As communities grow, so do the needs of their diverse populations. Among the fastest-growing groups are older adults, a demographic with unique priorities and concerns. For local leaders and organizations, having access to data specifically focused on older adults can be transformative. Polco, a leader in civic engagement and community insights, has long recognized the importance of this demographic through our CASOA (Community Assessment Survey for Older Adults). Now, we've extended our focus on older adults to the Track module, providing data and insights tailored to this essential group.
Older adults often face unique challenges related to mobility, healthcare access, economic security, and community safety. Communities looking to support these individuals need accurate, reliable data to make informed decisions and create targeted initiatives. Polco’s new Track module section offers precisely that—a way to filter data for older adults, allowing community leaders to assess and understand this demographic's specific experiences and concerns. This feature supports the goal of building inclusive, responsive communities that meet the needs of all residents.
Polco’s commitment to serving older adults isn't new. Through our CASOA Benchmark Survey, we’ve provided in-depth insights into the lives of older adults across the nation. Now, with Track’s new functionality, communities can access similar insights without needing a full CASOA survey. The Track module taps into various datasets with starting ages typically between 55 and 70, offering a flexible approach to defining "older adults" based on available data. This enhancement helps communities keep their finger on the pulse of older residents’ experiences and needs in real time.
With the new Older Adults option in Track, accessing this demographic-specific data is straightforward. When you enable the feature in your Polco account, you’ll notice a dropdown menu that lets you choose the data type you want to display, including “GPAL for Older Adults.” Selecting this option changes the module’s data and scoring to focus specifically on older adults, offering a tailored view of key performance indicators like safety, economy, and mobility.
Additionally, Track’s comparison options are as flexible as ever. You can benchmark your community’s older adult data against nationwide averages, your state, similar population sizes nationwide, or communities with comparable populations within your state. This versatility makes it easier to understand how your community stacks up and identify areas for improvement or celebration.
Polco’s Track module not only provides data but makes it shareable and actionable. Like other insights in Track, the new Older Adults data points can be saved as images, or you can embed dynamic data visuals directly into Polco Content Posts. This feature is perfect for adding data-driven context to a project page, website, blog, or social media post. Whether you’re showcasing improvements in community safety for older adults or highlighting local economic opportunities, Track’s visuals help you tell a compelling story backed by real data.
Older adults are a vital part of every community, and Polco’s Track module helps leaders make data-informed decisions that can significantly impact their quality of life. If you’re ready to take your insights even deeper, consider conducting a CASOA survey for a more comprehensive look into the lives and needs of older adults in your area.
Reach out to Polco today to learn more about how our Track module and CASOA survey can help your community serve its older residents with greater precision and care.