18 Miss. Code. R. 2-1-VIII
The overall goal of the 2011 Mississippi Older Adults Needs Assessment and this report is to provide insight into factors that affect Mississippi's ability to meet the added demands of an increasing aging population and to address the requirements of the Older Americans Act of 1965. Specifically:
METHODS:
Data:
Data for the 2011 Mississippi Older Adults Needs Assessment were collected from several primary and secondary sources in order to fully address the goals and objectives of the study. Primary data were collected through a telephone survey - the General Needs Assessment Survey - of Mississippians 55 and older, a telephone survey - the Waiting List Needs Assessment Survey - of Mississippians currently on a waiting list for DAAS services, and a focus group of service providers. All primary data collection was undertaken during the months of February and March 2011.
Additional data included administrative and secondary sources consisting of population estimates and projections from the U.S. Census Bureau, socioeconomic and demographic data from the Current Population Survey, health indicator data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and service trend data from the Administration on Aging. These supporting sources of data were vital in meeting and fully addressing the goals and objectives of the study because they allowed comparisons to be made between state and national trends and provided a more complete picture of the aging population, its specific characteristics, and the daily challenges they face.
The minimum age for inclusion in the GNAS component of the assessment was 55 years rather than 60, the age when individuals are eligible for services. This was done so agencies can begin planning not only for those currently eligible for services but for those who will become eligible in the next five years. Respondents were selected using list-assisted random-digit-dialing (RDD), which includes both listed and unlisted telephone numbers. A representative sample of 1,025 Mississippians 55 and older completed the survey. There was equal representation of survey respondents from each of the ten AAAs, and the margin of error was +/- 3 percent for responses.
For both telephone surveys, information was gathered on a variety of topics, including the health, well-being, economic situation, and social support status of respondents.
Sample Characteristics:
The characteristics of the sampled populations are reported in Table 1. The sampled group for the GNAS is an accurate representation of Mississippi's overall population of people 55 and older and the population served by DAAS when comparing national data and previous research. The WLNAS sample is more representative of low-income Mississippians, a group that is underrepresented in the GNAS. The underrepresentation of the aging population with low income in the GNAS does not affect results.
Gender. Mississippi's 55-and-older population has a gender breakdown of 53.9 percent male and 46.1 percent female (Current Population Survey 2008-2010). Over 70 percent of AAA clients were female (Preliminary MDHS 2010 Data). Like most surveys, there was a much higher percentage of female participation compared to male participation. The GNAS included 279 males (27 percent) and 744 females (73 percent). The WLNAS included 50 males (17.7 percent) and 229 females (80.9 percent).
Race. Mississippi's 55-and-older population is 73 percent white and 26 percent African-American (Current Population Survey). The GNAS mirrors this breakdown, while the WLNAS has just over 60 percent of respondents as white and about 37 percent as African-American. Administrative data from the Mississippi Department of Human Services for Fiscal Year 2010 reports that over half of clients were African-American while less than 48 percent were white.
The report presents the results of a study conducted to evaluate the needs of the elderly population along with information that highlights strengths and weaknesses of the services provided to senior citizens in the state. The data came from multiple sources, including the most recent Census data, national and state epidemiological data, and administrative data. Data were also collected through two telephone surveys and a computer-assisted focus group to provide information on the awareness and use of services provided by the Mississippi Department of Human Services Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) and on the developing need for services over the next 10 years to meet projected changes in the aging population. The telephone surveys and focus group were conducted during February and March 2011. Data collected from the telephone surveys included health, well-being, and economic and social support variables on the general 55-and-older population in the state and from a sample of seniors awaiting services from DAAS.
The data reveal several straightforward conclusions regarding population characteristics, health, services, and needs.
POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS
* Mississippi's elderly population will increase by 30 percent by 2020 and double by 2050
* Thirteen percent of those 65 and older continue to be actively engaged in the workforce
* On average, the elderly population earns just over $25,000 per year
* Seventeen percent of the elderly population lives in poverty
HEALTH
* An appreciative number of the elderly are disabled
* Obesity and diabetes are becoming the most prevalent health issues among the elderly
SERVICES
* Twenty-nine thousand elderly were served in 2009, an increase of 32 percent from 2006
* Home-delivered meals is the most prevalent service provided
* Congregate meal service needs are growing at a faster rate than other service needs
NEEDS
* Current and future concerns center on personal physical health and financial well-being
* Lack of affordable, accessible, and reliable healthcare and transportation
* Senior discount programs, repair services, home delivered meals, home healthcare, and information and referral services are top-ranked service needs
* Those who seek assistance are among the most vulnerable elderly population in the state
* Clear lack of awareness of services available to seniors
RECOMMENDATIONS
In sum, the 2011 Mississippi Older Adults Needs Assessment shows that older adults have greatly varying needs and that no single service or program will be an answer to every individual. There are, however, recommendations that can help the state better meet the needs of the aging population in Mississippi:
* Increase capacity to absorb the growing elderly population along with the increased demand for services
* Develop capacity to provide home healthcare assistance
* Develop programs to include repair services and referral services
* Develop appropriate workforce to meet the demands for jobs serving the elderly
* Develop marketing campaign for raising awareness of services provided to seniors
* Build strong and sustainable partnerships with for-profit and nonprofit organizations
* Develop educational campaign about aging and the role of the elderly in the community
18 Miss. Code. R. 2-1-VIII