SLCNA Report February 2020 - Report - Page 12
VII. Primary Stakeholder Focus Group Feedback
Overview of Primary Stakeholder Focus Group
We reached out to nearly 40 nonprofit “Stakeholder Organizations” that interact with, serve, and/or
care for the target group of age 65+ living in the south central Pennsylvania region, more specifically
Cumberland, Dauphin, and York Counties. The following organizations who responded participated in one
of two separate stakeholder focus groups.
• AARP Pennsylvania
• Cumberland County Aging & Community Services
• Geisinger Holy Spirit Hospital
• Geisinger Holy Spirit Medical Group
• Grantham BIC Church Primetimers Group
• LeadingAge PA
• Messiah College
• Partnership for Better Health
• Paxton Ministries
• Pennsylvania Home Care Association (PHA)
• Rabbit Transit
• St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church
• The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC)
• Vision Resources
• YMCA
See appendix B for list of individual participants from the organizations listed above.
We held two separate Community Stakeholder focus group meetings in June 2019 to gain a better
perspective of senior living and community health needs from organizations, providers, and agencies
that work directly and or on behalf of seniors ages 65 and older. The collective dialogue from these
sessions provided a broader sense of the needs, challenges, and opportunities the age and demographic
cohort listed above.
Each focus group, moderated by Messiah Lifeways, allowed participants to share their frank and honest
opinion on a series of questions listed below. Responses were recorded by means of audio recording and
written dictation. Responses have been summarized in the bulleted list:
1. What would you say are the biggest health problems for older adults age 65+ here in south
central Pennsylvania?
• Transportation was noted as a significant challenge in the delivery of health care services. Situations
that were discussed included the lack of available transportation in rural communities and the
cost of ride-sharing options such as Uber and Lyft. Providers noted that many of their patients/
residents who have appointments or surgeries do not have someone to escort them, which
causes issues. Also, the timing of public transportation options are challenging for individuals
with a mental health diagnosis or those on oxygen.
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