DRAFT Senior Services Study July 22 2014 CONFIDENTIAL
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Senior Services Study December 2014 1 This report was produced by the Jewish Community Association of Greater Phoenix. The Study was conducted by Janice Friebaum, Senior Services Consultant, and overseen by Lisa Kaplan, JCA Director of Planning and Organization Relations. 2 Senior Services Study Jewish Community Association of Greater Phoenix TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Executive Summary.....................................................................................................................................5 II. Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………..8 III. Research and Information Gathering…………………………………………………………………………….………..10 A. Demographic Data and Senior Needs Assessments…………………………………………….……….11 i. Online Senior Services Survey…………………………………………………………………………11 ii. Worldwide……………………………………………………………………………………………………..14 iii. National………………………………………………………………………………………………………….14 iv. Arizona State………………………………………………………………………………………………….17 v. Maricopa County…………………………………………………………………………………………….21 vi. Scottsdale……………………………………………………………………………………………………….26 vii. Phoenix……………………………………………………………………………………………………….....27 viii. Jewish Data………………………………………………………………………………………………..…..27 ix. Summary and Highlights………………………………………………………………………………...31 x. Footnotes…………………………………………………………………………………………………...….34 B. Landscape of Local Senior Services………………………………………………………………………………37 i. Jewish Organizations…………………………………………………………………………………….…39 ii. Governmental Agencies…………………………………………………………………………………..49 iii. Nonprofit Organizations…………………………………………………………………………………..65 iv. For-Profit Providers……………………………………………………..………………………………..101 v. Synagogues/Jewish Congregations……………………………………………………..…………103 C. Perceptions and Opinions of Local Stakeholders………………………………………………….…….111 i. Seniors and Baby Boomers……………………………………………………………………....…..112 a. “Jewish Community Conversation”…………………………………………...….112 b. Focus Groups………………………………………………………………………………..113 c. Hard Copy Questionnaire.……………………………………………………………..117 d. One-on-One Interviews and Conversations…………………………………..119 iii. Family Caregivers…………………………………………………………………………………….…….121 3 iv. Rabbis…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...122 v. Senior Services Providers and Practitioners…………………………………………………..126 vi. Local Experts in the Field of Aging Services……………………………………………………130 vii. Summary……………………………………………………………………………………………………….134 D. Innovative Programs and Services and Best Practices…………………………………………………137 i. Other U.S. Jewish Communities……………………………………………………………………..137 ii. Additional Innovative Programs and Services…………………………………………………151 IV. Unmet Needs of Local Jewish Seniors…………………………………………………………………………………….179 A. Priority Unmet Needs/Gaps in Senior Services……………………………………………………………179 B. Additional Identified Unmet Needs…………………………………………………………………………….182 V. Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………..186 VI. Appendices Appendix 1 – Members of the JCA Senior Services Task Force…………………………………………………187 Appendix 2 – In-Person Interviews with Service Provider Agencies and Organizations……………188 Appendix 3 – In-Person Interviews with Jewish Congregational Leaders/Rabbis..…………………..189 Appendix 4 – Senior Services Provider Questionnaire……………………………………………………………..190 Appendix 5 – Map and Chart of Nonprofit Volunteer Programs Serving Seniors……………………..194 Appendix 6 – Hard Copy Questionnaire for Seniors, Baby Boomers, and Caregivers..................196 Appendix 7 – Online Senior Services Survey – Questions………………………………………………...........197 Appendix 8 - Online Senior Services Survey – Details of the Responses…………………………………..202 4 I. Executive Summary Jewish Community Association of Greater Phoenix Senior Services Task Force Executive Summary Introduction In 2012 the Board of Directors of the Jewish Community Association allocated funds to study the growing population of Jewish seniors in the greater Phoenix area. Study objectives were to define the size of the population that will require services, what will seniors want, what seniors will need, what we will have resources to provide and what seniors will accept. In early 2013 a consultant was hired and the study initiated. The study was completed in June 2014. The main goals of the study were to: • Better understand the current demographics and population trends of the local senior population; • Assess the range of local services available to Jewish seniors; • Identify the services that are most needed; and • Develop recommended actions to address the unmet needs of local Jewish seniors. Study methodology An exhaustive attempt was made to identify existing resources and services for seniors in the Valley of the Sun from both Jewish and non-Jewish service sectors. Interviews