Community Assessment 8

COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT 8

Community Assessment

Pam Feinberg-Rivkin, Regina Gordon, April Clahane, Christina Coltrane

Jacksonville University

COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT 8

COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT 8

Community Assessment

Topic Area: Income

National /State Data

/ Local Data
National Data:
·  Main source of income for older persons in 2004 was social security (89%)
·  About 10.1% of the population was below poverty level in 2005
·  In 2005, the median income was 21,784 for males, and 12,495 for females
State Data:
·  Median income for older persons is 14,000
·  The poverty rate for older persons was 10% and that for the remaining population was 7.5% / Centerville population: 6500
·  Median household income is 29,000 (for all households)
·  Median household income is 27,000 (age 65+)

Interpretation:

The main source of income is social security. The state data shows that there is a significant amount of older individuals living below the poverty level from 2004 to 2005. The Centerville community has a large amount of residents that fall just short of the lower income levels. The older the age of the individual the less the amount of income the person has. The state average shows that there is a greater degree of lower income residents overall compared to the national data.

Conclusion:

The majority of the Centerville senior community lives on a fixed income. Due to the decreased amount of income for each resident, they are limited on the amount of resources that are available. Any extracurricular activities would not be possible due to the limited funds each person has coming into their household. Only the basic necessities are available due to the lower income level.

Topic Area: Health Conditions

National /State Data

/ Local Data
National Data:
·  Hypertension-52%
·  Arthritis- 50%
·  Heart disease- 32%
·  Cancer-21%
·  Diabetes-17%
State Data:
(Listed as leading cause of death)
·  Heart disease-35%
·  Cancer-20%
·  Stroke-8%
·  COPD-6% / ·  There is no specific data gathered for health conditions locally
·  A free foot clinic is available in the community where vital signs are assessed along with the condition of the seniors’ feet
·  Education is provided here
·  The clinic has limited hours and one nurse working which leads to a long wait to be seen and a short time of contact
·  Many of the seniors feel their health care facilities are rushed and are confused about their medications and treatments
·  The seniors feel they are given too many pills

Interpretation:

The findings in the state and national data are very closely related. Hypertension is listed as the number one health problem nationally. This condition contributes to other diseases listed such as heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. Both national and state reflect almost the same percentage of the population regarding heart disease. Cancer, for both national and state findings, is also very close percentage wise. There is no specific data locally regarding health. There are some, but minimal, resources available to the seniors regarding their healthcare.

Conclusion:

Centerville seniors are not content with the level of health services provided for them. Many feel they are overmedicated and undereducated regarding their health. The services are rushed and overextended and the seniors acknowledge this shortcoming. These characteristics of this community’s healthcare system can make it hard to track and report local data. There is a significant need to track this data for improvement. Without data to compare, one cannot relate the health conditions of the national and state data to local data.

Topic Area: Congregate Meals

Data Gathered

/ Data Generated

National Data:

·  10.1% of older persons were below poverty level. There is no specific data gathered regarding congregate meals

State Data:

·  The poverty level of older persons was 10% and remaining population 7.5%. There is no specific data gathered regarding congregate meals

Local Data:

·  There is no specific data gathered regarding poverty level

·  One meal site is available in community, serving one mid meal Mon-Fri. 30 older persons attend congregate meal daily, approximately 100 people attend monthly. Most people who attend these meals are retired and living on a fixed income. No change in number of individuals attending over a decade

/ ·  Congregate meals are available and accessible for those that can drive
·  The meals are enjoyed (good food) and they enjoy the companionship at meals
·  The individuals attending the congregate meals are concerned regarding those that cannot get to the congregate setting due to lack of transportation, asking about meals to be delivered for those individuals
·  Some friends rarely leave their home due to lack of transportation, which affects their ability to attend the congregate meals

Interpretation:

Congregate meals are wonderful for individuals on a fixed or poverty level income. However, without transportation, older individuals cannot participate in the provided service. There is no available public transportation to assist older persons to the congregate meals. Delivery of meals is not available for individuals who cannot arrange transportation to the congregate meal setting.

Conclusion:

Public transportation is a necessity. Transportation provided by the community center allows older adults, who no longer are able to drive, to participate in congregate meals. Public transportation in conjunction with van transportation should be provided by the community center, allowing older adults enjoyment during meals. The older adult can enjoy at least one good meal a day, along with the companionship available during meals, which would improve the mental health of the older adults.

Topic Area: Foot Clinic

Data Gathered

/ Data Generated
·  Clinic in town on Main Street.
·  (1) RN available
·  Hours: 9-11am Q Thursday
·  Appointments are 30 minutes long
·  Call area agency for appointments
·  Visit includes: v/s, inspection of feet, trimming if needed, education.
·  State Grant monies used to operate
·  No fee service / ·  Services are available and accessible
·  Location of clinic is difficult to get to due to insufficient parking
·  Most seniors drive
·  Most seniors unhappy w/ clinic
·  Not enough appointments to meet the needs
·  Want more appointments
·  Want alternate location more easily accessible

Interpretation:

Most of the seniors desire the services of the foot clinic, but say they have difficulty getting to it because of the physical location being on Main Street in Centerville. Parallel parking is only available and is limited, forcing them to park and walk a distance to get to the clinic. Those seniors that are able to drive make the effort whereas those that are not able to drive do not attempt. There are only four appointments available per week which creates a long waiting list.

Conclusion:

The Centerville senior population desires the offered services of the foot clinic, but they find it difficult to physically access due to parking difficulties and the constraints with available appointments.

Topic Area: Additional Services

Data Gathered

/ Data Generated
·  Bingo offered weekly
·  Exercise program offered every Thursday morning
·  Community Center for social gatherings
·  Medical Care / ·  Transportation limitations
·  Limited activities offered through the community center
·  Desire new activities
·  Unhappy with medical care

Interpretation:

The senior community of Centerville feels fortunate to have a community center to gather for social events. Most of the senior population is able to drive. Medical care is available for them.

Conclusion:

The senior population of Centerville is appreciative of having access to a community center. They feel the activities offered are redundant and wish for more variety of activity offerings. Most of the seniors are able to drive, however they are concerned for those who do not drive, and would like to alternate means of transportation made available to those who do not drive or have a reliable vehicle. The medical care available to the older adults is of concern. They feel unsure of the care they are receiving and have many questions that seem to go unanswered due to, in their perception, lack of personal attention.

Strengths of the Community:

·  Active Community Center

·  Congregate meals at community center

·  Recreational/social activities offered at the community center for seniors

·  Majority of the senior community falls above the poverty level

·  Majority of seniors are independent with driving

·  Access to free health care

Areas for Improvement in the Community:

·  Volunteers needed from the community to deliver meals for homebound seniors

·  More accessibility to health care

·  Community education

·  Additional recreational/social activities for seniors

·  Parking reconstruction for improved accessibility

Recommendations:

Establish relationships with community leaders, residents, health professionals for improved programs in the senior community. Those programs should include:

·  Public transportation

·  Meals on wheels that are delivered to seniors who cannot drive

·  Improved parking

·  Improved recreational activity programs

·  Improved health programs with greater accessibility for appointments and transportation to those appointments