Conducting a Rural Utah Needs Assessment for Six County Area Agency on Aging: Establishing a Foundation for Future Caregiver Initiatives

The senior population living in rural communities desiring to "age in place" will increase significantly in the next three decades. Local Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) should prepare to meet this growth by providing programs and services to assist caregivers, especially those caring for people with Alzheimer's disease and other related dementias (ADRD). Developing and delivering a needs assessment based on the caregivers' perspective is foundational for evaluating existing programs, identifying unmet needs, and designing effective programs to meet those needs in the future. The purpose of this project is to develop and deliver a needs assessment to dementia caregivers residing in the Six County area. This needs assessment will be used to identify needed dementia and caregiver education and resources and to propose recommendations to the Six County AAA. These recommendations would address the unmet needs of caregivers of people with dementia. An online survey with both quantitative and qualitative items was completed by 85 self-identified caregivers from Utah living in Juab, Millard, Piute, Sanpete, Sevier, and Wayne counties. The data were then systematically analyzed revealing 1) underutilized AAA programs, 2) a lack of information about available resources, and 3) a request for services that address the needs of caregivers, including emotional support like respite care and support groups; education classes about dementia behavior, Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans' benefits; and a transportation system for older adults unable to drive. The results of this survey will inform the future creation of a Caregiver Advisory Council which will be instrumental in designing and implementing programs and services to increase the quality of life for caregivers in the targeted counties