By 2030, one in every five Americans will be 65 or older. That’s more than 73 million people: each with unique needs, perspectives, and contributions to make. For local governments, this demographic shift is more than just a statistic, it’s a call to action.
If communities want to support older adults in aging well, it starts with asking: What matters most to them?
Polco’s Community Assessment Survey for Older Adults (CASOA) offers clear answers, directly from older residents themselves.
Listening to the Voices of Older Adults
Unlike anecdotal input or outdated assumptions, CASOA provides scientifically valid, representative data from older adults across a range of communities. It reveals what’s working, and what’s missing, for seniors who want to age in place.
Some top priorities we consistently see in the data:
- Safe and accessible transportation options
- Affordable and well-maintained housing
- Opportunities for social connection and purpose
- Access to healthcare and mental health support
- Information about services that are easy to find and understand
When communities fall short on these essentials, older adults can feel isolated, unsupported, or forced to leave the homes and neighborhoods they love.
The Power of Data-Driven Planning
Polco’s benchmark surveys like CASOA don’t just highlight problems, they offer a roadmap for solutions. By comparing local responses to national norms, community leaders can see how their services stack up and where to focus improvements.
For example:
- A city might discover that satisfaction with public transit is far below average among older adults.
- A county might learn that loneliness and social isolation are increasing, especially among seniors living alone.
- A region might identify racial or economic disparities in access to age-friendly housing or recreation programs.
This isn’t guesswork, it’s decision-making grounded in real voices, at scale.
Supporting Aging in Place Through Engagement
Data is just the beginning. What sets Polco apart is the ability to turn insights into ongoing conversations.
With Polco’s Engage platform, governments can:
- Share survey results back with the public transparently
- Invite follow-up feedback via polls or content posts
- Create project pages to update residents on age-related initiatives
- Use AI assistants like Grace to help plan grants and services aligned with older adult needs
This kind of transparent, two-way engagement shows older adults that their voices matter, and that their feedback leads to action.
Age-Friendly Communities Are Future-Friendly Communities
Investing in older adults isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s smart governance. Age-friendly cities tend to be more livable for everyone, offering better transit, safer streets, stronger social services, and deeper civic trust.
CASOA helps leaders identify where their communities stand, and how to plan for a future where every resident can thrive at every stage of life.
Explore the CASOA survey >>
Contact our team to bring CASOA to your community >>
