LA RS P OAL T ON ON A N - Collier Senior...

LEADERSHIP COALITION ON AGING

NAPLES AREA SENIOR NEEDS ASSESSMENT

FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK

MARY HART, PHD, MSW, PROJECT DIRECTOR

THOMAS FELKE, PHD, MSW, CO-DIRECTOR

SCOTT ANSTADT, PHD, MSW, CO-DIRECTOR

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2 | L e a d e r s h i p C o a l i t i o n o n A g i n g

Table of Contents

Executive Summary .................................................................................................... 4

Introduction .............................................................................................................. 5

Purpose of the Study .................................................................................................. 5

Data Collection .......................................................................................................... 5

Demographic Information .................................................................................. 6

Key Informants ................................................................................................ 6

Stakeholders ................................................................................................... 6

Data Analysis ............................................................................................................. 7

Age ................................................................................................................ 7

Housing Status.. .............................................................................................. 7

Poverty Status ................................................................................................. 7

Food Stamp Recipients...................................................................................... 7

Median Income ................................................................................................ 7

Language Spoken at Home Other Than English .................................................... 8

Transportation ................................................................................................. 8

Results

Quantitative .................................................................................................... 8

Key Informants ................................................................................................ 9

Stakeholders ................................................................................................. 10

Needs ........................................................................................................... 12

Expectations from Senior Center ...................................................................... 13

Summary of Qualitative Results ....................................................................... 14

Recommendations for Senior Service Center Establishment ........................................... 15

Appendices

Appendix A: Key Informant Agencies and Mission Statements ........................................ 17

Appendix B: Key Informant Questions......................................................................... 19


Images

1: Population of Individuals 60 and Over ..................................................................... 20

2: Householders Aged 65 Years and Over Who Live Alone ............................................. 21

2a: Males ...................................................................................................... 22

2b: Females .................................................................................................. 23

3: Income in Past 12 Months below Poverty Level: Householders 65 and Over ................. 24

4: Households Receiving SNAP in Past 12 months with One Person 60 Years or Over ........ 25

5a: Household Income between $10K and $25K by Age of Householder .......................... 26

5b: Household Income between $25K and $50K by Age of Householder .......................... 27

5c: Household Income between $50K and $75K by Age of Householder .......................... 28

6: Individuals Who Speak Language Other Than English at Home ................................... 29

6a: Speak Language That Is Indo-European in Nature ........................................ 30

6b: Speak Spanish or Spanish Creole ............................................................... 31

7: Complete Basemap – Transportation ...................................................................... 32

7a: Site Buffers .............................................................................................. 33


Executive Summary

The Leadership Coalition on Aging for Collier County commissioned a needs assessment to

assist them in determining the location in a specific catchment area to create one or more

Senior Services Centers. The Department of Social Work from Florida Gulf Coast University

was contacted and agreed to conduct a study and present the information to the Coalition.

Additionally, the Coalition was interested in the service needs and gaps as identified by the

residents in these areas.

What we found is that there are multiple pockets of older adults in the Naples area whose

residents also are in need of a variety of basic services. Householders aged 65 and older

who live below the Federal Poverty Line are dispersed in the northeastern and southeastern

census tracts with some in more centrally located tracts.

Through our investigation of the designated area and its population, there is no question but

that there are people living in the Naples area who do not have access to needed services

either because of transportation or because of the lack of basic services for low income

individuals.

It also appears that companionship and simple organizational assistance would mitigate

many of the problems identified by the stakeholders – clarification of medical instructions,

assistance in paying bills, simple household tasks – and would enable older adults to remain

independent in their own homes. While formal presentations about programs and services

are helpful, older adults would apparently benefit more from one-on-one explanations and

reinforcements of what they are being asked to do.

The following report gives specific information about where the older adults live, their

incomes, the languages they speak at home, and their perceptions of service and basic

needs. It seems reasonable to suggest that a consortium of services will be needed and the

beginning point would be to get the existing services coordinated and access determined for

the people who need those services.

