Transcript Slide 1

BLCP Year One–
Outcomes of
Conversing with the Community
Jennifer Wallace-Brodeur
AARP Vermont
What is the Burlington Livable
Community Project?
A collaborative process between AARP Vermont,
City of Burlington, “stakeholder” organizations
and residents of Burlington, articulating a vision
for increasing Burlington’s livability as its
population ages.
Year One – Four Major
Research Activities
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Focus Groups
Citizen/Stakeholder
Groups
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Housing, Mobility,
Community Engagement
Pedestrian Evaluation
Telephone Survey
Wisdom gleaned
from citizen
participants
“I take the car to places I could walk
because getting across the street
[Shelburne Road] is so difficult.”
“When you get old, you’re no longer who you were…
nobody knows you except as an old person.
The fact is, we have a treasure trove of experience
and interesting things to share.”
“There’s things Burlington has to offer if you have really great
resources. You can find a terrific place to live. And I think if you are in
a poverty situation, you can find some place to live. But that middle –
when I sell my house to downsize, where am I going to go?”
BLCP Survey of Age 45+
Burlington Residents
Survey Participants by
Neighborhood
37% Male
63% Female
Age Breakdown of Respondents
14%
18%
Old North End
9%
New North End
20%
South End
26%
45-54
Downtown
24%
35%
55-64
Hill Section
65-74
24%
75+
30%
BLCP Survey of Age 45+
Burlington Residents
Education Level
Income of Survey Respondents
35%
College
+
53%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
Less than
$35,000
$35K $75,000
$ Over
$75,000
HS or
less
26%
HS or less
Some College
Some
College
21%
College +
Housing
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77% own; 23% rent
1/3 of renters in senior
housing; rest are in nonage restricted housing
38% live alone; 52%
with spouse or partner;
29% live with family; 3%
friend
Housing
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Residents living alone more likely to
live downtown (71%) or in the Old
North End (50%)
Among those living alone about ½
would consider homesharing –
support for this declines with age
90% agree with the statement: “What
I’d really like to do is stay in my
neighborhood [and home] for as long
as possible.”
Housing
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Residents in ONE and Downtown more worried
about crime, conflict with neighbors and
neighborhood changing in ways they don’t like
Items that make it difficult to stay in own home or
community
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Financial issues top the list such as affording property
taxes, rent, and utilities
Significant # concerned about factors that could limit their
independence such as not being able to drive and getting
help with personal care and chores
Mobility
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Majority of 45+ get out at least 5x/week
Residents 75+ get out
much less frequently: compared to
younger residents they are 2x as likely to
get out only 2x per week or less
Lower income and lower education
residents also get out less frequently
Mobility
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76% of residents 45+ drive
as primary mode of transportation
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65% for those 75 and older drive as primary mode
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College educated more likely to walk or drive. Those with
less education more likely to get a ride, or take a taxi or
bus
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Residents 75+ more frequently miss out on opportunities
because of lack of transportation – true for lower income
and lesser education
Mobility
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30% use the bus occasionally; of these 40% report taking the
bus within the past 2 months
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Residents with income below $35K take the bus more
frequently: 53% reported taking the bus at least weekly in past
2 months
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Negatives about the bus:
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Lack of weekend or evening service
Lack of adequate shelter or place to sit while waiting
Inconvenient schedules
#1 Reason for not using the bus – 52% report they drive or
have other transportation
Community
Engagement
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About 60% of residents are part of some kind of
group – same percentage volunteer.
Likelihood of being engaged in some kind of
group increases with education and income.
Likelihood of volunteering decreases with age but
increases with income and education.
Community
Engagement
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Those 75+ cite health or disability and lack of
transportation as reasons they don’t volunteer.
Generally good awareness of community activities
for older residents and high marks for convenient
meeting places and well-run community centers,
rec centers, etc.
Educational opportunities topped the list of
activities people wanted in Burlington.
