September 23, 2009

“Catawba County is conducting a comprehensive planning process that promotes the development of a livable and senior-friendly community,” said Tami Hefner, Adult Social Work Program Manager with Catawba County Social Services. “We would appreciate having as many seniors as possible take the time to complete and return this survey. The information will remain confidential and will be very helpful as we work to build a livable and senior-friendly community.”

Anyone interested in obtaining a copy of the survey, or who has questions about it, should contact Hefner at 828-695-5607.

The survey is part of the work of an Aging Planning Leadership Team, a partnership of the Western Piedmont Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging and Catawba County Social Services. The Team will develop a plan that addresses the needs of adults age 60 and over, and lead a collaborative planning process to determine Catawba County’s “aging readiness” to provide programs, policies and services that meet the needs of a growing older population, families and caregivers.

The Catawba County Board of Commissioners appointed citizens to serve on one of four sub-committees (Healthy Aging; Access and Choice in Services and Supports; Safety and Security; and Public Accountability and Responsiveness) for the first phase of the project. Phase II will focus on Physical and Accessible Environment; Economic Security; Technology; and Social and Cultural Opportunities. At the conclusion of the planning process, a written plan will be developed outlining the issues addressed, unmet needs, under-met needs and strategies to serve as Catawba County’s guide to building a livable and senior-friendly community.

The survey includes four pages and can be completed in only a few minutes’ time. It begins with demographic questions about the respondent, including whether they are retired or a professional working with seniors, their age range, and about housing circumstances. It continues by asking how the person would rate his or her quality of life and overall health.

The survey then presents eleven questions on health care, which ask the respondent to report how much they use health care services and how available those services are for that respondent. This includes questions about the level of information and counseling services related to direct health care access. Seven questions on safety and security follow, including questions on the responding person’s feelings of safety, response from public safety and law enforcement officials, and whether the respondent has been a victim of fraud or identity theft or has reported incidents of abuse.

The survey asks respondents to report on various activities, such as whether they participate in volunteer activities, religious or spiritual activities, visiting of family and friends, providing assistance to family and friends, caring for pets, participating in senior activities, doing housework, working for pay, or are involved in sports and hobbies. It then ends with a series of questions that ask the citizen to say if they feel valued as a senior, if their culture or language is valued, about their access to and choices among a wide variety of services for seniors, and whether the respondent sees a low, medium or high need in his or her community for a variety of services.

“We are also asking individuals and agencies working with seniors to encourage others to complete our survey,” Hefner concluded. “We would appreciate hearing from any groups that are able to distribute and collect surveys.”

A copy of the survey may be downloaded here, printed out, completed and mailed.  Completed surveys may also be returned by mail to:

Tami Hefner, Adult Services Program Manager
Catawba County Social Services
PO Box 669
Newton, NC 28658

For more information on the survey, please contact Tami Hefner at 828-695-5607.