Gerontology Commons^™

Aging In Westborough: A Community Needs Assessment, Ceara Somerville, Caitlin Coyle, Mary Krebs, Holly Stockdale

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report describes research undertaken by the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging (CSDRA) within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, on behalf of the Town of Westborough. The goals of this project were to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of Westborough’s residents age 55 or older by engaging the community regarding their experiences and needs relevant to the Council on Aging’s (COA’s) objective to identify and serve the needs of all Westborough citizens 55 and older. The contents of this report are meant to inform the Town of Westborough, the Westborough COA, …

Building An Age & Dementia Friendly Barnstable: An Action Plan, Caitlin Coyle, Beth Rouleau, Shayna Gleason

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

The Town of Barnstable has long-been aware of its aging population and, as a result, has initiated a number of planning processes to advance the livability of the community for all ages---this report documents the Age & Dementia Friendly planning process and associated ideas for action.

Aging In Norwell: A Community Needs Assessment, Caitlin Coyle, Beth Rouleau

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report describes research undertaken by the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, on behalf of the Norwell Council on Aging. The goals of this project were to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of Norwell’s residents age 50 or older. The contents of this report are meant to inform the Town of Norwell, the Norwell Council on Aging and Senior Center, and organizations that work with and on behalf of older residents of Norwell for the purposes of planning and coordination of services. The report will …

Aging In Holliston: A Community Needs Assessment, Caitlin Coyle, Mary Krebs

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report describes research undertaken by the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging (CSDRA) within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, on behalf of the Holliston Council on Aging (COA). The goals of this project were to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of Holliston’s residents age 55 or older by engaging the community regarding their experiences and needs relevant to the COA’s objective to identify and serve the needs of all Holliston citizens 55 and older. The contents of this report are meant to inform the Town of Holliston, the Holliston COA, Senior …

Aging In Eastham: A Community Needs Assessment, Caitlin Coyle, Beth Rouleau

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report describes research undertaken by the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, on behalf of the Eastham Council on Aging. The goals of this project were to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of Eastham’s residents age 50 or older. The contents of this report are meant to inform the Town of Eastham, the Eastham Council on Aging and Senior Center, and organizations that work with and on behalf of older residents of Eastham for the purposes of planning and coordination of services. The report will …

Aging In Middleton: A Community Needs Assessment, Sue Berger, Caitlin Coyle

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report describes research undertaken by the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, on behalf of the Town of Middleton. The content of this report is meant to inform the Middleton Council on Aging (COA), and organizations that work with and on behalf of older residents of Middleton, for the purposes of planning and coordination of services. Through a process of community engagement and mixed method data collection, the goals of this project are twofold: 1) to inform the planning and design of the future senior center space …

Community Engagement And Planning: Reading Center For Active Living (Recal), Ceara Somerville, Caitlin Coyle, Beth Rouleau

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report describes research undertaken by the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging (CSDRA) within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, on behalf of the Town of Reading. The goals of this project were to (1) engage the community and (2) investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of Reading residents regarding the possibility of a new community or senior center. The content of this report is meant to inform the Reading Center for Active Living Committee (ReCalc) on its mission to “explore the current and future needs of the community and initiate planning for …

Aging In Sherborn: A Community Needs Assessment, Sue Berger, Caitlin Coyle

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report describes research undertaken by the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, on behalf of the Sherborn Council on Aging. The goals of this project were to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of Sherborn’s population of residents who are age 55 and older. The content of this report is meant to inform the Sherborn Council on Aging, and organizations that work with and on behalf of older residents of Sherborn, for the purposes of planning and coordination of services, but also to build awareness about …

Aging In Hingham: A Community Needs Assessment, Caitlin Coyle, Shayna Gleason

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report describes research undertaken by the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, on behalf of the Town of Hingham. The goals of this project were to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of Hingham’s residents aged 45 or older. The contents of this report are meant to inform the Department of Elder Services, the Hingham Council on Aging and Senior Center, and the Senior Center Building Committee that was appointed in 2020. As well, organizations that work with and on behalf of older residents of Hingham …

Aging In Hamilton: Planning For The Future, A Community Needs Assessment, Caitlin Coyle, Mary Krebs, Shayna Gleason, Nidya Velasco Roldan

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

Like many communities across Massachusetts, the population in the Town of Hamilton is aging. According to projections created by the Donahue Institute at the University of Massachusetts, a trend toward an older population is expected. Donahue Institute vintage projections suggest that by 2035, more than one out of each three Hamilton residents will be age 60 or older—32% of the Town’s population will be between the ages of 60 and 79, with an additional 9% age 80 and older. As the demographics of Hamilton shift toward a population that is older and living longer, the demand for programs and services …

