GWU needs assessment finds gaps in housing, health care and transportation for Prince George's County seniors
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Summary
A George Washington University needs assessment presented to the county senior task force found persistent gaps in housing, transportation, health care and caregiver supports; nearly 800 residents were surveyed and focus groups highlighted caregiver burnout, food insecurity and poor awareness of existing services.
At a Holistic and Sustainable Solutions for Senior Citizens Task Force meeting, George Washington University project director Dr. Leslie Davidson presented a comprehensive needs assessment identifying housing, health care, transportation and financial-security gaps that hinder older residents’ ability to age in place in Prince George’s County.
Davidson described a mixed-methods study combining 28 focus groups, about nine months of community engagement, nearly 800 survey responses and census-based mapping. The research found that South County has relatively high shares of residents aged 65 and older but fewer local services, and that information barriers and eligibility rules prevent many residents from accessing help.
The report identified recurring themes from interviews and focus groups: caregiver support needs (training, guardianship information and respite), the rising cost of living and property taxes, difficulties identifying trustworthy health-care providers, home-maintenance barriers that force some seniors to consider moving, food and nutrition access, road and bus-stop safety and social isolation. Davidson quoted participants to illustrate the findings, saying a focus-group participant described the caregiving burden this way: "The burden of caregivers is huge." She also highlighted mismatches in transportation scheduling that left some residents unable to get timely specialty care.
Survey findings the team presented included: 81 percent of surveyed seniors said they wanted more affordable home-maintenance support; 87 percent reported difficulty finding trustworthy health-care providers; 54 percent said they struggled to access transportation to services; and 42 percent felt disconnected from community programs because of lack of information. Davidson also noted methodological limits: homebound residents were underrepresented, Spanish-speaking/Latinx participation was smaller than intended (six Spanish-language focus groups were held but registration was low), and the team could not obtain DMV driver-license records for vehicle/driver analysis.
On implementation, GWU said many award-winning programs already exist locally but are poorly publicized; recommendations were grouped by cost and feasibility (low-cost "activation" ideas through to longer-term investments). Davidson urged greater use of community partners — schools, faith organizations and volunteers — to provide home-maintenance and caregiver-support solutions that require modest county spending but substantial volunteer coordination.
During questions, members asked how Prince George’s County compares regionally. Davidson cautioned that counties differ by density and revenue; she contrasted Prince George’s mix of urban and rural areas with Loudoun County’s rapid growth and data-center-driven revenue, and noted Arlington and Fairfax as other regional comparators. The chair urged the administration to gather additional comparative metrics (including life-expectancy rates) to inform strategic planning.
Director Elena Balon Butler, speaking for the Department of Family Services’ Aging & Disability Services Division, thanked the GWU team, announced that Lisa Bryant began as the agency’s new Aging & Disability Services director in December, and said the department has requested additional funds in its FY2027 enhancement package to address the wait list for home-delivered meals. Butler emphasized the need to improve non-digital outreach because many seniors rely on printed materials or word of mouth.
The chair suggested the report be shared with the Health and Human Services and Public Safety Committee and the Committee of the Whole so all council members can review the findings. Staff noted the task force will revisit outstanding minutes at the next meeting, scheduled for March 11, and adjourned the session.
What happens next: the GWU final report and slides will be shared with the task force and department staff; members recommended referral to the county Health and Human Services committee and inclusion of proposed funding in the FY27 budget process.
