Community Assessment Tool
Physical Health
IDENTIFYING YOUR Resources
- What is the overall uninsured rate among the target population in your community and for those age 60-64?
- What is the current inventory of health care services in your community?
- Dental care providers
- Eye care specialists
- Specialists (e.g., cardiologists, oncologists)
- Outpatient clinics
- Hospitals
- Trauma centers
- Pharmacies
- Mental health providers
- Community-based services
- Assisted living facilities
- Skilled nursing facilities
- What is the current inventory of the following services in your community:
- Health information, education, and counseling
- Screening (e.g., blood pressure, glucose, bone density)
- Disease management
- Medication management
- Is there an adequate supply of physical health care providers (e.g., primary care physicians, specialists, nurses, etc.)?
- Do an adequate number of physicians accept Medicare?
- Is there an adequate supply of mental health care providers (e.g., psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, substance abuse counselors)?
- Are the health care professionals appropriately trained and educated in
the needs of older adults?
- Are there enough geriatricians?
- Are continuing education classes on the needs of older adults available for health providers?
- What programs help older residents obtain free or discounted prescription
drugs?
- Which providers participate in the programs?
- What options exisit for transportation to health care providers (e.g., public transportation systems, community vans)?
- Will the current health care delivery system be able to meet the needs of the projected number of older adults in your community in five, 10, or 20 years?
BUILDING YOUR COMMUNITY
- Are older adults able to afford the health care services they need?
- Do older adults have access to health insurance plans that will supplement Medicare coverage?
- Are Medicare Advantage plans (e.g., managed care) available?
- Are older adults aware of health care services available?
- How do older adults learn about health care services available to them?
- What are your current methods of outreach to educate older consumers about health care services?
- How can you improve outreach/awareness of health care services?
- What are the primary strengths of your current health care delivery system?
- What are the primary gaps in the health care delivery system in your community?
- Are older adults able to access the level of health care they need?
- Acute, chronic, specialty, and long-term care
- Convenient times and scheduling
- Does the health care delivery system meet the needs cited by older adults?
- How can you assess the health care needs of older adults in your community?
- How can health care providers better coordinate services?
- Is travel distance a barrier to obtaining health care services?
- Are the health care services culturally appropriate with regard to:
- Age
- Language barriers for people who don't speak English
- Literacy levels
- Race/ethnicity
- Disability
Back to Step 4: Assess Where your Are Today
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Updated: November 2, 2007
