HomeMy WebLinkAboutRPT 4 SR CITZ ASSESS 06-15-81DATE: June 8, 1981
REPORTS
6-15-81
NO. 4
Inter-Corn
Honorable Mayor and City Council
TO: Via Interim City Administrator Charles R. Thayer [
FROM: Royleen A. White, Director of Community Service~'
SUBJECT: sENIOR CITIZENS NEEDS ASSESSMENT ' k~
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The attached assessment is for Council's information. There are no recommenda-
tions at this time. Council is requested to review the document at leisure and
to contact staff should any questions arise.
BACKGROUND:
As Council is aware, last September several seniors voiced the need for a senior
citizen center at a hearing of the Orange County Senior Citizens Advisory Council.
At that time, staff was formulating an assessment tool which would address this
and other senior needs. Also last fall, the City Council created a Senior
Citizens Coordinating Council which has been meeting regularly and which has
assisted with survey formulation, implementation, and compilation. The attached
is a result of more than 550 hours of community volunteer and staff work. The
interviews (which were all personal/one-on-one experiences) began in November 1980
and continued through April 1981. The data was compiled during May and June,
and the final report is attached. Three hundred sixty-seven (367) senior adults
were interviewed by staff members and community volunteers.
SENIOR CITIZENS COORDINATING COUNCIL INVOLVEMENT:
The preliminary report has been reviewed by the Senior Citizens Coordinating
Council, and at this time the Coordinating Council has no specific recommenda-
tions; under discussion are the need for a senior center and solutions to the
housing problem. The Coordinating Council is aware that funds for design work
on a senior citizens center are scheduled to be included in the 1982/83
Capital Improvements Plan; while it could be desirable to commence sooner,
Coordinating Council members realize the City's fiscal limitations. Regarding
housing, City Council can see by the attached survey that this was rated the
Number 2 priority as far as needs, and the Number 1 priority as far as problems
facing seniors. The Senior Citizens Coordinating Council is committed to
investigating the housing problem and attempting to produce solutions which
involve the private sector. A sub-committee of the Coordinating Council is
informally contacting developers and others to explore private-sector assistance.
It appears that federal housing funds are decreasing, and alternative solutions
must be pursued.
While the Senior Citizens Coordinating Council has no specific recommendations
at this time, they are working on the two highest priorities: a senior center
and the housing problem. The Coordinating Council will report to the City
SENIOR CITIZENS NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Page Two
June 8, 1981
Council when they have recommendations to offer.
HIGHLIGHTS OF SURVEY FINDINGS:
1. On the service category/needs statements, the "alteration, renovation,
and/or acquisition of a multi-purpose senior center" was rated very
important to moderately important by 81% of those responding.
e
10.
11.
12.
Housing assistance was rated very important to moderately important by
65.1% of those responding to the service category/needs statements.
The recommendations for solving the problems of senior citizens were: #1,
housing solutions, and #2, a senior center.
Regarding the question, "What do you feel is the most pressing problem
faced by you as a senior citizen?", inflation was the highest vote-getter
with housing problems following closely behind.
More than 68% of the seniors contacted felt that their neighborhood was
safe, an indication of the fine work that our Police Department is doing.
Tustin has a disproportionately high number of older senior citizens. 49.9%
of the population surveyed is 70 years or older. Unfortunately, we have
not received the 1980 census detail from the federal government as yet.
When the Tustin special census was done in 1973, the number of senior
citizens 60 years and older was 2,609; staff feels that this number has
increased. On a nation-wide basis, approximately 11.3% of the population
is over 65; it appears that Tustin is higher than the national average;
however this can't be confirmed until we have the federal census data.
More than 50% of those surveyed belong to some sort of an organization
with specific programs for seniors.
More than 80% have and utilize health insurance.
More than 66% said that they had no problem getting transportation to
medical facilities. Perhaps the institution of the Orange County Dial-A-
Ride to follow-up the Tustin City Bus service has alleviated many of the
transportation problems.
