Friday , 29 March 2024

2021 Lorain County Older Adults Needs Assessment Results

Lorain County Office on Aging Older Adults Needs Assessment and Long-Term Care Cost Analysis: Executive Summary, November 2021

The Lorain County Office on Aging (LCOOA) provides services and supports so Lorain County residents can age successfully in the place they choose to call home. The priority of the office is to treat all individuals with dignity and respect. By offering services for seniors and partnering with multiple agencies and programs, LCOOA both serves and empowers clients and families to direct their own aging journey.

“Lauren Ksiazek, the Director of the LCOOA, has been in the lead advocating for our seniors and has been at the forefront of the issues facing our seniors today,” reports Lorain County Commissioner Michelle Hung. “The commissioners supported this recent survey to be able to forecast their needs as the senior population grows in the next decade. Her strategies to support families and caregivers will see our aging population thrive and to help them continue their involvement in their communities.”

Older Lorain residents want to Age in Place

Older adults throughout the United States consistently indicate they wish to remain in their homes as they age for as long as possible. This trend holds true in Lorain County. One of the top concerns of older adults in Lorain County related is the fear of being placed in a long-term care facility. Ninety-seven percent of residents say it is very important or somewhat important to be able to stay in their homes as they age. Over 95% of home delivered meal clients felt it was very important to remain in their homes.

Getting Connected

  • Older adults in Lorain County are fairly well connected to the internet. Using the internet is the number one method older adults listed for accessing information about community services.
  • The most common challenge faced by older adults in Lorain County when seeking help with aging needs is not knowing where or who to call, followed by not qualifying for the services they need.

Transportation, Nutrition and Housing are top concerns of Lorain County Older Adults

  • Lorain County ranks low on access to public transportation. While a large majority of older residents reported that they drive themselves, those who do not drive struggle with finding safe, reliable and affordable transportation, particularly to medical appointments outside of the county.
  • One in four older adults in Lorain County worries that they will run out of food before they can get more. A small number of survey respondents were enrolled in SNAP and some expressed frustration at the low level of the benefit.
  • Residents who are both older adults and renters struggle with housing affordability in Lorain County. Over half of renters are cost-burdened by their housing. More than 50 percent of renters aged 60 and over have incomes below $25,000, and over 15 percent have been behind in their rent and have worried about being evicted.

More Support is Needed

  • Caregivers are interested in respite programs to help them manage the stress and isolation that often accompanies caregiving responsibilities. Caregivers would also like the opportunity to have “on-the-job” training to gain skills specifically related to the care their care recipient.
  • An estimated 18,000 older adult households in Lorain County may struggle to afford home-based aging supports and services. Those with incomes between $25,000 and $75,000 are likely to be over the income for Medicaid and Medicaid waiver programs but without enough financial resources to privately pay for the recommended level of services and supports.

2021 Older Adults Needs Assessment Findings Summary

Prepared by: Lauren Ksiazek, Executive Director, Lorain County Office on Aging

Survey Method

The Lorain County Board of Elections voter registration database was used to randomly select 2,000 residents of Lorain County over the age of 60 to receive a mailed survey. Oversampling occurred in zip codes with higher rates of latinx residents and residents at or below 100% of the federal poverty guideline, in order to ensure these groups were included in the primary data response. Paper surveys were also provided to aging network providers in Lorain County to disseminate to their clients. Additionally, the paper survey was digitalized and shared using links via email and social media. The survey was translated into Spanish and a local Latinx social service agency assisted with disseminating to their clients. A total of 680 valid surveys were received. This exceeded the number needed to have a confidence level of 95 or greater and we can conclude the results of the survey are representative of the older adult community in Lorain County.

Key Demographics

The race and ethnicity breakdown of older adults in Lorain County is as follows: 92% white, 6% Black, 1% Asian and less than 1% American Indian and Alaskan Native. Those with an ethnicity of Latinx descent is 5%. Educational attainment was measured as higher educational attainment has a positive correlation with positive health outcomes and mortality. 12.8% have less than a high school diploma, 36% have a high diploma or equivalent, 30% have some college or associate’s degree and 21% have a bachelor’s degree or higher. 58% of Lorain County older adults are married, 20% are widowed, 15% divorced and 1% are separated. 15.5% of Lorain County old adults have veteran status and 34% live with a disability. 73.4% of Lorain County older adults are no longer active in the labor force. 8% of Lorain County older adults live in poverty and 7% are poverty-adjacent, meaning their income is between 100 and 150% of the federal poverty line. Lastly, 25% of Lorain County’s population is over the age of 60. This percentage is expected to grow steadily until 2030, before tapering by 2040 and beyond.

Key Findings

97% of respondents report wanting to remain in their home as they age. This is higher than the national average of 93%. The top concern of older adults in Lorain County is being placed in a nursing facility or being viewed as unable to care for themselves.

An estimated 18,000 older adults in Lorain County may struggle to afford home-based aging supports and services. Those with incomes between $25,000 and $75,000 are likely not to qualify for Medicaid Waiver programs but do not have the financial resources to privately pay for the recommended level of services and supports.

Older adult renters in Lorain County are disproportionately cost-burdened, meaning they pay more than 30% of their income towards shelter.

A majority of older adults residents in Lorain County reported that they still drive but those that do not reported difficulty with locating safe, reliable and affordable transportation services.

Lorain County older adults reported being well connected to the internet (88%) and it was the top selection when asked about how they access services they need in the community.

1 in 4 older adults in Lorain County reported concerns about running out of food before they could get more. Only 40% reported access to home delivered meals in their immediate area.

During the caregiver focus groups, the overwhelming need was respite services so caregivers can better manage the stress, anxiety and isolation that often accompanies the role of caregiving.

4 Key Focus Areas for the Future

Providing accessible and affordable community-based services and supports (home delivered meals, homemaker services, transportation services, adult daycare etc.). The data from the 2021 Lorain County Older Adults Needs Assessment can be used to inform policymakers at the local, state and federal level and can be used to educate and leverage additional funding dollars from various private and public sources. Additionally, the data will allow Older American Act providers to leverage their current OAA funding to expand their current programming.

Providing basic needs to Lorain County older adults- nutrition, transportation and affordable/safe housing. Increasing access to healthy food options, such as home delivered meals and Senior Food Boxes, will improve food security among older adults in Lorain County. Expanding access to safe, reliable and door-to-door transportation, particularly to medical appointments, will be essential to increase positive health outcomes among older adults in Lorain County. Locating partners willing to provide safe and affordable housing for older adult renters so they can afford to live comfortably and independently.

Developing a caregiver safety net in Lorain County. Implementing an accessible and affordable respite option for caregivers, increased education for caregivers and better access to mental health and self-care resources for caregivers.

Providing education and training on the use of technology devices so Lorain County older adults can remain connected to their community and access needed programs that now require online applications. Providing education on the affordability of aging and dispelling the myths surrounding what Medicare, Medicaid and Long-Term Care Insurance will cover. Ideally, this should start well before an individual retires.

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