University of Massachusets Boston ScholarWorks at UMass Boston Gerontology Institute Publications Gerontology Institute 9-2014 Living and Aging in Newton: Now and In the Future Bernard A. Steinman University of Massachusets Boston, Authors Bernard A. Steinman; Hayley Gleason; Ceara Somerville; Jan E. Mutchler; Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging, University of Massachusets Boston; and Gerontology Institute, University of Massachusets Boston Tis research report is available at ScholarWorks at UMass Boston: htp://scholarworks.umb.edu/gerontologyinstitute_pubs/103 is_Newton cover.pdf 1 9/8/14 11:22 AM Living and Aging in Newton: Now and In the Future Commissioned by the Senior Citizens Fund of Newton, Inc. Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging Gerontology Institute John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy & Global S tudies University of Massachusetts Boston Newton Department of Senior Services Newton Council on Aging Senior Citizens Fund of Newton, Inc. September 2014 Dear Newton Residents, In 2013, the Senior Citizens Fund of Newton, Inc. commissioned a survey of Newton residents age 50 and older to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of the City’s older resident population, with respect to living and aging in Newton. Results were to be used to inform and guide the Department of Senior Services and the Council on Aging in its planning efforts into the future. The Gerontology Institute at the John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy & Global Studies, University of Massachusetts Boston was engaged to design a research strategy, develop and administer a survey instrument, analyze data, report findings, and create a final report. All work was done with the active involvement of NDSS staff, COA members, and Newton residents. The survey and report was completed in Spring 2014 and we are now proud to present it to the public. Our research focused on the issues of Housing, Transportation & Mobility, Community Involvement & Engagement, Health, Well-Being and Life-Style, and how the NDSS and COA can improve current programs and services, and continue to develop itself as an innovative leader in meeting the needs of the ever- increasing numbers of seniors in our community. In 2010 (U.S. Census), there were more than 18,600 residents age 60 and over, representing close to 22% of Newton’s population. Approximately 12,300 residents were between 50 and 59, representing another 14.5%. Since data from this survey shows that most respondents wish to remain in Newton as they age, we expect that our senior population will increase to more than 30% over the next few decades. Although we have been well aware of the growth in our senior population, this report is historic because it pulls together demographic information along with what residents see as important to them as they age. We have learned a great deal from this project and the results will serve as an important planning tool moving forward. We are extremely proud of the results of this effort and are grateful for the wonderful work of the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston. We thank all of the people who worked on this project. We are particularly indebted to the people who took the time to respond to the survey. Deep thanks to all of you. Sincerely, Jayne Colino, Director, Newton Marian L. Knapp, Chair, Audrey Cooper, Chair, Senior Department of Senior Services Newton Council on Aging Citizens Fund, Inc. Newton Council on Aging/Senior Center • 345 Walnut Street • Newton, MA 02460 Tel: 617-796-1660 • Fax: 617-969-9560 E-mail: Living and Aging in Newton: Now and In the Future Commissioned by the Senior Citizens Fund of Newton, Inc. Newton Department of Senior Services Newton Council on Aging Senior Citizens Fund of Newton, Inc. September 2014 Bernard A. Steinman, PhD Hayley Gleason, MSW, MS Ceara R. Somerville, BS Jan E. Mutchler, PhD Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Gerontology Institute John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy & Global Studies University of Massachusetts Boston iii Executive Summary Introduction This report describes collaborative efforts undertaken by the City of Newton Department of Senior Services, the Newton Council on Aging, The Senior Citizens Fund of Newton, Inc., and the Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging, within the McCormack Graduate School at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Beginning in Fall 2013, these organizations partnered to conduct a needs assessment study to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of the City’s older resident population, with respect to living and aging in Newton. The focus of this report is on two cohorts of Newton residents—those aged 50 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 City’s older residents that could be used to plan and implement current and future services for older adults in Newton. 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 City. Early in the project we met with the Director of the City’s Department of Senior Services and members of the City’s Council on Aging to discuss and better understand their concerns about current and future aging-related needs of the City and their evaluation needs. We used information gathered at this meeting to develop the main research instrument—a resident survey, administered to a randomly selected sample of residents from both age cohorts. We also conducted two focus groups to obtain feedback from stakeholders who represent large ethnic minority groups (i.e., Chinese and Russian), regarding their issues and concerns about aging in Newton. Finally, we conducted a comparison of Senior Centers in five municipalities that are similar to Newton in order to assess how needs of older adults are met in other communities. Collectively, the contents of this report are intended to inform the Newton Department of Senior Services, other offices within the City that have a stake in the aging of Newton’s residents, and organizations that provide services to older people throughout the City. Additionally, those who advocate for older residents and community members at large will also find use for the information provided within