52% of those surveyed still drive a car, and 55% of those surveyed still
own a car.
More than 75% of the seniors are aware of the bus service which indicates
a good information system regarding transportation.
Only 18.8% of the seniors contacted said they would be interested in
doing volunteer work, which is contrary to the notion that most people
have regarding seniors.
13. Most of the seniors contacted (80.9%) eat two or three meals a day.
RAW:ss
Attachment: Senior Citizens Needs Assessment Survey Results
CITY OF TUSTIN
COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT
SENIOR CITIZENS NEEDS ASSESSMENT
(N : 367)
YES
Member of service club or organization with
programs specifically for seniors?
1.A. If yes, how often do you attend?
Often: 117 (61.3%)
Very Often: 45 (23.6%)
Rarely: 18 (9.4%)
Never: 11 (5.7%)
1.B.
1.C,
I.D.
If no, would you join?
Yes: 117 (73.1%)
No: 43 (26.9%)
Do you know of any recreational
programs?
If yes, how frequently do you
participate?
Daily: 10 (6.0%)
Weekly: 76 (45.8%)
Once/Month: 24 (14.5%)
Other: 25 (15.1%)
NR: 31 (18.6%)
Would you participate in senior
recreation programs if more
were available?
2. Do you have health insurance?
2.A.
Where
If yes, what kind?
Medi-Cal: 62 (14.3%)
Medicare: 233 (53.6%)
Kaiser: 17 (3.9%)
Others: 123 (28.2%)
do you go for medical care?
Private Doctor: 275 (77.0%)
Health Clinic: 8 (2.2%)
County Hospital: 5 (1.4%)
Other: 12 (3.4%)
NR: 58 (16.0%)
189
(51.5%)
166
(45.2%)
223
(60.8%)
295
(80.4%)
NO
160
(43.6%)
155
(31.3%)
81
(22.1%)
10
(2.7%)
NR
18
(4.9%)
86
(23.5%)
63
(17.1%)
62
(16.9%)
SENIOR CITIZENS NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Page Two
Have you experienced transportation
problems in getting to medical facilities?
5. Do you drive a car?
6. Do you own a car?
7. Valid Driver's License
10.
11.
If no,
Yes:
No:
do you have access to a car?
57 (52.8%)
51 (47.2%)
If yes, whose car?
Friends: 9 (15.8%)
Relative: 38 (66.7%)
Taxi: I (1.7%)
NR: 9 (15.8%)
Do you pay this person?
Yes: 29 (51.8%)
No: 27 (48.2%)
IO.A. Data not valid.
How often do you use this person's car?
Very Often: 22 (38.6%)
Occasionally: 26 (45.6%)
Rarely: 9 (15.8%)
12. Do you know about bus service for seniors?
13.
If yes, how did you find out about it?
Newspaper: 53 (19.2%)
Friend: 90 (32.6%)
Community Center: 58 (21.0%)
Other: 25 (9.1%)
NR: 50 (18.1%)
14. Will you take advantage of this service?
YES
53
(14.4%)
191
(52.0%)
204
(55.6%)
2OO
(54.5~)
276
(75.2%)
223
(60.8%)
NO
243
(66.2%)
112
(30.5%)
115
(31.3%)
108
(29.4%)
54
(14.7%)
70
(19.1%)
NR
71
(19.4%)
64
(17.5%)
48
(13.1%)
59
(16.1%)
37
(10.1%)
74
(2o.1%)
SENIOR CITIZENS NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Page Three
15. If yes, how often will you use this service?
16.
Very Often:
Occasionally:
Hardly Ever:
NR:
64 (28.7%)
102 (45.7%)
36 (16.1%)
21 (9.5%)
Are you less active now due to problems
with transportation?
17. Type of work done at retirement?
If yes, what type?
