National Research Center--CASOA

Staff of local governments, Area Agencies on Aging, home owners’ associations, facilities and programs for older adults are increasingly aware that the growing number of older residents will change drastically the demands for service. Planning for the increased number of older adults requires the wisdom to ask older adults themselves about their circumstances and needs. NRC offers a unique scientific survey of older adults’ perceptions of their communities and future needs. Our customizable services include consultation, administration, analysis and reporting on a variety of older adult needs. The NRC older adult needs assessment service package serves as a strategic planning and evaluation tool that communities may use to develop their older adult service plans, determine how future resources will be allocated, evaluate their current service provision, influence key stakeholders, empower community members and monitor success .

Objectives

Identify community strengths and weaknesses
Articulate the specific needs of older adults in community
Develop estimates and projections of resident need in the future

Methods

Multi-contact mailed survey
Representative sample of 1,200 older resident households
Data statistically reweighted to reflect population

Goals

Provide useful, information for planning, resource allotment, development and leverage, advocacy efforts and stakeholder engagement
Empowered community
Vibrant older adult populations

The CASOA package consists of a:

Scientific survey of a systematic and representative sample of older adults in your jurisdiction
5-page questionnaire, based on our tested templatized tool, mailed to 1,200 randomly selected older adult households
Report of results, identifying the prevalence of more than 40 common older adult need areas, as well as a set of recommendations to address larger areas of community need

Use of the CASOA will provide insight into your older adult population’s needs, perspectives and potential to age productively in your community and will offer a baseline understanding of your older adult population that can be used to compare future findings. Planners will use results for creating new facilities and programs, training, and updating policies.

Additional features that can be added to the basic CASOA package:

Demographic profiles on the current older adult populations in your jurisdiction
Demographic projection of future older adult populations and needs in your jurisdiction
The calculation of economic contribution of older adults in your community
Spanish and other language translation and administration

CASOA has just finished being implemented in 5 cities: Dallas, TX, Walnut Creek, CA, Novi, MI, Delhi Township, MI and Arvada, CO.

Topics Assessed Through CASOA

CASOA focuses on a series of resident needs and community supports that foster successful aging. More than 40 common issues affecting older adults drawn from older adult programming practices and the literature on aging are assessed in categories of health and wellness; community land use and design; participation in various productive activities and community resources for information and planning. Opinions about current community amenities and opportunities also are measured in the assessment.

The National Citizen Survey™ Focus Areas

Health and Wellness

Physical health

Overall health status, nutrition, fitness, falls, days institutionalized

Mental health

Overall mental health, depression, confusion or forgetfulness

Health Care

Medications, affordable health insurance

Safety

Violent crime, property crime, fraud or scam, environmental hazards

Independent Living

ADLs, caregiver burden

Community Design and Land Use

Land use

Convenience of services and activities of daily need

Mobility

Safe and affordable, ability to get around

Housing

Suitable housing, affordable housing, home maintenance

Productive Activities

Civic Engagement

Volunteerism, civic attentiveness, voting

Civic Engagement

Volunteerism, civic attentiveness, voting

Employment & Education

Work in retirement, skill building, income

Recreation, Arts & Culture

Participation in leisure activities

Caregiving contribution

Economic contribution

Information and Planning

Information

Services for older adults, Social Security and Medicaid, planning, legal, financial

Results to Expect from CASOA

As a result of implementing CASOA in your community, you will be provided with information to answer these questions: answers illustrate fictionalized data.

How do older residents rate our community today?

What characteristics of our community foster or hinder our older adult population's ability to "age in place"?

Area of need	Percent with need	Number affected in 2008 (n=40,119)	Number affected in 2013 (n=46,137)	Number affected in 2018 (n=50,751)
Civic engagement needs	69%	27,682	31,835	35,018
Information and planning needs	63%	25,275	29,066	31,973
Housing needs	54%	21,664	24,914	27,406
Physical health needs	46%	18,455	21,223	23,345
Social Engagement needs	49%	19,658	22,607	24,868
Social support needs	77%	30,892	35,526	39,078
Mental health needs	36%	14,443	16,609	18,270
Home maintenance needs	42%	16,850	19,378	21,315
Financial needs	46%	18,455	21,223	23,345
Health care needs	31%	12,437	14,303	15,733
Employment and education needs	74%	29,688	34,142	37,556
Recreation, arts and culture needs	63%	25,275	29,066	31,973
Institutionalization risk needs	47%	18,856	21,684	23,853
Caregiver burden needs	72%	28,886	33,219	36,541
Mobility needs	41%	16,449	18,916	20,808
Safety needs	54%	21,664	24,914	27,406