By Lisa Watts
UMass Boston researchers just released reports featuring hyper-local data on healthy aging indicators in Mississippi and Wyoming.
In 2012, a team of UMass Boston gerontology researchers produced a data report offering a customized profile of 100 healthy aging indicators to help communities across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts better understand the older adults who live within their jurisdictions and the infrastructure that supports them.
The research team drilled down to the town level—and even to neighborhoods in larger cities—to offer data on such healthy aging indicators as disease rates, income, and access to housing, transportation, healthcare, and food.
The initial Massachusetts report has been followed by studies of neighboring New England states. Recently researchers expanded their geographic footprint with healthy aging data reports focusing on Mississippi and Wyoming.
Collecting hyper-local data benefits everyone, from local officials and advocates to state policymakers who are “hungry for local data,” says Nina Silverstein, professor of gerontology and research team member.
Beth Dugan, professor of gerontology and the team leader, notes that each state’s report presents unique challenges and features.
“Local stakeholders really own the product,” she says. “Some want more data on housing; others may focus on access. Each report gets better with feedback from stakeholders.”
Read more about the team’s work on the Gerontology Institute Blog.