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Age Friendly Survey 2020

Howard County, as part of its effort to be an Age-Friendly Community, is seeking your input and feedback on what is important to you.  The anonymous information you provide will be used to help inform our planning processes as we work with residents, businesses, and government agencies, to build upon the existing successes and make the County even more livable.

In an age-friendly community, policies, services and structures related to the physical and social environment are designed to support and enable older people to “age actively” – that is, to live in security, enjoy good health and continue to participate fully in society (definition provided by the World Health Organization, WHO). 

Creating an Age-Friendly Howard County will positively affect people of all ages as the concepts noted by the World Health Organization hold true for everyone.  Therefore, adults of all ages are encouraged to take the survey; results will be tallied and prioritized to create a 2021-2025 Action Plan for Howard County.  Residents will be an integral part of the implementation of the Action Plan.
1.In what year were you born?
2.In what zip code do you live?
3.What is your gender?
4.What is your race and ethnicity? (check all that apply):
HOUSING RELATED QUESTIONS
5.With whom do you live?
6.In what type of housing do you currently reside? 
7.When thinking about living environments for when you are older, please indicate your level of preference for each of the different types of environments:
Strongly prefer
Somewhat prefer
Somewhat opposed
Strongly opposed
Apartment/condo
Townhouse
Single family home
Assisted living
Nursing or medical facility
Continuing care retirement community CCRC
55+ community
In-law suite (i.e., accessory apartment)
Shared housing arrangements (with unrelated others)
8.For each of the items below indicate the likelihood of it occurring in the next 10 years:
Extremely likely
Very likely
Somewhat likely
Not very likely
Not at all likely
Unsure
I will move out of the State
I will move to another county in Maryland
I will move within Howard County
I will need to make modifications to my current home in order to continue to live here
9.Please rate the likelihood that the following factors could lead you to move in your retirement years:
Extremely likely
Very likely
Somewhat likely
Not very likely
Not at all likely
Level of taxation
Cost of living in the County
Cost of housing in the County
Desire for better weather
To be closer to family/friends
To be closer to stores or other places you want to get to
To have access to better healthcare facilities
Safety concerns in neighborhood
To live in a home that better matches my needs/capabilities
To have more walkability
To have access to more/better cultural/social opportunities
TRANSPORTATION RELATED QUESTIONS
10.How important is it to you for Howard County to have available:
Extremely important
Very important
Somewhat important
Not very important
Not at all important
Fixed-route public transportation
Private on-demand services (Uber, Lyft, taxi)
Volunteer transportation (e.g., Neighbor Ride)
More easily readable street signs
Biking/walking paths near you
Specialized transportation for people with disabilities
Extended time at crosswalks to allow you to cross the street
11.Which of the following represents a barrier to transportation/personal mobility for you? (check all that apply):
COMMUNICATION / INFORMATION RELATED QUESTIONS
12.How often do you use the Internet?
13.If you needed to  find out information related to aging (either for yourself or a family member), please indicate the likelihood of using each of the following sources of information:
Extremely likely
Very likely
Somewhat likely
Not very likely
Not at all likely
Print media (e.g., newspapers)
TV/Radio
Internet
Social media (e.g., Facebook)
Email Listservs
Library
Healthcare providers
50+ Centers
Office on Aging & Independence publications
Maryland Access Point of Howard County
Faith community
Word-of-mouth
Family/friends
14.How important is it to you for Howard County to have available information on:
Extremely important
Very important
Somewhat important
Not very important
Not at all important
Avoiding financial exploitation/scams
Retirement / financial planning
Health insurance options
Transitioning from work to retirement
Home modifications
Home maintenance
Pro’s & con’s of refinancing/reverse mortgages
Various housing options
15.Planning for the future is an important process.  In which of the following have you engaged?
Yes; completed
In process
No, not yet completed
Feel no need to do so
Financial planning for retirement
Planning for activities I want to engage in during my retirement years
Medical/health planning (advance directives, living will, power of attorney)
16.Which of the following represents a barrier to you for planning? (check all that apply)
EMPLOYMENT RELATED QUESTIONS
17.What is your current paid employment status?
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