We’ve been busy! In the past month, we have taken great strides forward in our transportation equity work in the Blue Hills. Our Blue Hills Regional Coordinating Council (BHRCC) convened six more Community Conversations to gather firsthand perspectives and experiences from the communities we serve. Speaking to participants in Quincy, Braintree, Weymouth, Hingham, Milton, and Hull -- and gathering follow-up evaluations from many -- has provided us with valuable information that will help to shape the future of our efforts to improve transportation in our region.
Blue Hills residents value community and accessibility...
“(It) speaks to the community aspect of Braintree. When I started working here, I was immediately hit with that sense of community, the sense of family. It’s a very family-oriented community.”
When asked about the strengths of their communities, many participants were enthusiastic about sharing feelings of belonging and living in towns that want to meet their needs. Residents in Hingham, for example, praised the wealth of available programs at their senior center and how responsive the center is to their input. In Milton, community partners emphasized that they want anyone over the age of 60 to feel that they can absolutely rely on transportation assistance whenever they need it. And communities’ close proximity to Boston was raised as a strength, offering both the possibility of public transportation and many available options for both health care and socialization. It was clear that on all sides -- municipalities, community organizations and residents -- there was a desire to work cooperatively to ensure that everyone’s needs are met.
...But there’s a gap between the desire for accessibility and the ability to achieve it.
Many participants expressed frustration with the current state of transportation accessibility. “If you want to go from Hull to Boston, you need to know trigonometry to figure out the schedule,” one resident observed. Representatives from Braintree added that while the Councils on Aging offer transportation to help address accessibility issues, the need far outweighs the resources available. “We offer so many rides. Even if we could get a new car it wouldn’t be enough. Our drivers are exhausted because Braintree is such a big town; it’s a lot...We try but we know it’s not enough. There are still people who need more.”
Further discussion showed that there’s also a challenge around helping seniors access transportation for non-medical purposes. Community partners spoke of the need to provide solutions that are tailored to what seniors want, not just what service providers may think they “need,” to help foster independence and stave off isolation. With public transportation, the RIDE, and COA vans all presenting their own complications, seniors are left to either drive themselves or rely on rides from others. But parking, city traffic, and associated costs were all mentioned as barriers. Senior residents on fixed incomes may not be able to prioritize the costs of owning and maintaining cars, insurance and parking fees; they also can’t always afford to pay for alternatives. “They are going to pay for food, heat, and medications over an Uber,” one Braintree participant pointed out.
Transportation isn’t the only problem isolating aging adults.
“There is a large population of isolated, lonely people who feel marginalized in the community."
Especially in less centrally located towns like Hull, aging adults can easily become isolated from their communities. Between transportation difficulties and confusion around how to use technology to access important information about schedules and fees, senior residents may not have the tools and resources they need to participate fully in activities and self-care. In addition, affordable housing can be a challenge that further marginalizes people. Many residents expressed frustration about years-long waiting lists and “affordable apartments that are not.”
There were also concerns from participants about the perceived value of older adults to their communities. “The only time we hear about seniors is during a crisis or during budget time...don’t we need a top-down approach to prioritize seniors?” one respondent asked. Others mentioned feeling that the word “senior” is perceived negatively and that growing older carries stigma in their communities. While there are many community partners ready to help meet older adults’ needs, a lack of coordination and communication between different service providers was mentioned as one reason an aging population may not get the resources they need.
It’s time to work together.
When asked for suggestions to improve the challenges that contribute to older adults’ isolation, one of the top responses was Community Buy-In. Follow-up evaluations supported that idea; 84% of respondents stated that they wanted to do more to help their communities become more livable.
And it’s clear that people are ready to listen and learn from each other. 89% of participants stated that they liked having the opportunity to hear the perspectives of others in their communities, while 53% appreciated being able to share their own thoughts and contribute to the conversation. As attendees shared ideas about creating more inter-generational centers to increase community support, improving regional transportation coordination, and making information easier to access, they also shared enthusiasm for getting involved in implementing solutions.
As one resident put it: “We as a group should challenge ourselves to be more social and be for everyone in the community.” It’s clearly time to help make that goal a reality, and to ensure that the whole region steps up to get involved.
We are currently scheduling follow-up conversations for March 2020. Stay tuned for updates, and follow us on Facebook for continued news about our events and progress.