Older Adults Living Independently

Missouri Senior Report
The Missouri Senior Report is a critical, reliable, data-driven resource on issues concerning the senior population. The indicators, gathered in partnership with over a dozen state agencies and organizations, provide essential context for senior advocates, policy makers, grant writers, researchers, caregivers, businesses, seniors, emerging seniors, and family members to understand and act on the issues.

Elder Index
The Elder Economic Security Standard Index (Elder Index) is a tool used to determine the true cost of living for seniors and present local expenses, savings requirements, and what incomes are needed to achieve economic security by family type, and at the city, county, and state levels.  It takes into account housing (own/rent, single/married), healthcare, transportation, food, and miscellaneous expenses that a senior would need to meet their basic needs and age in place with dignity.

Old School
Old School is a clearinghouse of free and carefully vetted resources to educate people about ageism and help dismantle it.  The site features blogs, books, articles, videos, speakers, and other tools (workshops, handouts, curricula etc.) that are accessible to the general public. The goal is to help catalyze a movement to make ageism (discrimination on the basis of age) as unacceptable as any other kind of prejudice. 

UMSL Home Repair Study
From 2020-2022, researchers at UMSL worked alongside St. Louis City departments and the region’s largest home repair providers to shed light on a problem that, until now, has largely been hidden from public view: the enormous unmet need for home repairs in St. Louis.  Home repairs, when adequately funded, improve people’s physical and mental health as well as the overall quality of life. In addition, home repairs help to preserve affordable housing and our city’s historic architecture, stabilize neighborhoods, and prevent property abandonment while protecting hard-earned generational wealth through homeownership. 

St. Louis City Senior Fund
Following the successful Seniors Count public advocacy campaign, the St. Louis City Senior Fund was created by the November 2016 passage of Proposition S.  Visit the Meetings & Reports tab to view the full Seniors Count Needs Assessment Report which was conducted to gain a better understanding of the unmet needs of seniors living in Greater St Louis.

Aging with a History of Trauma
Exposure to traumatic events is widespread. Research suggests that almost 90% of American older adults have been exposed to at least one traumatic event during their lifetime. This trauma affects adults as they age as well as those who provide for their care. To provide care for the growing population of older adults in the United States, it is essential to understand the role of trauma in aging and how person-centered, trauma-informed (PCTI) care can help. ‘Aging with a History of Trauma’ is a guide for anyone working and volunteering in aging services on how to deliver PCTI care to older adults with a history of trauma and family caregivers.  In this guide, you will find information about the role of trauma in aging, the PCTI approach, and recommendations on supporting diverse older adults and family caregivers.

Gateway Geriatric Education Center
​Saint Louis University’s Gateway Geriatric Education Center develops leading-edge education for current and future geriatric professionals and has been funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for a quarter of a century.  The Center has trained tens of thousands of public groups, students and professionals across the region and country. As part of the Saint Louis University School of Medicine’s Division of Geriatric Medicine, the Center reaches a large number of students, professionals, direct care workers, older adults and their support networks.

Structural Ageism series by American Society on Aging 
This series of articles features several poignant pieces on structural ageism and how to dismantle it.  One particular article highlights the historical roots of today's racial disparities in health and finances and proposes solutions such as housing assistance and greater access to healthcare to improve outcomes.

Aging Strong for All: Examining Aging Equity in the City of Boston
This in-depth report examines intersecting trends and documents disparities experienced by older residents across three major dimensions of healthy aging: economic security, health, and social engagement. The report tells a story of inequities across the life course that together challenge the ability of many people to thrive in later life and contribute to disparities across populations.

Antidotes for Ageism Video
Changing the Narrative partnered with the Boulder County Area Agency on Aging to create a short film called Antidotes for Ageism: A brief guide to creating inclusive care in an ageist society. (Running time: approximately 16 minutes).  The film is a compilation of interviews with older adults as well as professionals who serve older adults and are experts in their fields. Learn from their insights about what ageism is and how it shows up in healthcare settings. Inspire your community to take actionable steps that will remove ageism from healthcare.

Impact of Illinois State Budget Impasse on SW IL Seniors Report
The Daughters of Charity Foundation of St. Louis, now the Marillac Mission Fund, commissioned a study by the CORO Fellows in 2017 to bring much needed attention to unintended, harmful consequences the state’s budget impasse was having on vulnerable older adults and their caregivers, as well as the organizations that struggled to stay open to provide the most basic of care for seniors living in South West Illinois.

Administration on Aging
This U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agency that implements the Older Americans Act provides services and programs ranging from caregiver and support services to legal services in order to help aging individuals live independently.

State of Decay Report
This state-by-state report assesses the status of oral health for America’s 65+ population and the success or failure of states to address needs of that demographic.  It was last published in 2018 through the Wisdom Tooth Project of Oral Health America, which is now a part of Authority Dental.  

Saint Louis County Access & Functional Needs Registry
An emergency preparedness program for older adults and people with disabilities with resources to promote independence, safety, and well-being for older residents.