Study boosts Project Independence

Richard Tedesco

A Hofstra University study has found that  Project Independence, the Town of North Hempstead’s initiative to offer services to enable seniors to stay in their homes, is having a positive impact on people’s perceptions about their lives and their prospects for maintaining their own households.

The study, conducted by Hofstra’s National Center for Suburban Studies, surveyed seniors in 2011 and 2012 to determine their awareness of the town’s services and the impact on those who were aware.

“The more they trust in Project Independence services, the more confident they are that they can stay in their own homes,” said Hofstra professor Marc Silver in a presentation to members of the Town of North Hempstead board on Monday morning.

Project Independence has one of the centerpieces of the administration of Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman, who recently accepted a state position to oversee Long Island’s continuing recovery efforts from Hurricane Sandy. Kaiman had early announced his decision to run for district judge and not seek another term as town supervisor. 

The Hofstra survey indicated approximately 63 percent of the respondents had used one of Project Independence’s services on at least one occasion. The survey also showed that 46.5 percent of those responding were confident about remaining in their homes. 

Among those surveyed, 82.5 percent had some awareness of Project Independence, with 32.3 percent “very aware” of Project Independence services and 17.5 percent reporting no awareness of its services.

Silver said seniors who had positive experiences from using Project Independence services were also more involved in their communities and led more active daily lives. The greater their awareness about Project Independence service, the greater sense of well-being North Hempstead seniors have, Silver said.

“Utilization increases confidence,” Silver said.

But, he said, those who use Project Independence services are “no more likely” to have a healthier outlook on their lives than those who are simply aware of it.

“In some respects, it looks like the presence and awareness of Project Independence services gives it a positive outcome,” he said.

Study results were drawn from surveys mailed with return envelopes in the fall of 2011, with a second mailing in the winter of 2012, according to Silver, who said the survey drew what he called a “remarkably high” response rate of 54 percent, with 198 surveys completed and returned.

The demographic for the survey was town residents aged 62 to 99 years, with a mean age of 82, he said, with women representing two-thirds of the respondents. Residents responding to the survey had spent a mean average of 37.5 years in their homes. 

Most of them – 54 percent – reported they were in good health, with 42 percent indicating some disability. The survey specified key groups of Project Independence services, including nursing, social work, home maintenance, transportation and social/recreational/educational services.

Across all 19 service areas within those service categories, respondents indicated an average utilization rate of 12.32 percent in each service area. The highest rate of usage was 27.2 percent for the social/recreational/educational category. The lowest rate of usage was .06 percent for home ramp installation and home maintenance.

Casey Meyers, commissioner of the town’s Department of Social Services for the Aging, said the discounted transportation service – taxi rides for medical appointments and essential shopping – was “by far” the most widely used service since Project Independence’s expansion from a pilot program in New Hyde Park to an expanded program in other areas in 2009. Seniors have taken 33,000 trips in the discounted taxi service as one of the first services offered, along with the nursing and social work.  

“I think the report indicates that we’re accomplishing our goals,” said Evelyn Roth, former commissioner for the town’s Department of Social Services for the Aging, who consulted on the survey when she still directed Project Independence before retiring last year. 

She said the program was running in New Hyde Park, Great Neck, Roslyn and Port Washington and had just been introduced in Westbury at the time of the survey. It has since expanded operations into Mineola.

Silver said the town could employ more effective ways to publicize Project Independence’s services and he suggested building awareness among younger residents. 

Town Councilman Thomas Dwyer asked whether having taxi drivers give “palm cards” summarizing Project Independence services to seniors getting discounted rides would be effective, Silver said it might. 

“We will come up with a plan to touch both the caregiver and senior directly,” Meyers said. 

Town Councilman Angelo Ferrara said senior residents in his district, which includes Garden City Park, Mineola, Williston Park and parts of New Hyde Park, give him positive feedback about the Project Independence. 

But he said the incidence of new residents moving into the district makes him concerned about building consciousness about Project Independence.

“We have a shifting population,” Ferrara said. “I want to make sure we reach out to them.”

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