were conducted with service providers, service professionals, rabbis and other relevant agencies. Focus groups were held in various areas of the Valley. In addition, an online survey was conducted which had responses mainly from seniors but also from family members and members of the general population. Responses from over 1100 individuals were received, analyzed and included in the study. Federations in multiple areas of the country were queried as to how they have identified and approached similar problems and innovative solutions described. Study results Prior studies and existing resources were reviewed and suggested that in excess of 100,000 Jews currently live in the Valley of the Sun. The suggested demographics were: 68% are living in central or North Phoenix Scottsdale and Paradise Valley 23% of Jews are living in the East Valley 6% of Jews are in the West Valley The remaining small population is scattered. 5 Consistent with the country as a whole, the segment of the population greater than age 55 is expanding at a much higher rate than the general population. A wide variety and impressive number of services for seniors were found in various parts of the Valley. These were much greater than anticipated. However, many services have restrictions related to age, location, ethnicity and other qualifying factors. While a compendium of these services was listed in the study, the list of restrictions was not as well defined. Cutting edge strategies in cities around the country larger than Phoenix, the same size and smaller were listed and discussed. The task force At the request of the JCA board Dick Gottlieb was asked to convene a task force to evaluate the validity and worth of the study and recommend action plans to the Board of Directors. The task force formed included a wide variety of lay professionals from the general community both Jewish and non-Jewish. The task force read the study in depth and met three times. The task force recommended the study be accepted. In addition, it felt the underlying theme exposed was the need to help seniors “age in place” by providing services that would allow seniors to remain active, healthy and continue to live independently in their communities as long as it is safe. The task force felt that it would be important for the JCA to consider in any future planning the following principles. First, that the study did not adequately define the client base by numbers in each service area. That The JCA recognize that all needs and solutions to satisfy these needs must be viewed as interrelated. Also, that the JCA consider when crafting solutions, to use the wide variety of existing services. Additionally, the task force felt that the JCA should identify and utilize potential collaborations between services and service providers already existing. The task force made three specific suggestions to the Board of Directors for implementation at this time and as funds become available: 1. That a compendium of existing services and how to obtain them as well as relevant information be collected including restrictions, qualifications for service and limitations of services provided. The task force felt that an individual knowledgeable in this area needed to be hired to maintain the database and advise and refer people to existing service providers as needed. The task force made no specific recommendation as to whom or what agency would best provide the service. 2. Existing transportation resources were cumbersome for seniors, inadequate and difficult to use and sometimes expensive. There was very little cooperation noted between municipalities. The task force recommended that a solution to this problem be studied, formulated and implemented. 6 3. That the JCA recognize socialization needs for seniors are under-appreciated especially for seniors who have limited transportation options and or are homebound. An effort needs to be made to augment the availability of existing services for seniors and, where necessary, expand them as needed emphasizing Jewish social cultural and religious activities. 7 II. Introduction The Jewish Community Association of Greater Phoenix (JCA) initiated this Senior Services Study in March, 2013. The main purposes of the Study were to: a. Better understand the current demographics and population trends of the local Jewish senior population; b. Assess the gamut of local services available to Jewish seniors; c. Identify the services that are most needed and those that are insufficient; and d. Develop recommended actions to address the unmet needs of local Jewish seniors. The impetus for the Study was, in part, the notable trend of aging in the overall American Jewish population. Changes in the Jewish population of Greater Phoenix, from 1984 to 2002, also reflect this trend.1 Although there has been no local Jewish population study