Promising Little Things To Strengthen Social Connections, Caitlin Coyle, Setarreh Massihzadegan

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

Unlike “best practices”, promising practices only require the successful implementation of a program or activity and some level of information that suggests a positive outcome for participants. One key advantage of using promising practices is that they can be adapted and there is flexibility in implementation styles and environments. As well, starting with a promising practice can help solve community problems, and save the trouble of reinventing the wheel. If someone has already found an effective way to resolve an issue or advance the cause, it makes sense to use it. The intention of this document is to alert those …

Envisioning An Age Friendly Stoneham, Caitlin Coyle, Mary Krebs

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

Tucked between two major highways, about nine miles from Boston, the Town of Stoneham is currently home to more than 22, 000 residents, 27% of which are age 60 and older. According to projections created by the Donahue Institute at the University of Massachusetts, a trend toward an older population in Stoneham is expected in future decades. Donahue Institute vintage projections suggest that by 2035, more than one out of each three Stoneham’s residents will be age 60 or older—28% of the town’s population will be between the ages of 60 and 79, with an additional 10% age 80 and …

Age-Friendly Chelmsford: A Livable Community For All Ages, Chelmsford Age-Friendly Action Plan, Jan Mutchler, Beth Rouleau, Ceara Somerville, Rebecca Mailman

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

Demographic patterns in Chelmsford indicate that the community will include more older residents moving forward. Projections suggest that by 2030, more than one out of three Chelmsford residents will be age 60 or older. Older residents represent an asset to the community and frequently take on disproportionate commitments to volunteer and civic engagements; capacity to take on these valued activities may be strengthened as the older population expands in number. At the same time, preparing for its aging population offers the opportunity for Chelmsford to re-evaluate its services, systems, and environmental features to ensure that they align with the needs …

Aging In The City Of Attleboro: A Community Needs Assessment, Caitlin Coyle, Mary Krebs

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report describes research undertaken by the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, on behalf of the Attleboro Council on Aging. The goals of this project were to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of Attleboro’s residents age 60 or older. The contents of this report are meant to inform the City of Attleboro, the Attleboro Council on Aging and Senior Center, and organizations that work with and on behalf of older residents of Attleboro for the purposes of planning and coordination of services. The report will …

Hanson Council On Aging Needs Assessment, Jan Mutchler, Nidya Velasco Roldan, Ceara Somerville, Beth Rouleau, Rebecca Mailman

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

Growth in the number of older Hanson residents is expected over the coming decade. Preparing for this demographic shift invites reflection about the extent to which features of the community and characteristics of municipal services meet older residents’ needs and interests, and making plans to improve alignment where appropriate. In support of this planning process, the Town of Hanson and the Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging at the University of Massachusetts Boston partnered to conduct a study to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of the Town’s residents age 50 and older. During this assessment, multiple …

Aging In The Town Of Weston: A Community Needs Assessment, Sue Berger, Caitlin Coyle, Jan Mutchler, Nidya Velasco

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report describes research undertaken by the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, on behalf of the Weston Council on Aging, to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of Weston’s population of residents who are age 55 and older. The contents of this report are meant to inform the Weston Council on Aging, and organizations that work with and on behalf of older residents of Weston, for the purposes of planning and coordination of services, but also to build awareness about issues facing the Town of Weston. …

Livable Sudbury: A Community Needs Assessment, Caitlin Coyle, Jan Mutchler, Sue Berger, Ceara Somerville

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

The Livable Sudbury Initiative is based on a distinctive framework meant to ensure that Sudbury is and remains an all-age and dementia-friendly place in which to live, work, and play. Structured around livability principles embedded in the Age-Friendly Community framework, the Livable Sudbury Initiative is designed to intersect with and inform other ongoing efforts, including development of the Sudbury Master Plan and a 14-town collaborative effort of the Minuteman Advisory Group on Interlocal Coordination (MAGIC) to advance regional age-friendly planning. The Sudbury framework considers physical infrastructure as well as social and service environments as it seeks to strengthen livability for …

Aging In Bedford: A Community Needs Assessment, Caitlin Coyle, Rebecca Mailman, Jan Mutchler

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report describes research undertaken by the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, on behalf of the Bedford Council on Aging (COA), to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of Bedford’s population of residents who are age 55 and older. The contents of this report are meant to inform the Bedford COA, and other municipal entities, for the purposes of planning and coordination of services, but also to build awareness about issues facing the Town of Bedford’s senior residents.