this report. Summary of Results In 2010, Newton had more than 85,000 residents, many of whom were age 50 and older. According to the U.S. Census, there were 12,320 residents age 50 to 59 who will begin moving into later life during the coming decade, and another 18,636 people age 60 and over living in Newton who currently are eligible for programs and services provided by the Department of Senior Services. Since the Census in 2000, Newton has experienced growth within its older population, with the number iv of persons age 60 and over increasing by about 17%, compared to a net gain of just 2% in the City overall during that time period. In general, the City’s population is becoming older primarily through a process of aging in place, as long-term Newton residents age. Residents who are age 60 or older are heads of more than one-third (37%) of Newton households. According to data from the American Community Survey (2008 – 2012), 39% of Newton households have at least one member who is age 60 or older. A sizeable proportion (23%) of residents who are age 60 and older live alone, with a large percentage of these living in homes that they own. Newton’s households headed by residents who are age 65 and older have a higher median income ($61,621) relative to older people in Massachusetts overall ($36,282); however, many older adults in Newton experience economic disadvantages that could lead to economic insecurity. For example, more than 25% of residents age 65 and older report incomes under $25,000 annually. Finally, many older people in Newton experience some level of disability, which could limit their functioning and impact their ability to live independently in their homes and community. Overall, 4 out of ten residents age 75 and older experience at least one disability. Results from the resident survey suggest that a large proportion of the City’s older residents have lived in Newton for many years. The majority (63%) of respondents age 50 and older reported living in Newton for 25 years or longer, and nearly half (49%) have lived in their current residences for that long. Thus, much of the growth in the older population has occurred as a result of Newton residents aging in place. By and large, aging in place is a common goal in Newton, as indicated by the 88% of Senior respondents who stated it is important to them to stay in Newton as long as possible, and 78% of Seniors who said it is important to remain in their current village as long as possible. The vast majority of survey respondents (72%) reported that they lived in single-family homes. Nevertheless, in the event that a change in their health required that respondents move in the next 5 years, condominiums were the most common preference for Boomers (48%) and Seniors age 60 to 79 (41%); respondents age 80 and older favored senior independent living facilities (39%) and assisted living facilities (33%) in the event that they needed to move. Most survey respondents of all ages (90%) indicated that they still drive themselves, although many noted that they use strategies to modify their driving and make their driving safer and easier (such as avoiding driving in bad weather). Nearly half (46%) of respondents reported high levels of satisfaction with transportation options in Newton and in their villages; however, many transportation challenges remain, especially for those who do not drive, including public transportation options that are perceived as inadequate or inconvenient, and issues pertaining to the “walkability” of Newton. As a result, a significant number of Seniors, many of whom live alone, and who do not have reliable transportation or large social networks, may be at risk for isolation, which, over time, can influence their health, wellbeing, and ability to live independently in Newton. v Most residents (85%) reported experiencing a strong sense of belonging in Newton. In addition, most (90%) indicated feeling completely or very safe in Newton and in their villages within Newton—a likely contributor to their desire to age in place there. Most respondents (67%) stated that they would willingly ask a neighbor for help with minor tasks, and a large majority (86%) said that they would or do provide help with minor tasks or errands to neighbors if requested. Most Newton seniors are in good health but some, especially the oldest, require help. The majority (88%) of survey respondents reported that their health was excellent or good. Relatively few said they needed assistance with activities around the house (18%), personal care (2%), or errands outside the home (8%), though the percentage needing help in these areas was much higher among respondents age 80 and older. For those who required help, most had someone who was available to give assistance, including family members (50%), friends (20%), or paid helpers (35%). A small share (5%) of all respondents indicated that they had no one to assist them when they need help. Additionally, many survey respondents (42%) reported that they currently, or have in the past five years, served as caregivers to others who are disabled or frail, with many indicating that their caregiving was highly challenging given their other life responsibilities. The vast majority of those who were caregivers (97%) were not compensated monetarily for their assistance. The majority of survey respondents (92%) rated their wellbeing and life satisfaction as good or excellent. For the most part, older people in Newton remain well connected to family and friends, via forms of frequent communication including in- person visits, telephone conversations, and email exchanges. Nevertheless, some survey respondents suggested that they might not have adequate social/emotional support. Results indicated that a small percentage of residents might be at risk for social isolation due to their limited community connections and inadequate access to goods and services outside of their homes. The Newton Department of Senior Services provides a wide variety of services and programs that generate high participation levels, especially among residents age 80 and older (25%). The majority of survey respondents reported high satisfaction with the available programs and services in the City. Many Seniors who