New Survey: 78% of Connecticut Voters Want to Stay in Community, but Important Resources Lacking

Full Survey Report: ConnecticutCommunitySurvey

In a recent survey by AARP Research, 78 percent of registered Connecticut voters encompassing a wide age and demographic spectrum feel it is important for them to live in their community and the state for as long as possible, with 50 percent saying it is very important.

However, a majority of the one-thousand registered voters age 25-plus surveyed also expressed the need for state leaders to address community features important

to residents – such as job opportunities, public transportation, affordable housing and hospitals – that are either insufficient or non-existent and could cause population erosion.

“The report shows us Connecticut voters want to remain in their communities, while signifying the need for our state to address gaps in the quality of important safety, economic and health resources available,” said AARP Connecticut State Director Nora Duncan.

A majority of Connecticut voters, regardless of age, believe their communities do include safe neighborhoods, public libraries, parks or recreation centers, and good public schools, but many people indicated that certain important community features do not exist and their community needs them.

There is a significant need gap between several community attributes Connecticut voters who were surveyed view as important and what respondents feel actually exists:

• Good job opportunities (55 percent difference);
• Places for young adults to socialize (40 percent);
• Housing options for persons with physical disabilities (37 percent);
• Affordable shops and other retail services (33 percent);
• Well designed and maintained streets (29 percent);
• Affordable housing (28 percent);
• Dependable public transportation (27 percent);
• Hospital (24 percent).

“AARP is urging voters to ask the new members for the state House and Senate about their plans to address the community resources important to keeping residents in our state, including the need for affordable housing, transportation and family caregiver supports,” added Duncan. “We will seek to work with legislators in 2017 on remedies to features we can all agree are important to quality of life.”

Duncan noted a livable community provides resources that allow residents to age-in-place, and fosters residents’ engagement in their community’s civic, economic and social life.

“Creating more livable and age-friendly communities gives Connecticut residents safer and better choices for living independently throughout their lives while saving the state millions of dollars,” said Duncan. “Studies have shown that approximately three seniors can receive care in their own home – the place 90 percent prefer to live – for the cost of one in the community.”