Recommended
Actions
HOUSING
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INFRASTRUCTURE
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Develop senior housing game plan with range of options across income
levels, ensuring that new housing or redeveloped sites prioritize access to
public transportation and elder services
Design housing to boomer preferences – multi-generational, smart design,
convenient to services & activities
Develop programs for upgrading existing housing stock to better serve the
needs of elders
Encourage creative thinking in meeting future housing needs – home
sharing, cooperatives, continuing care communities and accessory
apartments
Provide more dementia care facilities, assisted living residences and
supportive housing options for low and middle income residents
Recommended
Actions
HOUSING
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AGING IN PLACE SERVICES
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Facilitate growth of support services; explore development of
naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs) with a hub
that provides services to the neighborhood
Enhance communication of information and networking amongst
agencies with targeted services for elders
Advocate at the state and national level for increased financial
support of programs delivering services to elders in their homes
Evaluate, improve and expand Housing and Support Services
(HASS) to other senior housing sites throughout the city
Recommended
Actions
MOBILITY
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PEDESTRIAN
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Prioritize pedestrian improvements – longer walk
signals for crossing major streets, ample public
benches along major routes, better lighting of bus
stops, parking lots & parking garages
Expand & enforce pedestrian friendly ordinances
for effective and safe shared use of sidewalks
between pedestrians, bicyclists, skateboarders,
and electric vehicles
Recommended
Actions
MOBILITY
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PUBLIC TRANSIT & INNOVATION
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Improve weekend and night bus service, expand service area,
and increase service frequency
Work with community and state leaders to increase funding for
public transportation
Explore partnerships with community non-profits, businesses, and
institutions to get people to events and activities
Increase marketing of the benefits and convenience of using
public transportation
Research and encourage the establishment of innovative
programs such as Zip Cars, car donation and volunteer driver
programs
Recommended
Actions
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
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SENIOR PROGRAMMING
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Build wide array of enrichment opportunities for senior population
in collaboration with senior centers, colleges, and cultural and
recreational institutions
Integrate consideration of limited mobility access issues and
other needs of older adults in event and program planning
Develop capacity within city government with an “ombudsman” or
council/commission to represent BLCP and senior issues.
Recommended
Actions
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
 TAPPING EXPERTISE OF ELDERS
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Create a city culture that recognizes and uses the rich
experiences of its elder population through strong
volunteer/mentoring programs
Work with the business community to develop innovative older
worker employment policies
Encourage seniors to share the wisdom of the senior voice
through active civic engagement on boards and committees
throughout the city
Train and organize citizens to advocate for policy change at the
state and local level.
BLCP
Stakeholders
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AARP Vermont
Burlington CEDO
Burlington City Arts
Burlington Housing Authority
Burlington Parks & Recreation
Burlington Police Department
Burlington Public Works
Cathedral Square Corporation
CCTA
Champlain Senior Center
Champlain Valley Agency on Aging
Champlain Long Term Care Coalition
Chittenden County Metropolitan Planning
Organization
Community of Vermont Elders (COVE)
Converse Home
Ethan Allen Residence
FAHC Community Health Improvement
FAHC Elder Care
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Fletcher Free Library
Greater Burlington YMCA
Heineberg Senior Center
HomeShare Vermont
Snelling Center for Government
United Way Foster Grandparents & RSVP
UVM – Department of Continuing Education
UVM Transportation Center
Vermont Interfaith Action
Vermont LGBTQ Elders Project
Vermont Refugee Resettlement Project
Visiting Nurse Association
To Get Involved in the BLCP
CONTACT:
Jennifer Wallace-Brodeur
AARP VT
112 State St. 5th Floor
Montpelier, VT 05602
802 224-1113
[email protected]
www.aarp.org/vt
Growing Older
in a Livable City
A Report on Focused Conversations with
Burlington Citizens (Age 50+)
http://www.aarp.org/research/housingmobility/indliving/vt_communities_2007.html