Some of the main concerns of seniors highlighted in a recent townwide senior needs assessment include the high cost of living, difficulty maintaining homes, a lack of alternative housing, and challenges to personal wellness and independence.
In fact, one in five respondents to the survey portion of the assessment reported difficulties in paying for necessities in the past 12 months, with most struggling to cover home-related expenses, such as maintenance, property taxes, and utility bills. Concern about the ability to afford or get access to home repair was reported at higher rates than in other communities.
“The older population is a significant share of your community and…that’s not a trend that’s going away,” said Caitlin Coyle, director of the Center on Demography of Aging at the University of Massachusetts- Boston, speaking at the Beech Street Center Monday night. “It’s a good time to collect this data.”
Roughly 25% of Belmont’s 27,009 residents are aged 60 and older — a percentage that is expected to remain stable. However, the actual number of older residents is expected to continue growing through 2035, according to Coyle.
According to Council on Aging Chair Karen Donellan, the survey, done in partnership with researchers at UMass Boston’s Center for Social and Demographic Research, was paid for using $35,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds.
The needs assessment involved interviews, focus groups, and a townwide survey of residents aged 60 years or older. The survey was mailed to every resident older than 60 and went live online this spring. According to Coyle, who presented the findings to the Select Board and Council on Aging Monday night, the survey garnered a 30% response rate.
Other issues highlighted Monday night included the importance of walkability. According to the findings, satisfaction with walkability varied by age, ranging from 51% of residents aged 60 to 69 reporting “complete satisfaction,” to 36% of respondents 80 years of age and older reporting “complete satisfaction.”
“Transportation is not just ‘I’m walking to the park for fun,’” Coyle said. “It’s how people get to work and how people get to the grocery store … and places in their community that are really vital. So, to hear many people have concerns about being able to continue walking is a concern here in Belmont.”
Among the recommendations provided were creating a strategic plan, and thinking about the expansion of hours at the Beech Street Center to include evening or weekend, preferably weekend, Coyle said, due to greater interest.
Ultimately, the assessment was completed to provide a “shared script,” made possible by the data it provided.
“These are places to start, certainly not destinations,” Coyle said.
Donellan said the needs assessment came in the midst of all the changes happening at the center — namely, the reorganization that brought the Council on Aging, Recreation Department, and Veterans Services under the new Community Services Department — making it “especially timely.”
“I think we have had a need for real data for some time, especially post-pandemic,” Donellan said. “For me, a lot of the things I read here ring true. We have a lot to think about and comment on. Our board will be taking these things up in the coming months.”
Following the presentation, Select Board member Elizabeth Dionne said the town would be “mining the data” going forward.
“I think it did a really wonderful job of framing out strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats,” she said. “It’s felt for a while seniors did not have the advocacy voice that seniors need. The range of needs is fascinating.”
