Dear Eastham Residents and Community Members, In 2022, the Eastham Council on Aging (COA) and its Board of Directors, in partnership with the Town, decided to commission a community study focused on the needs and interests of Eastham’s adults aged 50 and over -- a segment that accounts for 68% of Eastham’s current year-round population. Additionally, the age 60 and over population is expected to grow by 20% by 2030. These demographics pointed to the need for in-depth community input and data-driven analysis. We are pleased to share the results of this research, conducted by the Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging at the University of Massachusetts, Boston.
Aging in Eastham: A Community Needs Assessment is the result of nine months of coordination, planning, and comprehensive outreach to Eastham’s full-time and part-time residents aged 50 and over, as well as many town departments and stakeholders. The participation rate by our residents was extraordinarily high at 33%, demonstrating the importance of aging-related issues to our community. As a result, we have significant data that will inform the direction of the COA’s programs and services and provide a blueprint to other Eastham departments in their planning and budgeting processes today and into the future.
We are grateful to the more than 1,500 residents, community leaders and municipal employees who shared their time and insight. Your input will help advance projects that will have demonstrable impacts on how older adults can continue to live and thrive in Eastham. We are indebted to Caitlin Coyle, PhD, and her team at UMass Boston -- from coordinators and graduate research assistants to undergraduate interns -- for their time and expertise in creating this comprehensive, polished and readable document.
We trust you will find this report interesting and informative, and that you will be stimulated to engage and advocate for programs that serve to enhance the lives of Eastham’s older adult population. Thank you, again, for your support, insight and engagement. We look forward to working together to continue to make Eastham an agefriendly community for all residents.