Key Survey FindingsThat Impact the Plan
direct care workers; the lack of funding to increase wages; the difficulty finding direct care workers and health care professionals interested in serving rural communities; and the need for a diverse group of direct care workers to meet the gender, cultural, and language preferences of the people being served. The findings of the Community Needs Assessment are published in Pima Council on Aging’s Report to the Community and can be found on pcoa.org. Both surveys also identified the need for affordable, safe, and accessible activities. Many older adults identified that sidewalks were difficult to traverse and not maintained while falls and the fear of falling were of major concern to them. Both surveys received strong responses regarding the affordability and feasibility of factors that contribute to aging in place. Both surveys identified housing and transportation to be critical issues and barriers to people’s ability to age well in place. The condition of roads, ease of access to public transit, and availability of shaded access can make it difficult for an older adult to get around, leading to social isolation. Though most older adults own their homes, being able to make the necessary repairs and modifications to their homes in an affordable manner is difficult. Additionally, the cost of living, especially for those who rent, was recognized as a significant challenge.
Social isolation was also noted as a major concern for older adults. Poorly maintained infrastructure leads to higher risk of falling and increased social isolation. Older adults found that, though many have quality primary care or acute hospital care, it is difficult to access preventative services and non-Medicare-covered health services.The affordability of dental care and assistive devices were of concern to older adults.Though Medicare provides health coverage, it does not cover dental, vision, or behavioral health costs. Poor dental health and inadequate vision care can lead to social isolation, poor nutrition, and rapid physical deterioration.
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