STUDY: Aurora’s older adults face housing, transportation and healthcare challenges

AURORA | After nearly two years of planning, data collection and community engagement, Aurora officials say they have completed an assessment of what the city’s older adults need from the community.

The conclusion? Older Aurora residents need a lot to help them stay healthy, working, connected and living at home.

“The impacts to older adults really hit every area and aspect of the city, not just” parks and recreation, said Nicole Ankeney, manager of Planning, Design and Construction for Parks, Recreation and Open Space. 

In an effort to guide future planning, programs, and resources for residents older than 60, the Older Adult Needs Assessment was developed by the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Department in partnership with the Aurora Commission for Older Adults and JSI Research and Training Institute, a research partner. 

Preparation began in 2022, with parks department staff working alongside the Eppley Institute and the Commission for Older Adults to draft the project’s scope of services. JSI was selected to lead the work in January 2023.

“The purpose and focus of the study was to carry out a community-driven comprehensive assessment, supported by data collection and analysis of the needs of older adults,” Ankeney said.

There were two phases involving older adults in Aurora. 

The first was an “environmental scan,” which was a review of demographics, housing, health and services. Ankeney said they found that 63% of older adult renters and 30% of homeowners are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on housing. 

They also found that about 35% of older adults are in the labor force, while transportation gaps persist despite many residents living within walking distance of RTD bus and light-rail stops.

The second phase consisted of community engagement, Ankeney said, including 18 key informant interviews, nine focus groups, four information sharing sessions, targeted outreach and a survey that collected 550 responses. 

“The Aurora commission for older adults, really assisted us with some of the recommendations on key groups and also assisted significantly with promoting our survey,” Ankeney said.

Residents who relayed information said they had challenges with difficulty in downsizing homes, they also had issues with limited caregiver resources, long waitlists for paratransit services, widespread feelings of isolation and depression, and concerns about safety and fraud.

Many of those who participated said they lack digital literacy and do not know where to find services, 41% do not feel valued, 50% lack access to skill-building, work and volunteering opportunities, 39% do not feel safe in their community and 66% feel at risk of fraud, according to the findings.

Many of the requests they received from older adults were for a combination of translation, recreation programs, or the expansion of existing recreation programs, additional protected walkways, and more police presence, Ankeney said. 

The assessment and the final recommendations were organized around three “domains of livability,” according to Ankeney.

• Aging in Place- housing, transportation and access to community resources.
  
• Healthy Living- physical and mental health, medical care and caregiver support.
  
• Community Connections- social participation, communication and safety.
  

There were also aspects of Aurora that residents praised, including the city’s diversity, the Center for Active Adults, Silver Sneakers classes, and parks and recreation centers.

There were 108 recommendations in total, which were tiered from low-cost steps to long-term projects that require new funding and partnerships. The older adult’s suggestions included expanding home repair supports, increasing caregiver services, enhancing transportation options and improving communication about available resources.

Ankeny said they also included adopting age-friendly practices as a tier one, participating in Colorado’s statewide multi-sector plan on aging as a tier two, and exploring the creation of an Office on Aging as a tier three.

“The Aurora Commission for Older Adults provided significant feedback throughout the entire project,” Ankeny said. “That collaboration is going to be critical to the success of implementing these recommendations.”

Councilmember Ruben Medina also said he could help connect many resources, especially in the area where the active adult center is located. 

“This is really about community needs,” Ankeny said. “Some of these recommendations may be fantastic recommendations, but may or may not be suited to be led by the city. They may be suited for another organization. What’s important is that we now have the data and the framework to move forward.”

If city council members support the conclusions, the assessment will be incorporated into the city’s strategic plan and individual departmental plans. Parks department officials have already identified eight recommendations it can begin implementing within its existing budget, including supporting a microtransit pilot project now under review, Ankeny said.

Acknowledging the assessment will also strengthen Aurora’s ability to secure outside funding for aging-related services and infrastructure, city staff said in the city council packet.