Elder Needs Index and Low-Income
Subsidy Target Mapping Projects

Elder Needs Index Maps

To help providers better target elders in greater need for support and care giving, the Planning and Evaluation Unit of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) has developed an "Elders Need Index." This index ranks geographical areas according to the characteristics of the resident elder population in the United States and is presented at the census tract level in interactive statewide maps. Findings are based on the Special Tabulation on Aging (STP 9) tables prepared by the U.S. Census Bureau under a reimbursable agreement with the Administration on Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The interactive maps summarize key public programs targeting variables such as age of the population (age), minority population (social needs), disability (need for special services), poverty level (economic need), and rural population (geographic isolation). These maps also allow the user to "zoom-in" to a selected geographic area, identify and find locations within the map, graphically mark up maps to communicate more efficiently, and print the maps including the layer symbology. In addition to the maps, the special tabulation tables and formulas used to calculate elder needs for each state are presented in Excel workbooks.

With these maps you can look at location clues and physical features such as roads, water bodies, state parks, and Planning and Service Area boundaries.  The Elder Needs Index methodology and layer description can be accessed by clicking here.

Access information quickly by using the Find and Identify tools and learn more about each by simply right-clicking on the layer names.

Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) Targeting Maps

The Planning and Evaluation Unit of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) has also developed Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) Targeting interactive maps using data provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This project was made possible by a contract from the National Association of State Units on Aging using Older American Act funds.

The interactive LIS Targeting maps demonstrate at the county level which areas of the state outreach from planning and service area units may reach the most beneficiaries. The maps enable the user to view three variables simultaneously:

• The total number of Medicare beneficiaries eligible for Part D coverage as of April 2008,
• The estimated number or the estimated percentage of people in the Low-Income Subsidy target audience, and
• The location of hospitals.

To learn more about the Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) Targeting Program please refer to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/States/03_lowincomesubsidy.asp.

Both the Elder Needs Index and Low-Income Subsidy Targeting maps provided are to be used as a guide for decision making and should be utilized in conjunction with the local knowledge of a community.  The LIS Targeting Mapping Project methodology and layer description can be accessed by clicking here.

How to Access the Maps

Step 1: Install ArcReader Software

To view either the interactive Elder Needs Index or Low-Income Subsidy Targeting maps you must first install the ArcReader software. ArcReader is a free mapping application that allows users to view, explore, and print maps. Download ArcReader and a tutorial for free at: http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/arcreader/download.html (173 MB)

Note: Download time varies according to computer system capacity. Also, if you do not have administrative privileges on your computer, you will need your Management Information Systems (MIS) staff to assist you with the installation of this application

For step-by-step download instruction please refer to our ArcReader Installation Guide. ArcReader Installation Guide (3 MB).

Step 2: Download the compressed files for your state

Once the ArcReader software is installed on your computer, click on the state name from the list below for which you want to view the Elder Needs Index or Low-Income Subsidy Targeting maps. Right-click on the compressed Needs Index or LIS folder to initiate download.

Step 3: Make it all come together - Open the Quick Start/Map User Guide to learn how

For further download instruction please refer to our QuickStart/Map User Guide (3.5 MB).

Interactive Needs Index and Low-Income Subsidy Maps by State

Note: Upon downloading the folder titled "Needs Index", an Excel workbook containing the special tabulation tables and formulas used to calculate the Needs Index for each state is provided. The interative maps are located in the folder titled "pmf".

Disclaimer regarding the Hospital layer: The hospital layers used in both the Needs Index and LIS Targeting maps were not generated by the Planning and Evaluation Unit of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) and therefore DOEA cannot determine which hospitals are no longer providing services. This data set was derived from ESR's ArcGIS 9.3 Data and Maps CD. As such, the data depicted only represents hospitals registered in the year 2007 and due to changing conditions may or may not represent real world scenarios.

If you have any questions or problems using these maps, please contact: 1-850-414-2000 or send us an email.