To facilitate additional funding we suggest that outcome measures be created to determine

how effective the Senior Services Center(s) are for providing services to the identified

population of low-income, isolated adults who currently have difficulty with basic needs such

as food, housing, and healthcare.


INTRODUCTION

In November of 2012, the Department of Social Work at Florida Gulf Coast University

entered into an agreement with the Leadership Coalition on Aging – Collier County (LCA-CC)

to provide a Needs Assessment of the underserved older adult population in the Naples

area. The charge was twofold. First, the Coalition wanted to know where the older

population in the Naples area is located. Second, they wanted to know what this population,

and the agencies that serve them, perceive as the unmet service needs of this community.

The Department of Social Work was contacted by Jaclynn Faffer, PhD, President and CEO of

the Jewish Family and Community Services of Southwest Florida and Armando Galella,

District Director of Catholic Charities of Collier County. We met and they asked if the

department would be interested in providing them with a professional needs assessment,

indicating that they were able to pay for that service. After some discussion, we agreed to

set up a research group to explore their request and determine the feasibility of undertaking

this project.

Thomas Felke, PhD, MSW, Assistant Professor and Scott Anstadt, PhD, MSW, Assistant

Professor, members of the Department of Social Work faculty, were asked to join the

project. Both Dr. Felke and Dr. Anstadt have expertise that will lend to the successful

completion of this project. Dr. Felke has vast experience with Geographic Information

Systems (GIS), which was instrumental in determining the population centers for older

adults in the Naples area. Dr. Anstadt has done substantial research in the area of older

adult services, making him ideal for the determination of the identified service needs of that

population.

The area that was studied includes most of Collier County, excluding the far eastern section

that includes Immokalee, FL., and Marco Island, to the south of incorporated Naples, FL.

Specifically, data were collected for the North Naples, Naples, Golden Gate, and East Naples

areas – more or less the population found along the US 41/I-75 corridor. This is the

catchment area of the service agencies that were consulted and the home of the

stakeholders who were interviewed.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The Leadership Coalition on Aging of Collier County wanted to gather information on

underserved older adults in Collier County, particularly along the US 41/I-75 corridor.

Specifically they requested data on age, gender, living arrangements, income, SNAP

recipients, and language spoken at home. The LCA-CC is exploring the feasibility of a senior

access centers in Collier County. Currently there is no single point of service access for

older adults resulting in reported lack of coordination of services and sparse information of

what is available and to whom. An accurate and complete needs assessment of this

population will enable the LCA-CC to plan for better service access for older adults, to set

priorities, and to identify service gaps as well as service duplication in the area.

DATA COLLECTION

Data were collected both quantitatively and qualitatively. First, demographic information

was obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau and then analyzed to focus on the specific

geographic areas of interest. This section of the project graphically shows where older

adults (those over 60 years of age) are located in the catchment areas, gender, living

arrangements, income, SNAP recipients, and language spoken at home. Second, key

informants were identified and interviewed. Third, stakeholders (older adults in the

catchment area) were invited to town-hall type meetings where roundtable discussions were

held.


Demographic Information

Demographic data for this analysis was obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau website. The

variables were taken from the 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

(hereafter ACS). The rationale for this dataset selection was that the ACS provides a greater

range of variables broken down by age groups. It should be noted however that the

majority of variables informing this analysis are collected for the population 65 years and

older. Throughout this narrative, the age range for each variable will be identified as a

result. A total of sixty-eight (68) variables were used in conducting this analysis. Topics

ranged from poverty status in the past twelve months and/or receipt of Food

Stamps/SNAPS to living arrangement and household income. While the majority of variables

were taken directly from the ACS dataset, some variables were calculated manually in order

to aggregate data collected at discrete levels. For example, data regarding the number of

individuals aged 60 and over was manually calculated from six separate variable categories.

Key Informants

Directors, CEOs, and supervisors from ten agencies (Attachment A) were selected as key

informants. Interviews were conducted with each of them to ascertain what services were

available, what gaps exited, and what changes needed to occur in order to meet the service

needs of the identified population. A series of questions was posed to each key informant

(Attachment B) and the answers collated to produce a sense of agreement/disagreement

according to the key informants.

