Background & Research Questions

The growth in the United States’ senior population warrants greater policy focus on social isolation and loneliness, problems more prevalent among older adults. Social isolation is associated with an increased risk of negative physical and mental health effects, including coronary heart disease, stroke, dementia, depression, anxiety, and suicide. Older adults tend to be more socially isolated and are overrepresented in total deaths by suicide. While social connections tend to decline with age, older adults tend to devote more time to socializing. Despite this, social engagement can be challenging for older adults who struggle with mobility issues or have lost the ability to drive.

Transportation planning has historically emphasized the commute over other types of trips, including social travel. Commute-focused planning will not meet the needs of an aging population with a greater share of adults in retirement. Providing our growing older adult population with robust transportation options that serve social and health-related trips is increasingly vital to reducing social isolation and enhancing public health.

This report focuses on North Carolina, a state with the ninth largest population of older adults in the U.S. that continues to grow due to an influx of migrants from other states. I examine North Carolina as a case study of Sun Belt states that are popular among retired adults, are relatively car-dependent, have less reliable transit options, and are characterized by a suburban and sprawling built form. Increased concentrations of older adults in auto-dependent Sun Belt states like North Carolina risk exacerbating loneliness among seniors if agencies fail to ameliorate older adults’ mobility barriers in these places.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s NC Moves 2050 Plan summarizes these demographic trends and the transportation challenges they pose for the state. Funding is a major issue; three-quarters of N.C. counties have more people over 60 than under 18, and half are expected to have a decrease in the number of working-age adults, shrinking their tax bases. The state’s rural areas will face the greatest demographic imbalances as baby boomers retire and working-age adults migrate to urban population centers.

A network of 171 certified senior centers forms the front line of the state’s critical social infrastructure for older adults. These facilities aim to enhance the well-being of older residents by providing a space for seniors to connect with each other and engage in activities, special events, volunteer opportunities, health and fitness activities, education programs, and sometimes trips. Senior centers also provide essential services through meal programs, caregiver support initiatives, information assistance and referrals, legal assistance, tax filing support, and Medicare counseling through the state’s Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP). Several senior centers also provide transportation services to the senior center itself or to grocery stores, appointments, and other important trips.

About half of senior centers are operated by county governments, while 20% are operated by municipalities or municipal parks and recreation departments. The remaining 30% are operated by private or non-profit organizations. Certified N.C. senior centers receive funding from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Several uncertified senior centers exist but do not receive DHHS funding and are not considered in this report.

Geographic Distribution of Senior Centers in North Carolina

The extent to which senior centers are adapting to an increasingly older population and addressing transportation-related barriers is understudied. Given the pivotal role these facilities play in reducing social isolation among older adults through programs and services, it is important to understand the challenges they are dealing with and how they can work to foster connection among older adults. My Master’s Project aims to answer four research questions:

1. What areas of North Carolina have a high senior population but are not within driving distance of a senior center?

2. How accessible are senior centers using public transit?

3. How do older adults travel to senior centers, including people who limit their driving or can no longer drive?

4. How are senior centers addressing social isolation and loneliness in their communities?

Using insights gained from my analysis, this report provides recommendations for senior centers and DHHS on how to improve transportation access to senior centers and address social isolation and loneliness across communities.

Methodologies

To answer these research questions, I employ three methodologies that are detailed below.

Driving Access to Senior Centers

This section contextualizes the spatial distribution of senior centers in North Carolina and investigates where underserved areas with high senior populations are located. To achieve this, I compare Census population data with isochrone polygons that represent how far you can drive from each senior center in 15, 25, and 35 minutes.

Transit Access to Senior Centers

It is unclear how many senior centers offer their own transportation services. Using information from senior center and transit agency websites, I approximate how many centers offer their own transportation or are accessible by fixed-route transit, on-demand microtransit, or demand response paratransit services.

Senior Center Staff Survey

Last, I surveyed senior center staff members to understand how older adults travel to senior centers. This section visualizes and discusses key findings, including common barriers to participation at senior centers and strategies staff members are employing to address loneliness in their communities.