AMHERST — As the population continues to age and a growing number of senior citizens make their home in the region, Cooley Dickinson Health Care is seeking the best ways to meet the health needs of these older adults.
The 2019 community health needs assessment, a survey completed every three years, will get underway this winter, updating the 2016 assessment and action plan that identified several improvements to how health care is provided and various preventive measures, including better transportation for isolated rural seniors, more mental health access and substance use disorders treatment, and culturally sensitive care and overcoming language barriers.
At Amherst’s Council on Aging meeting Thursday, Dec. 20, Jeff Harness, director of community health and government relations for Cooley, said that part of the hospital’s role is to advocate for policies that lead to healthier communities.
“Being able to assess the needs of the community is helpful to plan for our future,” Harness said, adding that there are efforts nationwide to be more thoughtful about health care and giving people more options for care and support.
Harness said the assessment is done for two reasons. First, it is helpful for planning to meet the needs in the communities the hospital serves, which is most of Hampshire County and southern Franklin County. Second, federal regulations require the assessment.
Once the assessment is complete and hospital officials have learned what people are saying, they can act on the results of the study and then do an implementation plan.
The last assessment, in 2016, prioritized outreach to lesbian and transgender individuals, along with veterans and military families, to get feedback and then identify health concerns, before advocating for policy changes.
Among projects undertaken are Latino Health Access, tobacco treatment in low-income communities, gardening and food projects with Easthampton public schools and Grow Food Northampton’s Red Bag project.
Harness and an advisory board decided it would be better to understand the perspective and needs of elders next year. “For 2019, I really wanted to focus on older adults,” Harness said.
To gather this information, Cooley Dickinson Hospital has scheduled two meetings, one in Northampton and the other in Amherst, though residents from throughout the area are welcome to attend either session. The first takes place Feb. 26 from 1:30 to 3 p.m at the Northampton Senior Center, 67 Conz St., while the second will be held March 4 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Amherst Senior Center, 70 Boltwood Walk.
People are encouraged to register in advance by calling 888-554-4234 or by going online to cooleydickinson.org/events.
Harness said the hope is to reflect the population and wants input from all communities.
Amherst Senior Center Director Nancy Pagano said developing this plan will help meet the needs of senior citizens and fits in with changes over time at the senior center. Where 50 years ago the center was primarily about recreation for seniors, social services are becoming an increasingly vital component.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.