The agencies were:

1. Alzheimer’s Support Network

2. Care Club (dementia day care center)

3. Catholic Charities of Collier County

4. Collier County Housing, Seniors, Veterans, Human Services

5. Collier County Sheriff’s Department

6. Friendship Health Center

7. Jewish Family and Community Services of Southwest Florida

8. NCH Healthcare System

9. AAA (Senior Choices)

10. Shelter of Abused Women & Children

Stakeholders

Two community meetings were held in the Naples area. The first was April 17, 2013, at the

Golden Gate Community Center. Twelve stakeholders attended. The second was May 8,

2013, at Beth Tikvah where eight stakeholders attended. Participants were asked to discuss

two key issues: their daily perception of need and their hope for services to be provided by

a Senior Center. Responses were noted and sorted for similarities and differences.


DATA ANALYSIS

The analysis of the data is divided into quantitative and qualitative. First, the information

gleaned from GIS mapping is presented and discussed. Second, the results of the interviews

with Key Informants is presented, then the information from the stakeholder.

Age:

The total number of seniors aged 60 and over in the selected census tracts used for this

analysis is 71,080 individuals (47.6% male; 52.4% female; Image 1). This population is

somewhat spread with the largest concentrations in the northwest corner of Naples as well

as in the area of South Naples between Davis Boulevard and Rattlesnake Hammock Road. A

smaller but concentrated pocket also exists near the JCFS office near the middle of the

municipality as well.

Broken down by ethnicity for the population aged 65 and over, the following was observed:

Caucasian: 49,443 total (86% of population; 48.7% male; 51.3% female), Hispanic/Latino:

3,474 total (6.0% of population; 44.2% male; 55.8% female), & African American: 1,433

total (2.5% of population; 44.7% male; 55.3% female).

Housing Status:

The data estimate that 10,541 individuals aged 65 years or older live alone (Images 2, 2a,

2b). When looked at according to gender, there are more than double the number of

females aged 65 years living alone (6,911; 65.6%) than males (3,630; 34.4%). These

populations are spread evenly throughout the municipality with a few exceptions. The

highest pocket of males in this category tend to be found in the South Naples area whereas

females tend to be located in mid and northern sections. Taken as a total, the highest

pockets are found in the area near the JCFS office as well as on the northwest border with

Bonita Springs.

Poverty Status:

Within the selected census tracts, there are an estimated 2,370 households with a

householder aged 65 years or older with income in the past 12 months below the Federal

poverty level (Image 3). The highest concentration of this population is located in the

northeast corner of the municipality. Pockets can also be found in the middle and southeast

corner as well. While less concentrated, a number of these households are located near the

center of the municipality as well.

Food Stamp Recipients:

Within the selected census tracts, there were 4,846 households estimated as having

received SNAP (Food Stamps) benefits in the past twelve months (Image 4). It is

estimated that 1,216 of these households had at least one resident aged 60 years or older.

Two pockets exist with one being located in the northeast corner of the municipality while

the other is located near the JCFS office in the middle of the municipality.

Median Income:

Of the 21,727 households in the selected census tracts, whose householder is 65 years of

age or older, 14.9% had annual incomes between $10,000 and $25,000; 26.5% had annual

incomes of between $25,000 and $50,000; and 17.9% had annual incomes between

$50,000 and $75,000 (Images 5a, 5b, 5c).


Language Spoken at Home other than English:

Within the selected census tracts, there were 7,178 individuals (about 1%), aged 65 or

older, estimated as speaking a language other than English (Images 6, 6a, 6b). The

majority of these individuals (64%) speak a language that is Indo-European in nature while

a smaller percentage (31%) speaks Spanish or Spanish Creole. Those who speak an Indo-

European language are somewhat dispersed throughout the municipality though pockets

exist in the center as well as three corners of the municipality [Image 6a]. Those who speak

Spanish or Spanish Creole tend to reside in the Golden Gate area though a pocket also

exists near the northeast corner of the municipality (Image 6b).

