Richmond office reports senior needs assessment: housing, sidewalks and outreach gaps identified

The Richmond City Office of Aging and Disability Services told the City Council’s Education and Human Services Standing Committee on May 13 that its 2023 needs assessment shows a growing older-adult population and multiple service gaps, especially in housing, transportation, built environment and outreach.

Natasha Hout, program manager for the Office of Aging and Disability Services, said the office serves residents 55 and older and people 18 and older with physical disabilities and that the city’s older-adult population has risen since the assessment. "As of the time of this survey in 2023, the landscape of older adults was about 57,000 people ... as we've moved into 2025 ... that number has increased to almost 70,000 older adults in the city," Hout said.

Hout summarized five broad findings from the assessment: the most common identified needs are the built environment, housing and technology; older adults want fitness, adult‑education and cultural activities; city and partner services are not easily accessible to many…