Housewife 49 (18.6%)
Office Work 46 (17.5%)
Skilled Trades 26 (9.9%)
Professional 22 (8.4%)
Administration/
Management 22 (8.4%)
Sales 21 (8.0%)
Hospital 17 (6.5%)
Unskilled Trade 9 (3.4%)
Teacher 7 (2.7%)
Maintenance 6 (2.3%)
Self-Employed -6 (2.3%)
Child Care 6 (2.3%)
Blue Collar 6 (2.3%)
Clerk/Cashier 4 (1.5%)
Food Services 4 (1.5%)
Arts/Professional 3 (1.1%)
Farming 3 (1.1%)
Military 2 (0.8%)
Mailman 2 (0.8%)
Religious 1 (0.3%)
Volunteer 1 (0.3%)
18. Are you working now?
19.
20.
18.A.
If no, are you seeking employment?
Yes: 23 (8.2%)
No: 209 (74.4%)
NR: 49 (17.4%)
18.B. Data not valid.
Would you be interested in doing volunteer
work?
How do you receive information regarding
programs/activities?
Newspaper: 89 (24.3%)
Friend 79 (21.5%)
Comm Cntr Bulletins: 172 (46.9%)
Other: 27 (7.3%)
YES
90
(24.5%)
263
(71.7%)
35
(9.5%)
69
(18.8%)
NO
206
(56.1%)
281
(76.6%)
221
(60.2%)
NR
71
(19.4%)
104
(28.4%)
51
(13.9%)
77
(21.0%)
SENIOR CITIZENS NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Page Four
YES
NO
NR
21, Have you taken any educational courses for
seniors?
65
(17.7%)
228
(62.1%)
74
(20.2%)
22.
If no, would you be interested in taking
these courses?
Yes: 9 (3.9%)
No: 157 (68.9%)
NR: 62 (27.2%)
23.
How many meals a day do you normally eat?
One: 8 (2.2%)
Two: 94 (25.6%)
Three: 203 (55.3%)
Four: 2 (0.5%)
NR: 60 (16.4%)
24. Have you ever participated in the TLC Program?
24.A. If yes, how did you find out about it?
Newspaper: 10 (6.4%)
Friend: 65 (41.7%)
Comm Cntr Bulletin: 68 (43.5%)
Other: 13 (8.4%)
Age
60 or below: 31 (8.4%)
61-63: 21 (5.7%)
64-66: 34 (9.3%)
67-69: 51 (13.9%)
70 +: 183 (49.9%)
NR: 47 (12,8%)
85
(23.2%)
195
(53.1%)
87
(23.7%)
26.
Marital Status
Married: 116 (31.6%)
Divorced: 35 (9.5%)
Single: 9 (2.5%)
Widowed: 170 (46.3%)
NR: 37 (10.1%)
27.
Present Living Arrangements
Alone: 178 (48.
5%)
With Spouse: 104 (28.3%)
With Other
Relative: 28 (7.6%)
With Unrelated
Person: 13 (3.5%)
NR: 44 (12.1%)
SENIOR CITIZENS NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Page Five
28. Do you feel your neighborhood is safe?
29. Do you own your own home?
30.