Transportation:

A shapefile of the street network of Collier County was obtained from the Collier County GIS

Services Division (Image 7). This shapefile was added to the ArcGIS project file as an

overlay to the census tracts layer. Shapefiles of the two major roadways, Interstate 75 and

Route 41, as located in Collier County were created using the street network shapefile.

These were added to the ArcGIS project file as overlays to the census tracts layer. This

process was undertaken in order to conduct specific analyses using each of the major

roadways where needed.

Shapefiles of the Collier Area Transit (CAT) routes and stops were obtained from the Collier

County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). These shapefiles were also added to the

ArcGIS project file as overlays to the census tracts layer.

In addition to the actual stops on the CAT routes the Site Buffers (Image 7a) show that

even with substantial bus transportation for some areas, often the stop itself is .25 to .50

miles from the actual sites selected for consideration for senior center access centers. This

map helps to explain the concern about transportation access expressed by the older adults

and the Key Informants of services for older adults. The distance is simply too far for many

older adults to walk, especially if they experience any mobility problems.

Results – Quantitative

According to the 2010 U.S. Census data, there are 71,080 individuals over the age of 60

living in the selected census tracts (Image 1). There are 57,557 individuals 65 years of age

or older with a racial breakdown of Caucasian at 86% (48.7% male; 51.3% female),

Hispanic/Latino at 6.0% (44.2% male; 55.8% female), & African American at 2.5% (44.7%

male; 55.3% female; Image 1). There are 10,541 individuals 65 years of age or older who

live alone (34.4% male, 65.6% female; Images 2, 2a, 2b).

Approximately 3% of households with a member age 65 or older have an income below the

Federal Poverty Level of $11,170 for an individual (Image 3). SNAP households are

concentrated in the northeast corner of Collier County (Image 4). The median annual

income for householders 65 and older was between $10,000 and $25,000 for 14.9%,

between $25,000 and $50,000 for 26.5%, and between $50,000 and $75,000 for 17.9%

(Images 5a, 5b, 5c). Sixty-four percent of the individuals speak an Indo-European

language other than English at home while thirty-one percent speak Spanish or Spanish-

Creole at home (Images, 6, 6a, 6b).

Public transportation in the northeastern and northwestern census tracts does not exist,

although, these tracts represent some of the highest areas of poverty in the catchment


area. Another area of high poverty is centrally located and has much better access to public

transportation.

Key Informants

The questions mentioned above were used to collect data from the key informants

(Attachment B). A simple nominal data format was used to ascertain which of the

proposed needs were a priority from the perspective of informants. Responses were counted

and percentages of agreement/non-agreement were computed. For this report the needs

were categorized as: concrete, conceptual, organizational. Those entries that are italicized

are the key informants’ expectations for a senior center in Collier County.

Concrete needs: those needs that can be bought, donated, collected, distributed to

stakeholders – such as food or transportation.

Conceptual needs: those needs that require another person to collaborate with the

stakeholder in order for needs to be met – such as a companion to accompany the

stakeholder to the doctor or to explain Medicaid/Medicare eligibility.

Organizational needs: those needs that focus on service delivery and collaboration – such as

multiservice organizations or service gaps.

Category Concrete Needs/

Expectations

Conceptual

Needs/Expectations

Organizational

Needs/

Expectations

Transportation Transport

Transportation to

Senior Center and

appointments

Companions Difficulty in

accessing Collier

Co. Transit

Application process

for Para-Transit

Healthcare Better healthcare

for low income

Clarity re: entitlements

Dr. appointment companions

In-home follow-up care

Gaps in

Medicare/Medicaid

Food Food access for low

income

Food that meets

medical needs

Coordination

among food

pantries

Food drives

ADLS Consultation on ADLs

Self-help support groups

Dementia/Alzheimer’s

In-home support

Volunteer homemakers

Caregivers Cell-phones for

older adults

Education on stress

management

Training on cell-phone use

Caregiver respite

Coordination of

support groups

Networking for

social support

Technology/Social

Media

Better and more

organized info

from Elder Helpline

and Collier 211

Information Cultural and ethnic More individualized


holidays

Referrals to:

Social

Services

Community

Services

Low income

medical and

dental

access to Collier

211

Legal Protection from

abuse and neglect

Consumer

protection

Central access An information

portal

Social Education:

Finances

Entitlements

Self-protection

Classes:

Physical stimulation

Cognitive stimulation

Social activities

Field outings

Networking-phone

and face-to-face

Aggregate meals

Dances

Art Shows

Companionship Volunteer Companions

Communication Internet and computer

literacy Ed. Groups and

coaching

Increased public

awareness re:

services and

needs.