stated that they do not use services said it was because they were not interested (32%); they did not identify with the word “senior” (27%); or that they participated in programs elsewhere (21%). Many survey respondents also acknowledged that they were unaware of what services were available or how to access them. Few respondents in both age cohorts—only 22%— stated that they were unlikely to use programs and services provided by the Department of Senior Services in the future. Despite varying rates of utilization and planned utilization between individuals and age cohorts, all available services were rated as very important or important by large proportions of respondents, with small differences by age group. Among the oldest Seniors (age 80 and older), the most important services offered were the senior parking sticker (58%), transportation services (50%), and information and referral services (47%). Younger Seniors (age 60 to 79) placed high importance on the vi senior parking sticker (65%), and educational opportunities and seminars (57%). Respondents of all ages viewed health and wellness programs (56%) and fitness activities (55%) as highly important. Given the value that many Newton residents hold for the Newton Department of Senior Services in general, expanded service demands associated with the growth of the older population may soon exceed the availability of programming space and parking, which are already deemed inadequate by many participants in the study. In addition, some programming priorities may shift, as utilization by Boomers increases, requiring continued development of appropriate programs and services that consumers desire and prefer. Looking ahead, many survey respondents voiced a number of concerns as they age in place in Newton. Some are concerned about the high cost of living in Newton and whether they will be able to stretch retirement incomes to meet their anticipated future needs. Property taxes, home maintenance expenses, and costs associated with medical services are just a few of the areas that concern older Newton residents as they strive to age in the community. Many are anxious about whether they will have access to quality services that help them maintain their health and remain independent. There is a strong desire to remain engaged in rich social networks that include being near to family, and providing care to other family members and friends. Finally, there was a strong desire expressed to remain active in the community, and concerns that opportunities to do so could be restricted by transportation limitations, poor health and disability, or a lack of programs aimed at addressing these concerns. Focus group participants were recruited from Chinese-American and Russian- American residents who live in Newton. In general, there was a high level of commonality between these focus groups and survey responses. All Chinese- American participants had lived in Newton for a very long time (31 years on average), compared to Russian-American participants, who lived in Newton for 5 or fewer years. Most participants in both groups stated that staying in Newton as long as possible was a priority for them. Few participants from either group stated that they had used services provided by the Department of Senior Services, although both groups believed they could benefit by accessing the services. Notably, both groups cited lack of knowledge about what services were available to them, and that there was inadequate outreach to ethnic minority groups who reside in the City. The groups identified transportation as a serious problem, which hindered their ability to live independently in Newton, including accessibility and parking problems. Some participants in the Russian-American group indicated that they sometimes felt stranded due to their limited transportation options, despite the central location of their residence in Newton. Caregiving issues were of greater concern to Chinese- American respondents. Many in this group still had aging parents living in China, to whom they regularly traveled to provide care. Participants in both groups were receptive to becoming more involved in publically available programs and services. vii Results from peer community interviews showed that Newton has an average sized Senior Center and staff size relative to other communities in the area, but a small and dated facility relative to its senior population. Like the other municipalities, Newton offers a wide variety of programs and services to local seniors, some of which are fee-based. All of the centers currently utilize volunteers to assist with providing administrative support and help with programs and activities at the centers. Newton, especially, has a strong core of volunteers, who provide nearly 700 hours per month of assistance at the Senior Center. Collectively, results from the needs assessment study were used to develop the following specific recommendations to assist the City of Newton Department of Senior Services, and other City offices as they plan for the future provision of programs and services to older Newton residents:  Plan for substantial growth of the senior population in coming years;  Consider ways to leverage existing services and programs within the community;  Support convenient, affordable, and reliable local transportation options for residents;  Use planning for the expanding senior population as an opportunity to promote livability of Newton for all residents;  Expand awareness of existing Department of Senior Services programs and services within the community;  Recognize and utilize the value of Newton’s diverse older population as an asset and resource;  Target those with limited or inadequate resources for programs and services;  As the City considers its current and future investment in the Newton Department of Senior Services, it should:  Let programming needs direct discussions about space and staffing requirements;  Encourage senior services and programs that will support the active, healthy aging goals of seniors;  Plan for shifting interests and needs as Baby Boomers become eligible for services;  Plan with an eye toward expansion;  Acknowledge that caregiving needs are substantial among Newton residents of all ages. viii