New Canaan planning team says focus groups will confirm findings, shape outreach for seniors' behavioral health report

Participants at a meeting to plan focus groups for a New Canaan study of seniors' behavioral health said recruitment is on track and that the groups will primarily confirm quantitative findings and inform communication and education strategies.

The report team emphasized that the focus groups are intended to validate broader national and state trends for local application and to help the project craft outreach and education approaches for older residents. Organizers discussed recruitment status by age cohort, several background studies the team is using, potential interview subjects and organizations to consult, and the policy and funding context that may affect implementation.

Jim (committee member) said the team has filled or nearly filled its target quotas in several age cohorts: 14 people in the 80-plus cohort (10 primary, four alternates), 12 in their 70s, and five currently identified in the…