Approximate Monthly Costs
30.A. Categories/Housing
NR: 198
Paying Rent: 63
Paying Subsidized
Rent: 41
Paying Mobile Home
Space: 45
Paying Mortgages: 16
Paying Board and
Care: 4
30.B. Breakdown by Housing
Rent Costs
$200-$225 3
$250-$275 9
$300-$325 23
$335-$350 16
$365-$400 8
$450-$475 4
Subsidized Rent Costs
$30-$40 6
$5o-$60 7
$60-$70 7
$80-$90 2
$90-$100 8
$130-$140 2
$140-$160 5
$200-$250 4
Mobile Home Space Costs
$75-$85 3
$95-$115 5
$145-$155 10
$170-$180 11
$200-$250 14
$300 2
Mortgage Payment Costs
$100-$150 4
$180-$225 3
$270-$285 6
$295-$325 3
(53.8%)
(17.2%)
(11.2%)
(12.3%)
(4.4%)
(1.1%)
Category
(3.4%)
(14.3%)
(36.5%)
(25.4%)
(12.7%)
(6.3%)
(14.6%)
(17.1%)
(17.1%)
(4.2%)
(19.5%)
(4.9%)
(12.2%)
(9.8%)
(6.7%)
(11.1%)
(22.2%)
(24.4%)
(31.1%)
(4.5%)
(25.0%)
(18.8%)
(37.4%)
(18.8%)
YES
250
(68.1~)
136
(37.1%)
NO
{20.0%)
179
(48.8%)
NR
(11.9~)
52
(14.1%)
SENIOR CITIZENS NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Page Six
Board and Care Costs
30. C.
$680 2 (50.0%)
$750 2 (50.0%)
Electrical Utility Costs
NR: 215 (58.6%)
Responses Listed
Below: 152 (41.4%)
$4-$10 21 (13.8%)
$11-$15 62 (40.7%)
$17-$20 20 (13.2%)
$22-$25 20 (13.2%)
$30-$40 20 (13.2%)
$50-$60 6 (3.9%)
$80-$90 2 (1.3%)
$125 1 (0.7%)
30.D.
Gas Utility Costs
NR: 261
(71.1%)
Responses Listed
Below: 106 (28.9%)
$40-$10 57 (53.8%)
$12-$19 24 (22.6%)
$20-$25 15 (14.2%)
$35-$45 8 (7.5%)
$75 2 (1.9%)
31. Do you receive Social Security?
32.
Do you receive income from?
Railroad Retire-
merit: 9 (2.5%)
Teacher's Retire-
ment: 4 (1.1%)
Civil Service: 16 (4.4%)
Private Retire-
ment: 33 (9.0%)
Stocks/Bonds: 30 (8.2%)
Interest from
Savings: 103 (28.1%)
Insurance Annu-
ities: 8 (2.2%)
Income Property: 11 (3.0%)
Support from
Family Member: 14 (3.8%)
Veteran's Pension:19 (5.2%)
Other: 30 (8.2%)
NR: 90 (24.3%)
YES
292
(79.6%)
NO
38
(10.4%)
NR
37
(lO.O )
SENIOR CITIZENS NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Page Seven
33.
34.
What do you feel is the most pressing
problem facing you as a senior citizen?
List of Problems:
Cost of Living
(inflation): 73
High Rents/Housing
Shortage: 62 (18.7%)
Health: 44 (13.1%)
Medical Costs: 23 (6.9%)
Transportation: 22 (6.6%)
Security/Crime: 11 (3.3%)
Food Costs: 10 (3.0%)
House Help: 7 (2.1%)
Mobility: 7 (2.1%)
Age: 7 (2.1%)
Recreation/Social
Activities: 6 (1.8%)
In-Home Supportive
Services: 3 (0.9%)
Lack of Employ-
ment: 3 (0.9%)
Taxes 3 (1.0%)
Other: 5 (1.5%)
No Problems: 22 (6.6%)
(22.0%)
How would you recommend solving these
problems?
