2004 Ponca City Optimal Aging Survey:

Needs of Citizens Over 50 Years of Age

Did You Know?

Purpose 

• As a citizen of Ponca City, who is currently over the age of 50, we would like for you to complete the following Needs Survey.

• Your answers will be used to describe how Ponca City is responding to the challenges and opportunities presented by a growing, aging population.

• Your answers will help us become better acquainted with your needs and interests, and help identify ways that Ponca City can continue to improve the range of activities and services for our citizens over 50 years of age.

• Thank you for your contribution to this important project for our community.

•  We want Ponca City to be A Community for a Life Time!

The following is an portion of the final report relating to

the Ponca City Senior Survey

(Subcommittee Summary)

Introduction

According to the Administration on Aging, a Federal agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, the population of older adults has increased dramatically.  It is expected to continue to increase in the next 20 years and beyond.

The purpose and goal of this survey was to learn more about the activities and services which are needed for our seniors, and to help identify ways that Ponca City can continue to improve the range of activities and services for our citizens over 50 years of age.

Survey Conclusions

The results of the survey represent a variety of senior age groups, educational backgrounds, and cultures in Ponca City. A large majority of the senior respondents are long term residents of Ponca City.  About a tenth of the respondents live with an income below the poverty level.  Twenty per cent of the seniors presently attend the Ponca City Senior Center and about 20% also participate in noon meals.  Exercise is an important part of senior activities.  The exercise may come from walking, water exercise, yard activities, and use of exercise equipment.  Twenty five percent indicated that community exercise facilities were not adequate. 

Health is a major concern for the senior population.  Arthritis is a major problem which can limit senior activity.  Transportation is also a major concern for seniors despite the fact the most of them are still driving.  There is a desire for some type of inexpensive public transportation for seniors to get to and from doctor appointments and other locations.  There is also a desire to have a way to obtain help with some small household tasks and yard work. 

There is a general lack of knowledge about what services are available for seniors and they would like to have a single referral source available to aid in finding the help that they need.  There is a general lack of knowledge about senior programs and there is a need for better communication related to senior services and issues.  A need for increased programming during the day or in the evenings to provide knowledge on a variety of subjects of interest to seniors as well as a greater variety of physical activities was suggested.  There was also an interest expressed in a broader range of activities for younger seniors.

Recommendations

• Better communication needs to be initiated about the Ponca City Senior Center Programs as well as area programs and services available to seniors. 

• Increased emphasis needs to be placed on providing an information center for seniors to enable them to be able to determine available resources in the Ponca City area.

• An effort needs to be made to determine if transportation presently available is adequate for low income seniors and what can be done to improve transportation if it is not.

• Programming related to the three areas of successful aging (educational, physical, and social) needs to be increased.

• Educational health programs and services need to be communicated to area seniors.

• A program should be developed to provide a source of labor in order to be able to offer yard work and home repair assistance to elderly citizens.