Transportation Network Analysis to Access Community Resources by Older Populations

This paper discusses the need for, and illustration of, a methodology for accessing community-based resources by older resident populations. The methodology involves: 1) identifying census blocks groups with older, non-institutionalized populations that may be "at high -risk" or "at moderate -risk" of a decreased ability to reside in a non-institutionalized community-based setting; 2) geocoding locations of community-based resources (e.g. health and social services, law enforcement and emergency services, and local government offices) key to the well being of older residents; 3) conducting a transportation network analysis; 4) identifying the best travel path for older residents to access various needed community-based resources. "At high -risk" and "at moderate -risk" census blocks groups are identified as a function of three demographic characteristics: the relative proportion of the population 65 and older in a census block group (1) with income below the poverty threshold, (2) with one or more disabilities, and, given those two factors, (3) living alone. Network analysis tools in standard GIS software are used to identify the best travel path to access community resources from "at high -risk" and "at moderate -risk" census block groups. The identified "best travel path" is based on travel distance, travel time, traffic volumes, number of intersections along the path, and the number of crashes involving older residents. The methodology is illustrated using data from a project that used GIS methods to indicate the physical relationship of older sub-populations to needed community resources in a section of the Las Vegas, Nevada metropohtan area.