Stakeholders

Stakeholders were asked to discuss two topics, “daily perceived needs” and “hope for

services which could be addressed by a Senior Center”. Their responses easily converted to

fit the same categories as the Key Informants, thereby giving the opportunity to compare

Key Informants’ perceptions with Stakeholders’ perceptions. Additionally, some comments

made by the stakeholders are reported verbatim at the end of this chart.

Category Concrete

Needs/Expectations

Conceptual

Needs/Expectations

Organizational

Needs/Expectations

Transportation Bus passes Volunteers for

transportation

Difficulty w/ Collier

Co. Transit1

Para-Transit difficulty

in use2

Healthcare Referral for low cost

medical and dental

Confusion re:

entitlements such as

1 “Hard to wait for the bus and there are just too many stops.” 2 “Have to get to see my Dr. and have to do it [apply for service] far in advance.”


Medicaid and

Medicare.3

Education/Screening

for:

Memory

Depression

Blood pressure

Food Meals that meet

medical needs4

Food pantry

Help with bills

ADLS In-home; light

services

Caregivers Support groups5

Caregiver respite

Stress management6

Social supports7

Technology/Social

Media

Assistance getting a

cell phone8

Translation services9

Easier access to and

more individualized

use of Collier 211

Information Place to meet and

work with local

agencies

About cultural and

religious events10

About abuse and

neglect11

Legal legal services Access to legal

services

Central access Easier access to

Collier Senior

Resources website,

Senior Choices, and

Medicare

Classes designed to

accommodate elderly

and those with Mild

Cognitive Impairment.

Social Arts and creative

activities

Movie nights

Story telling

Book clubs and

reading rooms

Group games, e.g.,

3 “I don’t understand which options to choose or how to apply for them.” 4 “I am on a strict diet and you can’t get them to prepare it for me.” 5 “I need some folks to talk to and I hear about groups but I don’t know where they are.” 6 “Caregiving wears on me. How can I take care of myself?” 7 “Is there any relief out there? Even temporary?” 8 “Cell phones are handy, but so expensive and I don’t know how to use them well.” 9 “I don’t read English well.” 10 “Would enjoy meeting people from different backgrounds, like my neighbors.” 11 “I feel so alone and hear about how people are taken advantage of all of the them.”


Bingo

Meditation groups

Intergenerational

gatherings

Field trips

Dances

Fund raisers

Companionship Volunteer

companions/friendly

visitors

Classes in basic

computer skills

Development of a

newsletter

Public awareness info

in English, Creole, and

Spanish

In-home support12

Aide to help with Dr.’s

suggestions13

Companion for Dr.

appointments14

Communication Internet & computer

literacy education

Public awareness re:

services and needs

By collating these two reports, the points of agreement become clear. The Key Informants

used more professional language at times, but generally speaking, the Key Informants and

the Stakeholders perceived very similar needs. The expectations were a bit more varied.

The “expectations” of a Senior Center and the Stakeholders’ “needs” were hard to separate.

Here is are the combine results of the interviews and discussions.

