Synopsis
of survey ndings
Both AARP Arizona and Pima Council on Aging conducted surveys to assess the needs of the community. AARP Arizona’s survey was conducted within the City of Tucson, while Pima Council on Aging’s assessment was conducted throughout Pima County as per their requirements as an Area Agency on Aging. AARPArizona’s Survey Findings For the purposes of the Age-Friendly Tucson Plan, AARP Arizona conducted a telephone survey to assess public opinion among Tucson residents age 50 and older about age-friendly and livable community topics in Tucson. Telephone interviewing was conducted by Alan Newman Research in 2017. A total of 518 interviews were conducted with a margin of error of 4.3%. This survey asked questions developed specifically around the eight domains of an age-friendly community: Outdoor Spaces & Buildings,Transportation, Housing, Social Participation, Respect & Social Inclusion, Civic Participation & Employment, Communication & Information, and Community & Health Services. Community and Health Care Ranked Highest Features related to community and health care ranked highest (both excellent and very good). These included clinics and hospitals having respectful and helpful staffs, a variety of health care professionals and specialists available, well- maintained hospitals and health care facilities, and conveniently located emergency care centers. Additionally, the survey also had one of the top
community features under transportation, with a finding that traffic signs were easy to read. Transportation, Civic Participation, and Employment Ranked Lowest The community features that ranked lowest (both fair and poor) involved transportation, civic participation, and employment. The most concerning aspect of the community for older adults was road maintenance, with 52% saying they believed roads were not well-maintained. Additionally, 38% of older adults expressed concern that transportation in Tucson is not well-lit and accessible, and streets and intersections are not safe for all users. Workforce Factors Additionally, the survey found concerns among older adults who may still be in the workforce or may want to reenter the workforce.These concerns were the lack of flexible job opportunities for older adults, job training for older adults, and anti-discrimination policies. Aging in Place Overall, a majority of Tucsonans age 50 and over believed the community is a good place to age and want to live in Tucson independently for as long as possible. However, they also identified key barriers to living independently. According to the survey, 78% of older adults own their own home, but 22% of those respondents say they are in current need of major home repairs or modifications to their home. Sixty-three percent of respondents believe they will stay in
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