In October, the Martha’s Vineyard Healthy Aging Task Force (HATF) distributed a 50-question survey intended to gauge the needs and wants of the Island’s over-65 population to nearly 5,000 seniors, and emphasized the need for a healthy response. The preliminary result, Brandeis University social scientist Susan Lanspery told an estimated 90 healthcare and social service providers gathered at the Hebrew Center on Monday morning, was an “amazing” 41 percent return.
Nearly 2,000 Island seniors provided an often-intriguing snapshot of their day-to-day lives and their wants, needs, and self-perceptions.
“The survey results have provided us with an opportunity to reorganize and refocus several of our six working groups,” HATF chairman Paddy Moore of West Tisbury said following the meeting. “As a result of the final report, for example, we may want to revive a former group on social engagement, or change the focus of our health group and our housing group to investigate new housing models for seniors.”
The survey was developed and administered by Ms. Lanspery and her colleagues at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. Ms. Lanspery said the survey provided some insight into the most vulnerable seniors: the 85-plus population; low-income seniors; those who live alone or have physical mobility issues that limit their ability to work or to live independently; those who have fallen within the past year; and those who lack emergency or long-term care providers.
Ms. Lanspery emphasized that the just-recieved survey results provided a “snapshot, not an in-depth picture, and should be regarded as highly subjective” on senior living on the Island. She expects more than 100 additional surveys will be received, and those will be integrated into the survey results. “We will go deeper into the findings and produce a final report within a few weeks,” she said.
The survey is the latest of several initiatives by HATF since its formation two years ago. On Monday, HATF also went live with a new website, FirstStop (firststopmv.org/), designed to provide seniors and caregivers a guide to services available on the Island and elsewhere.
HATF’s formation followed a 2013 study by UMass Medical School scholars that predicted a “silver tsunami” of Island seniors. Seniors comprised 16 percent of the Island population in 2010, and are expected to be 32 percent of Island population by 2030.
In 2013, the UMass scholars prioritized the need for creation of an Island-wide, centralized web-based information and resource system to serve caregivers (on- and off-Island), providers, and seniors with links to other information sources as well as resources on-Island and off-Island that HATF provides.
Independent with concerns
The survey sought input on areas it considers critical to aging health care, including housing, transportation, state of respondent’s health and wellness, employment, community engagement, receiving and giving elder care help and services, access to health care, and physical access to public places. The survey also included queries to caregivers and asked respondents about their individual life situations in regard to finances and resources.
The self-portrait of the Island senior community that emerged on Monday morning revealed a group that is passionate about living on the Island (77 percent), values its independent living (90 percent live in single-family homes, 29 percent live alone), and regards itself as healthy (88 percent said their health is good or excellent).
However, other more concerning data also emerged in the survey results.
For example, 20 percent of those 65 to 84 years of age see the possibility of moving off-Island for financial reasons, or to be closer to family. Eight percent of the 84-plus population see moving off-Island as a possibility.
And while 29 percent, about 1,500 seniors, live alone, 16 percent of them do not have an identified short-term/emergency caregiver, and 56 percent aren’t sure they have, or do not have, an identified long-term caregiver.
And while most seniors regard their health as good or excellent, 27 percent say they have fallen in the past year, and 24 percent admit to restricted mobility. Noting the statistics on falls, Peter Temple, director of the Donors Collaborative, a HATF member, said that the rate of fall-related admissions to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital is above the state average.
The Island’s senior demographic is well-educated. Income varied, with 43 percent reporting income of less than $50,000 per year and 25 percent incomes below $35,000 per year.
While 45 percent of responding seniors see the need for improving and reengineering their homes in the next one to two years, 36 percent fear they will lack some of the resources needed for the work. That prompted one audience member to comment that the survey may have produced another industry opportunity for Island tradesmen, à la the Habitat for Humanity model.
Seniors were consistent in their assessment that improvements are needed in their public environment. Better snow removal and improved street lighting for sidewalks and streets dominated the responses.
Noting the need to go off-Island, particularly for dental care, and to see medical specialists or primary-care physicians, Island seniors called for more medical specialties on-Island and for improved Vineyard Transit Authority service on the Woods Hole side of the Vineyard Sound. About 20 percent of seniors also said that VTA routes and service need improvement. Of those surveyed, 34 percent said Island taxis are too expensive.
While more than 54 percent of seniors describe themselves as often engaged in community activities, and 35 percent as occasionally engaged, only 10 percent of 65- to 84-year-olds and 18 percent of 84-plus seniors frequent Island Senior Centers and Councils on Aging, citing a lack of interest in the programs or in senior-only programs. That prompted Ms. Moore to call for outreach. “We need to market more,” she said.
Sixty percent of seniors say they do not volunteer in the community, and only 5 percent volunteer 10 or more hours a week. The remainder volunteer between five and 10 hours weekly.