Aging In Beverly, Massachusetts: A Community Needs Assessment, Caitlin Coyle, Claire Wickersham, Jan Mutchler

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report describes research undertaken by the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, on behalf of the Beverly Council on Aging and Senior Community Center (hereto referred to as the Beverly Senior Center), to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of Beverly’s population of residents who are age 60 and older. The contents of this report are meant to inform the Beverly Senior Center, and organizations that work with and on behalf of older residents of Beverly, for the purposes of planning and coordination of services, but …

Aging On Nantucket: A Community Needs Assessment, Caitlin Coyle, Jan Mutchler

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report describes efforts undertaken by the Nantucket Center for Elder Affairs, Inc. (NCEA), in partnership with the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The purpose of these efforts was to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of Nantucket’s older residents. The focus of this report is on the cohort of Nantucket’s residents age 60 and older. The contents of this report are intended to inform NCEA, the Saltmarsh Senior Center, the Council on Aging, the Town of Nantucket, and organizations that provide services to older residents, …

Aging In Reading, Massachusetts: A Community Needs Assessment, Caitlin Coyle, Jan Mutchler

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report describes collaborative efforts undertaken by the Town of Reading’s Elder and Human Services Division and the Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging, within the Gerontology Institute at the McCormack Graduate School, University of Massachusetts Boston. During Spring 2017, these organizations partnered to conduct a study to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of the Town’s older resident population, with respect to living and aging in Reading.

Age-Friendly Boston: Assessing Need And Charting A Course Of Action, Jan Mutchler, Caitlin Coyle, Hayley Gleason

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

Boston’s population of residents age 60 and older is rapidly growing in size as well as racial and ethnic diversity. In response to these demographic features and as a means of assuring Boston’s commitment to current and future older residents, Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced in 2014 that the City of Boston would join the World Health Organization’s Age-Friendly Cities Network, in cooperation with the Massachusetts AARP. Boston’s Age-Friendly Initiative promotes eight domains of age-friendliness: outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment, communication and information, and community supports and health services. …

Assessing Current And Future Needs Of Residents Aging In The Town Of Andover, Bernard A. Steinman, Ceara R. Somerville, Maryam Khaniyan, Hayley Gleason, Mai See Yang, Jan E. Mutchler

Gerontology Institute Publications

This report describes the collaborative efforts undertaken by the Town of Andover Division of Elder Services and the Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging, within the McCormack Graduate School at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Beginning in Fall 2014, these organizations joined to conduct a needs assessment to investigate the needs, interests, preferences and opinions of the Town’s older resident population, with respect to aging in Andover. The focus of this report is on two cohorts of Andover residents—those who are age 50 to 59 (referred to as “Boomers”) and the cohort of individuals who are currently age …

Aging In Scituate: An Assessment Of Services And Programs For Our Community, Jan Mutchler, Hayley Gleason, Ceara Somerville, Maryam Khaniyan, Bernard A. Steinman

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report describes collaborative efforts undertaken by the Town of Scituate and its Council on Aging (COA), and the Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Beginning in Summer 2014, these organizations partnered to conduct a needs assessment study to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of the Town’s older resident population, with respect to living and aging in Scituate. The focus of this report is on two cohorts of Scituate residents—those aged 45 to 59 (referred to as “Boomers”), and the cohort of individuals who are currently …

Aging In Place In Marion: A Community Endeavor, Bernard A. Steinman, Hayley Gleason, Maryam Khaniyan, Ceara Somerville, Jan Mutchler

Gerontology Institute Publications

This report describes collaborative efforts undertaken by the Friends of the Marion Council on Aging (FMCOA) and the Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging, within the McCormack Graduate School at the University of Massachusetts Boston (UMass Boston). Beginning in Fall 2014, these organizations partnered to conduct a study to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of the Town’s older resident population, and the priorities of other stakeholders in the Town, with respect to living and aging in Marion.

In the earliest phase of the project, we met several times with members of the FMCOA to discuss and …

Living And Aging In Newton: Now And In The Future, Bernard A. Steinman, Hayley Gleason, Ceara Somerville, Jan E. Mutchler, Center For Social And Demographic Research On Aging, University Of Massachusetts Boston, Gerontology Institute, University Of Massachusetts Boston

Gerontology Institute Publications

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 …

Seniors In Public Housing, Jan Mutchler, Francis G. Caro

Gerontology Institute Publications

In recent years, the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) discovered that nearly 40% of the seniors (residents aged 62 and over) living in their public housing developments were living in family housing developments rather than in senior/disabled housing developments. Administrators at the BHA were aware that some seniors lived in family developments, but they were committed to learning more systematically about this population and their needs. They turned to the Gerontology Institute at the University at Massachusetts Boston as a partner in this effort. With funding from the Boston Foundation, the collaboration resulted in a research and policy development effort on …