How do you identify the transportation needs of older adults in your community? What data sources do you use and how do you use them? What methods do you use to obtain meaningful public involvement?
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How do you identify the transportation needs of older adults in your community? What data sources do you use and how do you use them? What methods do you use to obtain meaningful public involvement?
Comments (6)
Some of the most effective TNA can be generated through focus groups of members from within the target audience.
Similarly , current literature ,stats, forcasting reports and comparisons of the past with the present available data ,while predicting the future trends can help asses the needs and therefore in planning.
Another method for meaningful public involvement can be conducting surveys, identifying users and getting thier rep as well as interviews. Uisng the electronic media esp television,or similiar that is most accessible to older adults will help generate awarness and simultaneously responses.
It is extremely important, in discussing transportation services for older adults, that public transportation systems reach out to their local Area Agency on Aging. These agencies can very easily be located by going to the ElderCare Locator at the following website (copy and paste in your browser):
http://www.eldercare.gov/Eldercare.NET/Public/Index.aspx
You can typ in your zip code, and it will take you to your local contact.
These agencies have access to data on Older Adults and their needs in our communities.
In the past we have sponsored meetings and training sessions with services providers in the community (e.g Councils on Aging, Independent living agencies, medical providers, social services agencies, state and local agencies, etc.). At these meetings, we share information with them on transportation resources available throughout the community, and obtain data from them on community needs for seniors, people with disabilities, and other people who are dependent on alternative transporation.
Greetings Colleagues,
I'm wondering if anyone uses census data, state department of aging or state department of aging data in your planning efforts. If so, can you provide a link to a sample report so we can learn more about the data you use? Thanks
Census data ain't what it used to be, but a few data sources can provide some indication. The American Community Survey (replaced the long form) has data on physical disabilities by age group. Depending on the population of your area, one would have to compile data from 3 to 5 years worth of surveys.
Simple census data by age is a good indicator - for many people, bad things start to happen at age 85.
Renal failure results in a large number of ride requests to/from dialysis. One can obtain national, state, and county level data separated by demographic group from the US Renal Data System at http://www.usrds.org/ using their Online Query System.
The Area Aging on Aging in my community includes both a Commission on Aging and a county Department on Aging. Our Area Agency makes extensive use of census data in the planning and design of senior programming, including specialized transportation for older persons.
We define specialized (or senior) transportation) as a program serving persons 60 or older who (1) do not drive, (2) are not ADA paratransit eligible, and (3) for whom the use of public transit is not feasible for reasons ranging from difficulties in accessing fixed route service to fears about personal safety. Sixty is the eligibility age for persons served under the Older Americans Act.
Data available through the Census Bureau's American FactFinder program (see below) provides a wealth of demographic information useful in transportation planning. Learning to navigate American FactFinder effectively does take time (and patience), but it is worth the effort. It enables an Area Agency to collect and analyze census information without depending solely on a regional planning commission or state agency.
http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml
American FactFinder can be used to organize census data on population and housing down to the census tract and/or block level. A key bit of information still available through the census involves persons living alone.
As Steve indicated planners must now depend on the ongoing American Community Survey (ACS) for information no longer available through the census. It is the five year ACS Summary File (2006 - 2010) just released that provides information down to the census tract or block level that we used to get through the census long form, i.e., poverty, educational attainment, marital status, etc. However, it does have a much greater margin or error than did the decennial census.
I would urge you to give American FactFinder a try when planning for senior transportation and other services for older adults.