Idaho Commission on Aging presents needs assessment; highlights caregivers, rural quality-of-life findings and state plan goals

The Idaho Commission on Aging presented a statewide needs assessment and outlined objectives in its 2024–2028 state plan during a Senate committee meeting.

Judy Taylor, director of the Idaho Commission on Aging, said the commission collected 1,109 unique survey responses and reached residents in 37 of Idaho’s 44 counties. Taylor told the committee the assessment targeted older Idahoans at high risk of institutionalization and that responses were analyzed across four buckets: all respondents, high-risk respondents (those rating their quality of life fair, poor or very poor), urban respondents and rural respondents.

Key findings Taylor highlighted included: - Caregiver strain: In the high-risk cohort, 33% indicated they “cannot care for another individual without hurting their health” and lack the help they need. - Geography and quality of life: The…