2019
RI LIFE INDEX


Summary: Perceptions of Community
PERCEPTIONS OF COMMUNITY
QUALITY OF COMMUNITY
DEFINITION
Quality of community scoring represents a summary of how residents rate social and economic aspects of their community, including the following topics:
- Access to childcare
- Activities for youth
- Employment
- Food
- Housing
- Utilities
QUESTION WORDING: For each statement, tell me if that statement is completely descriptive, somewhat descriptive, not very descriptive, or not descriptive at all of your community.


PERCEPTIONS OF COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY LIFE
DEFINITION
Community life scoring represents a summary of how residents perceive the lived experiences of typical individuals in their community, looking at the following areas:
- Access to childcare
- Employment
- Education
- Food
- Housing
- Transportation
- Healthcare
- Recreational facilities and internet
- Personal safety
- Risk of incarceration
QUESTION WORDING: For each statement, please tell me how likely each is for a typical person living in your community: very likely; somewhat likely; somewhat unlikely; and very unlikely


Perceptions of Community
PERCEPTIONS OF COMMUNITY
JOBS
DEFINITION
How do residents rate job opportunities and job training programs?
TOPICS: Availability of jobs; employment with living wage; access to adult education


PERCEPTIONS OF COMMUNITY
HOUSING
DEFINITION
How do residents rate access to affordable, quality housing?
TOPICS: Cost of housing; difficulty paying for utilities; access to internet connection


PERCEPTIONS OF COMMUNITY
FOOD
DEFINITION
How do residents rate access to affordable, nutritious food?
TOPICS: Access to nutritious affordable food; convenience of location of nutritious food


PERCEPTIONS OF COMMUNITY
TRANSPORTATION
DEFINITION
How do residents rate the availability of safe and reliable transportation?
TOPICS: Safe public transportation stops; special transportation services for people with disabilities and older adults; available transportation when needed


PERCEPTIONS OF COMMUNITY
SAFETY
DEFINITION
How safe do residents feel in and outside of their homes?
TOPICS: Feelings of safety in neighborhood; feelings of safety in home; risk of incarceration


PERCEPTIONS OF COMMUNITY
OLDER ADULTS
DEFINITION
How do residents rate the availability of services in their community for older adults?
TOPICS: Availability of social and civic programs; quality of healthcare services; ability for people to age in place


PERCEPTIONS OF COMMUNITY
CHILDREN
DEFINITION
How do residents rate programs and services available for children?
TOPICS: Place to raise children; access to childcare; access to recreation facilities; activities for youth


PERCEPTIONS OF COMMUNITY
ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE
DEFINITION
How do residents rate access to healthcare?
TOPICS: Routine medical care; mental health or substance abuse treatment if needed


Actual Experiences
ACTUAL EXPERIENCES
HOUSEHOLD ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE
DEFINITION
To what extent are residents able to access needed healthcare?
TOPICS: Prescription medicines; over-the-counter medicines; dental care; vision care; any other healthcare


ACTUAL EXPERIENCES
SOCIAL INTEGRATION
DEFINITION
To what extent are residents socially connected to others in their community?
TOPICS: Visited with family friends or neighbors in person; talked to family or friends on the phone; kept up with friends or family using emails, text messages, or social media


ACTUAL EXPERIENCES
PERSONAL SELF-RATED HEALTH
DEFINITION
How do residents rate their own health?
TOPICS: Overall health; mental health


ACTUAL EXPERIENCES
OPIOID EPIDEMIC
DEFINITION
Have you, an immediate family member, extended family member, or friend abused opioids?



ACTUAL EXPERIENCES
NEEDED MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT


AMONG THOSE WHO NEEDED IT:
Were you able to access mental health or substance abuse treatment?


ACTUAL EXPERIENCES
EMERGENCY ROOM USE IN PAST 12 MONTHS
DEFINITION
How many times have you visited an emergency room for a medical issue?


ACTUAL EXPERIENCES
DISCRIMINATION IN PAST 12 MONTHS
DEFINITION
How often have you been concerned about being treated unfairly in a healthcare setting because of your race, ethnicity, or some other personal characteristic?

