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Millis, Medway councils on aging commission UMass for joint needs assessment and shared-services study

2665909 · March 18, 2025

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Summary

Millis and Medway have contracted with UMass Boston's Gerontology Institute to survey and hold focus groups of residents 60 and older to identify shared services and gaps; mailed postcards and surveys are planned this spring.

The Millis Council on Aging and the town announced a second-phase shared services study led by UMass Boston's Gerontology Institute at the Select Board's March 17 meeting.

Ann Marie Gagnon (Council on Aging director) said the first phase compared Millis and Medway council on aging programs on paper; the new work will gather resident input and produce recommendations for possible shared services. Dr. Caitlin Coyle of UMass Boston described the study's methods and schedule: focus groups, key-informant interviews and a mailed survey to residents age 60 and older.

Coyle said the study team will mail a yellow postcard to all eligible residents on May 6 as a heads-up and will mail the full survey about a week later. "We are mailing that survey out. It will come with a prepaid prestamped, return envelope," she said. The survey will also be available online and by phone; the team will offer assistance by telephone for respondents who prefer that format. The survey is roughly 40 questions and the team estimates it will take about 10-15 minutes to complete.

The study aims to produce both quantitative and qualitative data on older residents'needs and preferences and to recommend areas where the two towns could coordinate services such as caregiving support, transportation, health programs and other age-friendly initiatives. Coyle said UMass's report will include recommendations and examples of promising practices from other Massachusetts communities.

Millis officials asked residents to watch for the postcard and said paper copies will be available at the Council on Aging and online; staff also said they will post a link on the town website and support local outreach to increase response rates.