REPORT TO SENIOR ADVISORY COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Senior Needs Assessment Administrative Draft for Review and Comment
Report
BACKGROUND
On October 25, 2016 Council adopted a resolution authorizing the City to participate in the World Health Organization's Age-Friendly City Global Network. Santa Clara is committed to being an age-friendly community that promotes the health and wellbeing of residents of all ages. In May 2017, the City of Santa Clara initiated a Senior Needs Assessment (Assessment) to better understand how to align Santa Clara's existing services and efforts to become more age-friendly with the current needs of older adults. Working with senior serving agencies, the Parks & Recreation Department developed and conducted the Assessment to provide Council with information about Santa Clara's older residents in the age-friendly domains of: Economics and Employment; Community; Housing; Outdoor Spaces and Buildings; Transportation and Streets; Health, Wellness, and Nutrition; Social and Civic Engagement; and Access to Community Resources and Information. Together with findings from the 2010 Senior Needs Assessment, the City is positioned to work in collaboration with the Senior Advisory Commission, community partners, and agencies to better align programs and services with Senior needs and priorities.
The Santa Clara Parks and Recreation Department 2017 Senior Needs Assessment focused on understanding the priorities and interests of older adult residents of Santa Clara ages 50 and over. Sources of data collection included online and paper surveys that were available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, and focus groups offered in English, Spanish, and Mandarin. A total of 785 residents completed online or paper surveys and 31 Santa Clara older adult residents participated in seven focus groups. Outreach for the survey was conducted at the Santa Clara Senior Center, senior resident facilities, community events, and locations visited by older adults s...
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