Melrose Council on Aging Shares Results of Community Needs Assessment
By Patrick DeVivo
On Wednesday, October 9th, the Melrose Council on Aging hosted a public forum to present the results of a recent community needs assessment commissioned by the city. The assessment focused on issues facing the senior population in Melrose. It was conducted by UMass Boston’s Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging and consisted of key informant interviews, focus groups with stakeholders, and a survey of the city’s 55-and-older population, all of which took place in the fall of 2023.
The assessment provides the Council on Aging with valuable information to help develop and enhance programs and services for Melrose seniors. The assessment is expected to raise the awareness within other city departments and local organizations regarding the needs and expectations of this portion of Melrose residents. It will also support the city’s efforts to be designated an Age and Dementia Friendly Community.
The assessment is a response to an evolving Melrose population. Between 2010 and 2020 Melrose residents 60 years and older experienced the largest growth as a percentage of the entire city population. At the same time, 74% of current residents 80 years and older and 71% of residents between age 70 and 79 years feel it is very important to remain living in Melrose as they age.
Focus groups and interviews revealed that Melrose seniors most value the small-town feel of the city. They appreciate the easy accessibility they have to Boston while living in a city that is walkable and offers many open spaces.
Focus groups also tapped into a level of anxiety over the city's affordability due to increasing property taxes and escalating housing prices. Related concerns were also raised over the insufficient availability of in-home support services and the belief that past city leaders did not focus enough attention on the needs of the city’s seniors.
A needs assessment is not a quality score or ranking. Rather it is a prospective process to determine the aspects of a group that require the most immediate attention and resources. Overall, the UMass assessment recommends continued or increased focus on areas such as financial security, housing, transportation, outdoor spaces, community support, social participation, use of the Milano Center and communication.
Erica Brown, Executive Director of the Council on Aging, expressed pleasure with the assessment results since they affirmed the efforts of her staff to date while providing a clearer understanding of where they should focus these efforts in the future.
As Brown noted during the presentation of the results, “We are committed to using this data to better understand the current and future needs of older adults in Melrose. We have already taken steps to address some of the concerns in the report and will continue to work to improve our offerings.”
She added, “The Melrose Council on Aging wants to thank the team at UMASS Boston for their hard work conducting this survey. We’re also thankful for the 1,396 residents who took the time to complete the survey and make their voices heard.”
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