NEEDS

Categories Key Informants (n=13) Stakeholders (n=20)

Transportation Difficulty using Collier

County Transit (100%)

Application process for Para-

Transit (54%)

Transport companions to

appointments (61%)

Difficulty using Collier

County Transit (100%)

Application process for Para-

Transit (45%)

Transport companions to

appointments (90%)

Healthcare Gaps in Medicaid/Medicare

(46%)


(61%)

Assistance with suggestions

Gaps in Medicaid/Medicare

(80%)


(55%)

Assistance with suggestions

12 “Just trying to stay in my home, but some things are just much harder than they used to

be.” 13 “I lose track of what they want me to do to stay healthy.” 14 “Someone to come with me to appointments would help me understand what they want

of me and to keep me company.”


from professionals (85%)

Confusion regarding

entitlements (100%)

from professionals (90%)

Confusion regarding

entitlements (100%)

Food Food pantry scarcity (92%)

Provided meals that meet

medical needs (100%)

Need food drives (38%)

Coordination among pantries

(38%)

Food pantry scarcity (95%)

Provided meals that meet

medical needs (95%)

Activities of Daily Living

(ADLs)

In-home support and

consultation (92%)

In-home support and

consultation (90%)

Caregivers Coordination of support

groups (85%)

Education on stress

management (100%)

Networking for social

supports ((100%)

Coordination of support

groups (100%)

Education on stress

management (100%)

Networking for social

supports (100%)

Communication/Technology Intergenerational mentoring

to teach social media (61%)

Media that meets need of

stakeholders sensory needs

(77%)

Cell phones (69%)

Competent translation

services (100%)

Cell phones (60%)

Competent translation

services (100%)

Information Simplify Elder Hotline and

Collier 211 (100%)

Information re: cultural and

ethnic events (85%)

Information re: cultural and

ethnic events (90%)

Legal Adult protection-signs of

abuse/neglect (100%)

Adult protection-signs of

abuse/neglect (100%)

EXPECTATIONS OF SERVICES FROM SENIOR CENTER

Categories Key Informants Stakeholders

Senior Central Access Information portal (100%)

Classes for physical and

cognitive stimulation (100%)

Arts and creative activities

(100%)

Education: (100%)

Finances

Entitlements

Self-protection

Self-help support groups:

(100%)

Caregivers

Alzheimer’s/dementia

Referrals: (100%)

Social Services

Low-income medical

and dental

Collier 211

Co-locate staff from local

agencies (100%)

Access to Senior Resources

website, Senior Choices,

Medicare (100%)

Legal (100%)

Classes for physical and

cognitive stimulation (100%)

Arts and creative activities

(100%)

Education and Screening:


(100%)

Memory

Depression

Blood pressure

Self-help/support groups

(100%)

Grief

Adjustment to illness

Transportation To the center (100%)

To appointments (100%)

Hub for transportation

volunteers (100%)

Bus passes (20%)

Improved Lifestyle Volunteer homemaker

(100%)

Volunteer companions

(100%)

Caregiver respite (100%)

Low-income housing network

(85%)

Homemaker services (100%)

Hub for volunteer

companions (100%)

Caregiver respite (90%)

Volunteer or reduced cost

household

repair/maintenance services

(85%)

Director of recommended

providers of services (85%)

Food pantry (100%)

Help with bills (100%)

Social Social activities (100%)

Field outings (100%)

Networking – phone and

face-to-face (100%)

In-home mental health

(100%)

Aggregate Meals (100%)

Dances (100%)

Art shows (85%)

Fund raisers (54%)

Social activities: (100%)

Movies, storytelling,

book clubs, reading

room, group games,

meditation groups,

intergenerational

gatherings.

Field trips (100%)

Meals and cooking (100%)

Dances (100%)

Fund raisers (35%)

Communication Internet and computer

literacy education and

coaching (46%)

Increased public awareness

re: services and needs

(100%)

Classes in basic computer

skills ((30%)

Increased public awareness

– newsletter in English,

Creole, and Spanish (100%)

Summary of Results - Qualitative

It is clear that the anticipated of the services provided by a Senior Center are also a “needs”

list, especially those from the Stakeholders. These listings may reflect a fairly sophisticated

knowledge of Senior Centers by the Key Informants and a less knowledgeable

understanding of the possibilities of service provision by the Stakeholders. The congregate


gathering of information may account for the number of 100% agreement, in that once an

idea was suggested, the others in the group may have indicated agreement.

By studying these responses several themes present as flowing through each category.

