Number of Surveys and Method of Compiling

Written surveys covering senior adult needs and senior services were gathered from November, 2003 to March, 2004. Surveys were conducted at public speakout gatherings and other venues which had a high percentage of senior adult attendees. There were 498 surveys from people in senior centers and other locations which were either completed or partially completed, and returned. Most of the individuals filling out these surveys were senior adults.

A separate agency survey was conducted to get the perspective of other human service agencies on the needs of senior adults. There were a total of 22 agency surveys returned.

The surveys were taken in a variety of settings, as follows:

• A total of 269 surveys were completed by senior adults who either attend senior centers (211) or who receive home delivered meals (58).
• A total of 229 surveys were completed by individuals in other settings, including a senior adult club, people attending a Senior Expo at a local mall, and low-income seniors who received public services, including energy assistance, in seven of our southernmost counties.
• Agency Surveys included respondents from various agencies, including health, human services, law enforcement and housing. Comments on the agency surveys are analyzed separately.

Not all of the 498 senior center surveys were completed in full. Some completed the demographics page, (the first page) and did not complete the second page. The partially completed surveys are included in the data below. If the respondent did not answer all the questions concerning needs, the question was counted as having been answered as “not important.”

For the purposes of this analysis, we have grouped the responses of “very important” and “somewhat important” together, and used those responses as indicators that a particular service or need is important.

Characteristics of People Surveyed in Senior Center Settings

Regular users of senior center services (congregate and HDM participants) are an older group. Less than 10% were under 65, the majority (74%) were from 65-84, and 17.7% were 85 or over. Other characteristics:

• Males: 35%, Females: 65%
• White: 94.8%, Black: 5.2%, Native Americans (2 total)
• Married: 34.7%, Widowed: 50%, Divorced: 9.6%, Single: 5.5%
• Living Alone: 61.5%, Not Living Alone: 38.5%

To the question about who helps them when they need help, responses indicated that spouses and children helped the most. About 8% of the responses indicated that their church helped them, 12% got help from neighbors, and 11% had paid help. While the majority (68%), said they were not caregivers, of the 32% who said they were, most were taking care of a spouse, while others reported caring for a friend, a neighbor, an adult child, sister, grandchild, parent, etc.

Characteristics of People Surveyed in Non-Senior Center Settings

The largest number of those surveyed at places other than senior centers are also an older group. However, there were more individuals under 65, and fewer that were 85 and older. Only 9% of this group were 85 and older, 12% were under 60, 15% were in the 60-64 age category, and 64% were 65-84. Other characteristics:

• Males: 28%, Females: 72%
• White: 89%, Black: 10%, Hispanic: 1%
• Married: 40%, Widowed: 42%, Divorced: 12%, Single: 6%
• Living Alone: 50%, Not Living Alone: 50%

For those who responded to the question about who helped them the most, the majority indicated that children helped them, with help from spouse coming in second. About 42% of the respondents indicated neighbors helped, 23% got help from a local church, while 33% got help from other sources, such as friends, relatives or Shawnee Development council. Most of the respondents (66%) said they were not caregivers. The respondents who said they were caregivers (34%) indicated they cared for a spouse, adult children, friends, neighbors or other family members.

Summary and Analysis of Survey Responses

A variety of services and needs were listed in the survey, including meals and nutritional needs, transportation, mental health, education, recreation, caregiving, and help with needs such as dental, medication, and house repair. As stated earlier, for the purposes this summary analysis the responses of “very important” and “somewhat important” are grouped together as indicators that a service or need is “important.” Also as stated earlier, we used all surveys that were returned to us, even if there were no responses to some of the items. We made the assumption in those cases that the items not marked were not important to those individuals. That is if 200 surveys were returned, and only 150 individuals marked a certain item, we derived our percentages by dividing the responses by the total number of surveys.

