K/T AAA Releases Results of Senior Needs Survey

On May 13, the Kings/Tulare Area Agency on Aging (K/T AAA) released the results of its survey of seniors, and their caregivers and others who work with them.

The agency's new four-year area plan outlines its future activities based on the responses to the survey questions.

The top priorities of the seniors interviewed included transportation solutions, nutritional support, technology assistance, home safety modifications, recreation and socialization. The main concerns of caregivers included training, long-term care guidance, caregiver counseling services and general caregiving information.

The survey's findings reinforced those in The Rural Master Plan on Aging, the report presented in October by the Kings/Tulare Master Plan for Aging Advisory Committee and incorporated into the state's Master Plan for Aging.

Even though the results were expected to be similar, K/T AAA had to conduct its own survey and report its own findings. Every year, the agency is required by the California Department of Aging to create an area plan. Usually this is an update to previous plans, but every fourth year a full area plan needs to be created.

"This year happened to be our full area plan," said Dayna Wild, K/T AAA director, who was given a tight schedule to produce the plan.

EvalCorp, based in Irvine, was brought in as a consultant to help the process and analysis.

Stakeholders participating in the survey included seniors and those serving seniors, many of whom were contacted through 30 different organizations. Some of the surveys were conducted online, while other responses were to questions asked in person or through the mail.

"For the community survey of older adults, our aim was to understand their perspectives on available services and identify areas of need," said Risë VanTichelt, K/T AAA Adult Services unit manager.

"We reached out to older adults aged 60 and up in Kings and Tulare counties, inviting them to participate through paper and online surveys available in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Hmong for inclusivity. We received a total of 405 completed surveys.

"Next, there were three focus groups, with a total of 62 participants," she continued. "These were held at senior centers in Hanford, Culter-Orosi and Porterville. We also invited Kings and Tulare County service providers to participate in an online provider survey. In total, 83 surveys were completed."

Bobbie Wartson, executive director of the Kings County Commission on Aging, and Jason Kemp Van Ee, Social Services Program manager for the Kings County Human Services Agency, helped to coordinate the efforts in Kings County.

Data from sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau, the California Department of Aging, Gallup and the California Department of Public Health were incorporated into the results.

As a result of the survey's findings, K/T AAA will be improving its outreach efforts to assist as many seniors as possible, according to Wild.

"Then we will start addressing some of the other concerns, such as transportation and nutrition," she said. "Our belief is that seniors and individuals with disabilities should first be informed about all the services the community offers.

"We are developing a coordinated care system and aiming to establish a single phone number for seniors to call, so that the information they need is easily accessible," she added.

According to its report, K/T AAA also plans to, "Look for opportunities where we can expand services, taking into consideration funding barriers; look for opportunities to expand information in additional languages and for persons with disabilities; and continue to work with as many service providers to reduce barriers and increase access to services."

K/T AAA is currently hosting roundtable meetings with others serving older adults in the community.

If you would like to be involved, call (559) 624-8061 or e-mail ktaaa@tularecounty.ca.gov.

"It will take a community effort to serve the growing population of seniors," said Wild.