SL County Aging and Adult Services conducting community assessment survey

Feb 1, 2024, 9:00 AM

SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah — Are you 60 or older, an adult with disabilities or a caregiver of either of these groups? Salt Lake County Aging and Adult Services is trying to better serve its community with a survey.

What do you need? Share in the aging services survey

“We’re undertaking a community needs assessment,” said Nels Holmgren, director of the Division of Aging and Adult Services. “There are a lot of services that are available through Aging and Adult Services – transportation, Meals on Wheels, in-home services. We like to do the survey periodically to make sure that we’re capturing the needs that people have.”

Holmgren and his team want to know if they’re providing what you need.

“The results of the survey will be used to build a plan to address some of the gaps that are identified in the survey,” explained Traci Lee, Program Administrator with Aging and Adult Services. “We want to enhance the services we provide and make them better. Also, we want to make sure we’re meeting the needs of people statewide, both urban and rural.”

Any information that is gathered in the survey will be kept confidential.

“This is purely to get people’s thoughts and feelings,” Holmgren said. “We don’t collect any personal information.”

I took the survey

The survey was super easy. It took about 10 minutes. What blew me away was how many programs are offered that I just didn’t know about.

My husband and I care for our 35-year-old daughter with Down Syndrome. Because we don’t have any family in Utah, we have always believed that this was a responsibility we carried alone.

Wrong — there is so much help available.

“We learned when we did the survey in 2019 that people didn’t know about the services,” Lee said. “We’re really trying to focus on education and outreach so that people know about the services and know where to go to get them.”

If you need help getting to services, Aging and Adult Services developed a care coordination program that will help you navigate getting the help you need.

Need help or know someone who does?

Do you need help with getting to appointments or grocery shopping? Maybe help with yard work or shoveling snow? Many of our seniors are taken care of by family and neighbors, but I bet there are services they would benefit from if they knew they existed.

It’s possible you don’t need any help yourself, but maybe you’re aware of someone who does. Are there seniors in your neighborhood who need help? Their grass is never mowed. Maybe they need someone to help them with house cleaning or cooking, snow shoveling or getting to the doctor.

“Helping to connect people is really critical for us,” Holmgren emphasized. “We want to make sure these important services are being used by the people who need them.”

Who should take take the aging services survey?

“We’re looking for people from all over Utah, across the state, who are over 60,” Holmgren said. “That’s our primary target group that we’re looking to serve. But also adults with disabilities and caregivers to seniors and adults with disabilities. We want to hear from the unpaid family and friends and also the paid professionals.”

Some Spanish speakers can assist you on the phone as well.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Kaysville City officials confirmed that the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District had added water ...

Simone Seikaly

Kaysville City tells residents why water smells like chlorine

Weber officials recently added water from groundwater wells, which, because of extra processing, created the chlorine smell.

7 hours ago

The Utah Board of Higher Education announced Elizabeth “Betsy” R. Cantwell as Utah State Univer...

Carlysle Price

USU President announces departure, becomes first woman president at Washington State University

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah State University President Elizabeth R. Cantwell has announced her departure from USU and has accepted a position out of state. The Utah Board of Higher Education released a statement Thursday announcing Cantwell’s departure, and said she has accepted a position as president of Washington State University. Cantwell is set to […]

7 hours ago

Jail overcrowding is addressed by one of the bills before lawmakers on Utah’s Capitol Hill right ...

Don Brinkerhoff

Legislation would prevent some jail releases due to overcrowding

A new bill would prevent some inmates from being released, without first seeing a judge, due to jail overcrowding.

7 hours ago

A fatal crash on I-15 near Point of the Mountain closed multiple northbound lanes of traffic Thursd...

Logan Stefanich, KSL.com

1 dead, multiple I-15 lanes closed near Point of the Mountain after crash

The Point of the Mountain crash occurred near milepost 286 (16200 South) at 11:56 a.m., according to the Utah Department of Transportation.

9 hours ago

State Capitol...

Adam Small

New bill regarding specialty license plates could cost Utah Historical Society millions in future revenue

The Utah Historical Society could potentially miss out on millions of dollars under a bill focusing on specialty license plates.

10 hours ago

FILE: A United States District Court emblem is seen in a courtroom in the Salt Lake City Federal Co...

Simone Seikaly

Former gymnastics coach pleads guilty to new charges involving cameras, bathrooms

Gymnastics coach Adam Richard Jacobs has plead guilty to putting a camera in a minor's hotel room and bathroom.

11 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Full speed through the snow. A man on skis is pulled by his through the snow at full gallop Skijori...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Get ready for an unforgettable skijoring adventure in Bear Lake!

“Skijoring the Bear” takes place this year on February 21-22 in Garden City, Utah.

the bedroom in a geodesic dome shows the night sky...

Clear Sky Resorts Bryce Canyon

Your front row to an extraordinary cosmos show

As America's first glass dome stargazing resort, Clear Sky Resorts Bryce Canyon is one of the world’s most unique and spectacular places to stay.

2 people huddled up in a blanket and warm clothes sipping hot chocolate...

Bear Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau

The best ways to spend your Christmas vacation in Bear Lake

If you're dreaming of a white Christmas this year, Bear Lake should definitely be on your radar. Read this guide for more!

big crowd of people under holiday lights in an outdoor market...

Western Nut

Our favorite family Christmas activities in Utah

We gathered up a list of our favorite activities, movies, and treats to try this holiday season that the whole family can enjoy.

an IT tech looks at a laptop in front of a server network...

Comcast Business

Tips to protect yourself from phishing attacks

Check out this resource from Comcast Business to learn more about phishing attacks and how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of one.

A surprise gift, wrapped and ready to bring holiday cheer! Whether for Christmas, a birthday, or an...

Western Nut

10 Holiday Gift Ideas to cover everyone on your list

This guide is for you if you need holiday gift ideas that will make a lasting impression. 

SL County Aging and Adult Services conducting community assessment survey