I. Overall Results of Senior Center and Non-Senior Center Surveys

The top categories of interest and need overall of those who responded were in the areas of meals and nutritional issues, with 64% saying meals at the senior center were either very or somewhat important, and 63% that socializing at the senior center is also important. A high number (56%) said that having enough food in the house was important. Help paying for medications was identified by 49% as being either very important or somewhat important, and 40% say an emergency response system is important. There were also high interest scores overall in transportation needs: 46% of respondents said transportation to senior center, doctor, shopping, etc. was important, and 43% said transportation to out of area medical care was important. Many respondents (45%) think that recreational and physical exercise classes are important, and 44% identify day trips for entertainment and sight seeing as important. About 45% say it is important to have someone to talk to about problems and worries, and 37% marked that help with issues such as grief or loss is important.

A significant number (41%) noted that help fixing up the house was important. It also appears from these responses that about 31% of seniors feel the need to have help in taking care of a spouse or a loved one. Overall, 28% express an interest in learning more about computers.

Although looking at the surveys overall does give general indicators of important issues, it is even more informative to look at the differences and similarities among the groups that were surveyed. It is not surprising, for instance, that senior center participants are the most interested in senior center meals.

Meals and Nutritional Needs – issues in the category of nutrition ranked fairly high in importance on all surveys of seniors and of agencies surveyed. Strong support was expressed for congregate and home delivered meals. Home Delivered Meals were noted as especially important by local helping agencies. Low income seniors particularly identify various food programs as important, including food pantries and food stamps. Many low income individuals may have concerns about their ability to purchase enough food, as many responded that having enough food in the house was important.

Transportation Issues – the ability to get to senior centers, doctors and shopping, was expressed as important to many, particularly for those with the lowest income. Comments included the need for out of county or out of area transportation, and it was noted that it can be expensive. Several agencies commented on transportation, including a need for cross-county transportation.

Paying for Medications, and Understanding Prescription Programs – help paying for medications is important to many seniors. The types of programs which help pay for medications include Medicaid, Circuit Breaker Pharmaceutical Assistance & Senior Care, the state of Illinois discount card, various pharmaceutical company discount cards, and drug company patient assistance programs. The newest program is the Medicare discount card, effective in 2004, and the prescription drug benefit, scheduled to start in 2006. As discussed at several of the speakouts, seniors worry not just about paying for medications, but also about understanding new programs, and whether they will actually help.

Mental Health Services – in the EAAA survey, many seniors noted that “someone to talk to about problems and concerns” was an important issue. Although the "someone" may range from mental health counselor, to a friend or peer, to a pastor, etc., it appears that this need can be best met by having options available. Many noted that help with issues such as grief and loss were important, and some thought a support group, or a counselor coming to the home or the senior center would be good.

Caregiving and Care for Self – judging from survey results, it appears that close to one-third of older persons may be caregivers. Many of these caregivers expressed that it would be important to have help in taking care of a spouse or loved one. During the speakouts, several also noted the difficulties of become a grandparent raising grandchildren. Help for caregivers was an issue noted as highly important by agencies surveyed. There is also interest in items or services that may help individuals stay in their home, such as obtaining an emergency response system, or help in fixing up a home.

Educational and Recreational Issues – many seniors expressed an interest in exercise related classes or groups, and almost as many were interested in day trips for recreational purposes.

Frauds and Scams – this issue came out strongly at one of the speakouts, where seniors were described as targets for scams and schemes and a need for a program to help warn seniors. This was also noted as a concern of one of the social service agencies.

Informational Needs – one agency suggests that there needs to be a better dissemination of information on services – a single point of entry system was suggested. Discussions at speakouts and results of the surveys suggest that there are many programs that seniors and families need more information about, including medication programs, the nursing home Ombudsman program, and the Elder Abuse program. In addition, it appears that the lowest income individuals may need the more information about nutrition services at sites, as well as other helping programs.

Following is a summary of the responses of different groups that were surveyed.

II. Senior Center Services Participants.

Those who attend senior centers set a high value on certain core senior services. Meals at the senior center and socializing at the senior center received the highest percentage of positive responses, with 87% of those who attend the senior center saying that meals are either very important or somewhat important, and 85% saying that socializing is important to them. Also in the nutritional category, 57% note that having enough food in the house is important, and 45% say that Home Delivered Meals are important. 38% say transportation is important. It also is significant that many view recreational and educational activities at senior sites as important, with 53% saying that "exercise, dancing, and walking groups or classes" are important, and 47% say that day trips for entertainment, and sight seeing were important. About a quarter of these participants (27%) say that computer classes are important.

