2-20-2026 10:30pm

Council on Aging Seeks Community Input on Needs of Older Adults and Caregivers

Beth Callahan Editor

Story courtesy of Counsel of Aging

WARREN COUNTY, OH -- In less than 10 years, older adults will outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history. To better understand and plan for the needs of older adults and caregivers in our region, Council on Aging (COA) is seeking community input. Older adults (age 55+), caregivers and professionals who work in aging services are invited to provide anonymous feedback by completing COA’s community needs assessment survey. This feedback will help COA plan and advocate for the future needs of the region’s aging population.

More than 365,000 individuals age 60 and older live in southwestern Ohio, including more than 33,000 individuals age 85 and older. As our population ages, more people will need supportive services including meals, transportation and help with housekeeping and personal care tasks to remain independent in their homes and communities. This need – and the costs involved – will impact nearly every aspect of community life. As our region’s Area Agency on Aging, COA is charged with helping communities and individuals plan and prepare for the impact of an aging society.

“As we move toward a significant shift in our country’s population, we are already experiencing the impact on a local level,” said Council on Aging CEO Suzanne Burke. “More people are seeking care at home and there are not enough resources – funding or workforce – to meet the demand. Family members are having to make tough decisions and drastic lifestyle changes to support aging loved ones. There is a ripple affect across every layer of our society.”

In recent years, utility costs, property taxes, housing costs, transportation, inflation and social isolation have been growing concerns for many older adults. COA’s community needs assessment survey provides an opportunity to collect input on these issues from the people most impacted by them.

“As we plan for how we can best meet the needs of an aging population, it’s important that we collect input from the community so we can ensure we are aligning programs and advocating for resources that will address issues older adults and caregivers may be experiencing now, and in the future,” Burke said.

Information gathered through the community needs assessment survey will be used to inform development of COA’s 2027-2030 Strategic Plan. A similar needs assessment was conducted in 2025 with nearly 1,000 responses collected. By reopening the survey, COA hopes to collect feedback from more community members, particularly in the more rural parts of its service area.

Older adults (age 55+) and caregivers who complete the survey will be eligible to participate in a random drawing for one of four $50 gift cards. Click here to participate in the needs assessment survey or visit www.help4seniors.org. Older adults who wish to complete a paper version of the needs assessment survey can download a printable version here, or request one by calling (513) 721-1025.