Survey cites active nature of Sun City West

First of two stories

A survey of Sun City West residents reveals they are an overwhelmingly active and social group and generally pleased with their choice of retirement community.

The study, conducted by Dr. Richard Gitelson, director of gerontology at Arizona State University West, further indicates there are small differences between the two age groups surveyed — pre-Baby Boomers, born before 1946, and Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964.

Gitelson worked in conjunction with the Sun City West Boomers task force and Recreation Centers of Sun City West management to develop a profile of the preferences, health and socio-economic status of residents.

Nearly 1,300 self-administered surveys were mailed to a random selection of residents in October, about 600 for each age group. In the Boomers group, 375 surveys were returned and for the pre-Boomers, 395 surveys were returned.

The results were presented Thursday by Gitelson at the rec centers governing board meeting. Among the findings:

• Approximately nine out of 10 respondents believe amenities are important or very important in selecting a retirement community.

• About six of 10 respondents believe social opportunities are important or very important.

• About six of 10 respondents considered other retirement communities besides Sun City West.

• Only 1 percent of respondents said their expectations were not at all met in the community.

• More than 75 percent of respondents do physical activities at least once per week.

• More than half the respondents do some kind of social activity each week.

• More than 80 percent of the respondents believe their physical health is good to excellent.

• Pre-Boomers are less likely to play team sports, golf or use the recreation center than Boomers.

General Manager Mike Whiting said the survey results confirmed what many in the association already knew – residents in Sun City West are more active than other people in the same age range.

"None of the results really stand out as surprising so much as confirming what we’d already suspected," he said. "They were encouraging actually. Most notable, as Gitelson pointed out, was the level of activity of our residents — their involvement in physical and social activities, and the clubs."

Whiting said he was encouraged by some of the results related to participation in physical activities, particularly the lack of interest in television.

"The one surprising aspect was that about 20 percent to 25 percent of our residents don’t watch TV at least once a week. That means they’re out enjoying themselves," he said.

Whiting said the survey will be useful to helping management cater to residents’ needs.

"Everyone knows the Baby Boomers are having a major impact on the way businesses operate. We need to gauge their wants and needs, and find a way to incorporate those into our priorities for serving current residents," he said. "When you think about it, we have a 40-year span in our generations; we have to find ways to serve people from 55 to 95. That’s quite a challenge and that’s why it’s so important that we really have an understanding of who these residents are, so we can make informed decisions about serving them."

Gitelson said the survey can be used as a tool to monitor changes in the community.

"There’s a lot of information in this study, and I hope it will be interesting and prove worthwhile in the future," he said. "It certainly will be a baseline for how your community changes. It certainly will help, I think, in your bargaining efforts."

Katy O’Grady, the community’s general services officer, said survey results would likely be printed in the community’s Rec Center News.

"This is the first comprehensive study we’ve done of our Baby Boomers, and we know our residents will be interested in the results. We’ll be sharing these findings in future issues of the Rec Center News," she said.

Erin Turner may be reached at 623-876-2522 or eturner@yourwestvalley.com.