List of Solutions:
Low Cost Senior
Housing/Lower
Rents/Rent Freeze/
Shared Housing: 42 (27.4%)
Senior Center/Social
Activities/Service
Agencies/Volunteer:33 (21.5%)
More Social Se-
curity: 13 (8.5%)
Reduce Taxes: 8 (5.2%)
Political/Vote/
Write Congress-
man/Demonstra-
tion/Violence: 7 (4.6%)
Economize
Individually: 6 (3.9%)
Survive Best As
You Can: 6 (3.9%)
More Buses, better
routes, Dial-A-
Ride: 6 (3.9%)
Medical Aid: 5 (3.3%)
Religion 3 (2.0%)
YES
332
(9o.5~)
153
(41.7%)
NO
NR
(9.5%)
214
(58.3%)
SENIOR CITIZENS NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Page Eight
Longer Jail
Tems:
Freeze Hospital
Costs:
Better Understand-
ing of Senior
Needs:
Group Pressure:
Employment:
Other:
3 (2.0%)
3 (2.0%)
3 (2.0%)
2 (1.3%)
2 (1.3%)
7 (4.6%)
YES
NO
NR
SENIOR CITIZENS NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Page Nine
SERVICE CATEGORIES
Percentage of
Respondents
Stating "Very
Important, Im-
portant, and
Moderately Im-
portant''
Alteration, renovation & acquisition of
Multi-Purpose Senior Center 81.7%
Services to disabled Seniors 69.5%
Transportation 68.7%
Housing Assistance 65.1%
Congregate Meals 61.6%
Emergency Service (Disaster Relief) 61.3%
Home-Delivered Meals 60.5%
Legal Services 57.5%
Recreation 54.0%
Homemaker and Health Aid 53.4%
Friendly Visiting 53.4%
Arts and Crafts 52.6%
Nutrition Education 52.6%
Elder Care and Health Screening 52.1%
Telephone Reassurance 52.0%
Crime Prevention and Training 51.2%
Non-Medical Emergency 51.0%
Home Repairs and Renovation 49.9%
Shopping Assistance 49.3%
Day Care Center 48.8%
Information and Referral 48.2%
Physical Fitness/Exercise 46.1%
Chore Maintenance 44.7%
Hospice Services 44.1%
Counseling-Tax and Financial 44.1%
Outreach 42.5%
Continuing Education 42.0%
Nursing Home Ombudsman 41.4%
Escort Services 41.4%
Counseling-Personal 40.6%
Preinstitution Screening 40.6%
Counseling-Preretirement and Second Career 36.0%
Letter Writing Services 36.0%
Reader Services 35.4%
Percentage of
Respondents
Stating
"Slightly Im-
portant, and
Less Important"
4.4%
0.5%
6.5%
4.4%
7.9%
2.2%
3.3%
5.5%
4.1%
3.5%
6.3%
7.6%
7.1%
5.4%
6.5%
3.3%
3.3%
10.1%
10.4%
8.4%
5.2%
9.5%
6.5%
3.8%
10.1%
5.2%
10.4%
8.2%
10.6%
9.8%
7.9%
14.7%
13.1%
15.3%
Percentage of
Respondents
With No
Reply
13.9%
30.0%
24.8%
30.5%
30.5%
36.5%
36.2%
37.0%
41.9%
43.1%
40.3%
39.8%
40.3%
42.5%
41.5%
45.5%
45.7%
40.0%
40.3%
42.8%
46.6%
44.4%
48.8%
52.1%
45.8%
52.3%
47.6%
50.4%
48.0%
49.6%
5i.5
49.3%
50.9%
49.3%
SENIOR CITIZENS NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Page Ten
ASSESSMENT SITE DETAIL
NUMBER
SITE OF SURVEYS
Senior Citizens Club 80
TLC 77
Tustin Gardens 56
Assistance League Senior Program 31
Tustin Community Hospital 23
Brighton Terrace 23
Tustin Village Way 15
Santiago Mobile Park 14
Motesillo Mobile Park 12
Tustin Verde Condominiums 12
Orange Garden Apartments 9
Hall Circle 9
Goldenagers 2
Redhill Lutheran Church 2
Tustin Area Women's Club 1
First Christian Church 1
TOTAL 367
PERCENTAGE
OF TOTAL
21.8
21.0
15.3
8.4
6.3
6.3
4.1
3.8
3.3
3.3
2.5
2.5
0.5
0.5
0.2
0.2
100.0
Data Collected: November 1980-April 1981
Data Compiled: May 1981