Feelings of loneliness ranked high for older adults, with our youngest respondents indicating that 71% of them felt lonely, with numbers increasing as people age. In fact, 82% of our oldest respondents reported feeling lonely during our survey process. Social isolation and loneliness are linked to higher rates of both physical and mental health conditions, with a study from Brigham Young University finding that social isolation could be as negative for an older adult’s health as smoking or obesity. Isolation, and its associated loneliness, can result from the death of a partner, spouse, loss of mobility, separation from or limited time with friends and family, lack of transportation, and/or the death of a pet. We all long for satisfying and healthy relationships in our lives, and mobility challenges, changes in working status, and health can have a big impact on how and who we are able to connect with.
Feelings of loneliness ranked high for older adults, with our youngest respondents indicating that 71% of them felt lonely, with numbers increasing as people age.
Mirroring the 2017 Report to the Community, another concern of older adults in our community is the ability to remain independent and in the home of their choosing as they age. We found that this concern was cross-sectional and was impacted by affordable and accessible housing, the ability to maintain a home and/or yard, lack of access to healthcare, fear of falling, and trouble completing activities of daily living–including bathing, other personal hygiene, and feeding/dressing oneself. While moving around in their home is not a significant factor for most people participating in this assessment, climbing stairs, bending, kneeling, or stooping all posed significant concern for over 85% of those responding to our survey. Notably, social service organizations, listening session participants, and survey respondents all found that one of the most pressing issues facing Pima County is access to affordable, sustainable, and quality housing. While we have known for some time that the affordable housing crisis was having a real impact on older adults in our community, the results of this assessment provides quantifiable data that show the need for increased housing services, affordable housing stock, and reliable local, state, and federal regulations protecting older adults and other vulnerable populations from experiencing homelessness. This report was compiled using the latest data and survey methods available to PCOA and provides us a clear roadmap that we can take to make services and support for older adults stronger and more accessible in our community for years to come. To read the full Community Needs Assessment survey, please visit https://bit.ly/PimaCoSurvey.
A Report to the Community
Pima Council on Aging
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