Other findings of significance for senior center attendees include that 44% say that having someone to talk to about problems or worries is important, and 33% say help with issues such as grief and loss are important. Some participants also say that help with paying for medications is important (37%), and so is obtaining an emergency response system (37%), help in fixing up their homes (29%), or in taking care of a loved one (27%).

III. Home Delivered Meal Participants.

Some of the respondents in this group also have participated in senior center activities. They differ somewhat in their responses however. For instance, while 85% of current senior center participants said that socializing at the senior center was important to them, only 48% of home delivered meals participants said that was important. Strangely, only 45% of this group noted Home delivered meals as being important. There may have some problem in interpretation here, perhaps many call this service "meals on wheels" instead, or perhaps some did not respond to that question. Not all surveys were filled out completely. There were differences from congregate site participants in other responses. For instance 40% of this group (compared to 31% of senior center participants) said transportation to out of area medical treatment was important. Also, 62% noted the importance of having enough food in the house, and 28% noted the importance of food pantries.

Also important to Home Delivered meal participants: 52% said a support group was important, although only 19% said having a counselor come to the home was important. 52% said exercise and dancing or walking were important, and 48% said an emergency response system was important (compared to 30% of congregate site participants). 41% noted interest in day trips. Help in fixing up their home was important to 41% of this group, compared to 29% of congregate participants. 24% said help in writing checks to pay bills was important. Only 19% said they needed help caring for a spouse or loved one, compared to 27% of the congregate participants. This may reflect that this group is older, and may have already lost a spouse.

IV. Non Senior Center Survey Results.

Although some of the people who filled out these surveys may use senior center services, in general these "non senior center" surveys did show differences from the "senior center" surveys. Only the "Senior Club" group had close to the same response to the question about importance of socializing at senior centers. They also had responses similar to participants of senior center services on the importance of recreational and educational activities. Other groups gave both those issues much less importance. Of those surveyed at a Senior Expo at a mall only 37% said socialization at senior centers was important to them (versus 85% of senior center users).

Looking more closely at the Senior Expo responses there is a significant difference in the responses to food and nutrition issues when compared with those who go to the senior centers. Senior Expo participants don’t see meals at focal point sites as important (only 35% thought they were important), but they give more importance to items such as food pantries (46%)and food stamps (54%). This compares to only 10% of senior center participants believing that food stamps are important. The conclusion from this could be that non-senior center participants think of and rely more heavily on other governmental and community food benefits. Many may not be considering senior centers as a way to stretch their food dollar. These participants also thought transportation was more important than senior center respondents did. In addition there was considerable interest and importance given to mental health issues (46% said it would be important to have a counselor who would come to their home). Interestingly 53% of these participants thought it was important to have someone help write checks to pay bills. 38% indicated that they need help with dental care.

The surveys completed by clients of a community action agency, Shawnee Development Council, gives us some interesting responses. This agency administers the energy assistance program for lower income individuals, and most of these surveys were done when people came in to apply for help. As such, they may fairly accurately reflect the needs of those who are the poorest and most needy in our area. For these surveys, 85.4% were 60 and over, and 14.6% were under 60. While only 50% of this group said meals at centers were important, 83% said having enough food in the house was important, 56% said that food stamps were important, and 73% said food pantries were important. This might indicate that a significant portion of this group may not know how senior center meals can help them stretch their budget. However, since 65% say transportation is an issue, just getting to the meal site may be a problem. A very high percentage (93%) said help paying for medications was important. 68% of this group said they needed help in fixing up their home, and 61% thought help getting an emergency response system was important. Many in this group (56%) thought that recreational and educational issues, such as “day trips” were important. A significant number(45%) also thought that help with issues such as grief and loss or having a counselor was important.

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Note: Services available in Southern Illinois are listed in our Resource Guide on Aging.

Use this link to view the survey form for seniors.

Use this link to view the survey form for agencies.

Use this link to view charts of the responses.

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