First, older adults are alone and lonely. They are expected to manage on their own and find

themselves overwhelmed by “the system.” Specifically, Medicaid/Medicare are confusing,

both to apply for and to understand the benefits; a myriad of instructions and expectations

from healthcare professionals are difficult to remember and understand; what services that

are available are poorly advertised and confusing, as are cultural and religious events;

transportation is, at best, a long, drawn-out process of application, waiting, and waiting

some more; and many older adults expressed a desire for social outlets in the form of

support groups and organized activities. Second, older adults are determined. They

indirectly express a desire to live independently. Both Key Informants and Stakeholders

recognize that there are services that would make this desire more realistic. While there are

an array of concrete needs expressed – food, low-income housing, transportation – there is

a clear theme of companionship, socialization, and service clarification that emerges

regardless of what the expressed need is.

Reading their comments in the various categories reveals a frustration with the complexity

of the social systems, the lack of knowledge about what is available and how to access

them, and a secondary theme of “me and them”… “someone to help me understand what

they want of me…;” “I lose track of what they want me to do to stay healthy;” “I’m on a

strict diet and you can’t get them to prepare it for me.” From these statements can be

drawn the implication that older adults understand that they are dependent on others but

are frustrated because they cannot ascertain what is expected of them.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SENIOR SERVICE CENTER ESTABLISHMENT

Not one of the four selected locations is located within a census tract with the highest

population of individuals over 65, with the largest number of individuals below the federal

poverty level, with the lowest median income, or with the largest number of SNAP

recipients. The Jewish Family and Community Services Center on Castello Drive comes the

closest to being accessible to the target population based on location and access to public

transportation. This center is within the quarter-mile distance from a CAT stop.

One idea that might be considered is a mobile senior services unit attached to the senior

service center that is under construction, or a second center that perhaps could be located

in the eastern or southern segment of the identified census tracts. There is no question but

that transportation is an issue for older adults with insufficient resources in the entire

identified area. Taking services to the clients might be an easier and less costly way to meet

the needs of this population.

As with all service delivery systems, using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a good way to set

priorities for the use of scarce resources. Physiological needs always come first. Food and

shelter were mentioned in several ways: food for low-income individuals, medically

appropriate food availability, meals and cooking, low income housing, volunteers to do

home repairs, help paying bills. Healthcare is also high on the list of basic needs – both

access to health care (low-income medical and dental care), but also, help with the myriad

of medical systems including Medicare and Medicaid. Healthcare also includes what might be

considered social needs – companionship, help with doctor’s orders, and in-home follow-up

care. These social needs are closely attached to safety and healthcare needs.

No senior service center will be able to provide all of the needs of the older adults. However,

given the expressed need for assistance with entitlements, help with following physician’s


orders, legal services, etc., it is clear that a good, solid information and referral system

would go a long way in meeting some of these needs.

Older adults also expressed a strong need for social activities, education, and

companionship. They noted an interest in learning about ethnic and cultural events,

networking, self-help groups, arts, and creative activities. Maslow placed social needs as

third in his hierarchy. For older adults it is often difficult to differentiate between safety and

social needs, and at times, to separate those needs from basic physiological needs. This

needs assessment focused primarily on low-income, isolated, older adults who are

dependent, to some extent, on government assistance (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid,

SNAP) to meet the basic necessities of life. While there is considerable evidence that

continuing to be active and involved in family and community results in a much healthier

aging process, for those older adults who experience medical problems, serious

transportation issues, and separation from family, this third level of needs seems rather

irrelevant. Even congregant meals, which provide companionship, peer counseling, and

food, are not available to older adults for whom transportation is the greatest barrier. Many

older adults are not able to use the existing transportation services because of the distance

of the CCT stops from the existing services and activities.


Appendix A:

Alzheimer’s Support Network:

Our mission is to serve Collier County families coping with Alzheimer's disease by providing

guidance and support for patients,

their families and caregivers.

Care Club:

The Care Club accepts participants who may require assistance in self-care and supervision.

We accommodate people with Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, stroke victims,

related dementias or memory disorders.

Catholic Charities:

The mission of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc., is to fight poverty, strengthen

families and build communities. Agency services and programs shall ensure human dignity

and enhance the quality of life for all persons regardless of race, creed, color or religious

affiliation. The populations we serve across all our programs can be seen in the

accompanying demographic reports. The vast majority are at or below the poverty level as

determined by current Federal Standards.

