partnerships, new programs and systems to aid and engage their older adult constituents
• Cities and counties are harnessing the talent, wisdom and experience of older adults to contribute to the community at large