Older Persons Strategy - A Survey

SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE SURVEY

Read below the highlights of the survey and follow the links to the final reports.
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Future Strategy for Library Services to Older People Final Report 2004	RTF (  ) (719KB)	PDF (  ) (294KB)
A Longer-Term Strategy for Older People's Use of Canberra's Library Services and Facilities 2004		PDF (  ) (317KB)

The research design for this survey aimed to include people over 50 who live in all of the major circumstances for this age group, including retirement villages and hostels. For this reason it was preferable to do selective sampling rather than a random sample. A conventional random sample would only provide older people living in private homes with telephones and the ability to use them. We have been much more inclusive, seeking people with a range of disabilities, a larger number of over 80s and of men than would be provided in a home based sample. The results of the survey are descriptive and may not generalize to the ACT population in the exact proportions. However, the pattern of results argues for its accuracy and we have obtained information not accessible using conventional sampling methods.

Sample size 256, with a good spread of ages: 50s 22%, 60s 28%, 70s 23% and 80s 26%. Female 58% and male 41%, with 70% retired. 31% work as volunteers. 19% speak a language other than English with the main language groups in this survey being French (7%), German (7%) and Greek (4%). 13% read another language.

Disabilities included restricted mobility (21%), vision impairment (20%), general weakness (15%), deafness (12%), and restricted use of hands (8%). 3% mentioned arthritis but this is probably much higher. An analysis of disability for the different age groups revealed that the large proportion of disabilities are mentioned by those in their 80s, except for restricted mobility, vision impairment and deafness which are mentioned in increasing numbers by people over 70.

Social contact is also well distributed with 13% meeting others < once a week, 8% > 5 times and 38% or 40% 1-2 or 3-5 times. 31% live alone and 7% in supported care. 62 people (24%) were in retirement villages or hostels.

Club activity was greatest for regional or special interest 53%, sports 30% and cultural 16% with a greater proportion of men than women. Fitness clubs (12%) and arts and crafts (12%) have more female participation. Service clubs (12%) and seniors clubs (6%) are also important. Regular library users are more likely to be involved with cultural, and arts and crafts organisations.

53% visit a library regularly (at least once a month) and 45% have not visited more than a few times or at all. 14% used the mobile library, with over two thirds of this group (71%) using it once a fortnight.

42% use the public library to research their own interests.

Borrowing from the library declines from 50 to 80 but is still high at 52% for those 80 and over. Asking library staff for help remains at a consistent level through the age groups, and there is a marked increase to in use of the mobile library after 80 years, to one third of those in the survey. The profile of users of the mobile library are mostly women, in their 70s and 80s.

Borrowing of non English language materials was particularly high for those who spoke other languages. 62% of those who spoke a language other than English borrowed non English books or magazines.

Forty per cent of the group used the public branch library to gain information about services and this decreased with age:

• 50s 51%
• 60s 49%
• 70s 37%
• 80s 24%

The other sources for services information were family and friends 68%, yellow pages 60%, government brochures 47%, internet 35%, doctor 30%, community centre notice boards 24%. 67% of regular library clients used the library for services information.

The public branch library was used by 50%, for information about interests or hobbies. This is a greater proportion than for information about services and was second only to friends and family (61%). This use was also sustained at a higher level. 75% of regular library users sought information about interests and hobbies.

• 50s 63%
• 60s 58%
• 70s 50%
• 80s 30%

This survey has provided detailed patterns of use of different kinds of materials over the four decades of 50 to 80, as well as patterns of content or genre interest over that time. Formats and contents have also been analysed in relation to disability.

A comparison of content interests in relation to formats is also available. While it no doubt partly reflects current material in libraries, it may also point to the formats most appropriate for collection.

Dr. Patricia Gillard, Courage Partners
26 September, 2002