The Road Ahead: AARP Survey on Community Services in Delaware

In support of making Delaware communities more livable, AARP conducted a telephone survey among 1,000 residents age 35 and older in the State of Delaware. Survey respondents were asked their opinions about and experiences with various characteristics in their community, such as housing, transportation, community services, and long-term care (LTC) services.

Key findings include the following:

• Delaware residents age 35+ have a strong desire to remain in their communities as long as they can. Nearly three out of four believe it is extremely or very important to remain in their current residence for as long as possible.
• The most important characteristics of a community, according to those surveyed, are safe neighborhoods, followed closely by well-designed and maintained streets, a wide variety of services to help maintain independence as people age, and opportunities for good jobs.
• About one-third of respondents believe that heavy traffic, poor public transportation, and limited affordable housing are problems within their communities. Although safety is considered the most important community characteristic, few residents were concerned with the safety of their own neighborhood.
• The majority of respondents use a car for their mode of transportation, while only a small percent uses public transportation. Almost half of the residents surveyed agree they would use public transportation more often if it was more convenient.
• Only a quarter of respondents have used LTC services; however, about 85 percent believe that LTC services are needed in order for residents to remain in their homes as they age. A similar proportion of respondents are concerned with the affordability of LTC.

AARP commissioned RDD Field Services to complete telephone interviews with a random sample of 1,000 Delaware residents age 35 and older between December 4^th and December 19^th, 2008. For more information, contact Kate Bridges at 202-434-6329. (53 pages)