Collier County Housing, Veterans, and Human Services

To serve Collier County’s very low, low and moderate income residents, including the senior

population by providing access to health care, developing volunteer services with retirees,

assisting with affordable homeownership and other housing opportunities, maintaining safe

and decent housing and independent living for seniors, utilizing federal and state grants to

build safe, livable and healthy communities and to meet the local government mandates of

human services in Collier County.

Collier County Sheriff’s Department

Friendship Health Center

We are dedicated to providing people 50+ with quality health and dental services. We also

serve as an important source of information on healthy aging in our rapidly growing

community.

Jewish Family and Community Services of Southwest Florida

The mission of Jewish Family & Community Services of Southwest Florida is to support

individuals and families of all ages by providing a wide range of social services, including

mental health counseling, case management, financial assistance and crisis intervention.

NCH Health Center

Helping everyone live a longer, happier, and healthier life.

AAA (Senior Choices)

o Understand the delicacy of your situation and be accessible to you with patience and

sensitivity to your needs.


o Respect your independence, dignity, and pride. We will provide care as needed and assist

you to function with the least amount of limitations

o To be accessible to you, your physician, and loved ones at all times with required

clarifications, information, and reports.

o “Compassionate Care from the Heart” at all times, 24/7.

Shelter for Abused Women and Children

Leading the community to prevent, protect and prevail over domestic violence through

advocacy, empowerment and social change.

Our vision is a community free from domestic violence so that every home is a safe haven

for the family it shelters.


Appendix B

Leadership Coalition on Aging – Collier County

Key Informant Questions15

The following questions were asked of key informants for the Needs Assessment Project for

Older Adults in Collier County.

1. What is your role in serving adults?

2. How would you rate the overall quality of your areas as a place to live for older

adults: excellent, good, fair, poor?

3. What you believe to be the biggest contributions of older adults?

4. What types of services or activities should be added in the area, that are not

currently provided?

5. What is the social-economic mix of the people in your area? Are their

neighborhoods where these are represented?

6. Do you see older adults who are isolated with few opportunities to engage with

others?

7. Which of the items below are seen as major concerns with regards to quality of

life for seniors I this area?

a. Healthcare

b. Transportation

c. Food

d. Support for ADLs

e. Caregiving

f. Communication technology/social media

8. What older adult programming or services are working well?

9. What older adult programming or services are not provided as well?

10. What types of programs and services should be enhanced to improve the quality

of life?

11. What do you see as a key challenge to providing services to older adults?

12. How do you think program and service use will change in the next five years?

13. What ideas do you have to help facilitate the local senior center?

15 Hayden, S. Lupher, K. A., Caldwell, E. ., Miller T. I., Kobayashi, M. M., Reynolds, R. T., …

& Spano, H. (2004). Strengths and Needs Assessment of Older Adults in the State of

Colorado. Boulder CO: National Research Center, Inc.


Image 1: Population of Individuals Aged 60 and Over


Image 2: Householders Aged 65 Years and Over Who Live Alone


Image 2a: Male Householders Aged 65 Years and Over Who Live Alone


Image 2b: Female Householders Aged 65 Years and Over Who Live Alone


Image 3: Income in the Past 12 Months below Poverty Level: Householder 65

Years and Older


Image 4: Households Receiving SNAP (Food Stamps) in Past 12 Months with at

Least One Person 60 Years or Older


Image 5a: Household Income between $10K and $25K by Age of Householder

(Age 65 and Over)


Image 5b: Household Income between $25K and $50K by Age of Householder

(Age 65 and Over)


Image 5c: Household Income between $50K and $75K by Age of Householder

(Age 65 and Over)


Image 6: Individuals Who Speak Language Other Than English at Home

(Age 65 and Over)


Image 6a: Speak Language That Is Indo-European in Nature


Image 6b: Those Who Speak Spanish or Spanish Creole


Image 7: Complete Basemap – Transportation


Image 7a: Site Buffers

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