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Quality of Life Survey
The following information is generally collected through a community
survey, which can be conducted by telephone, in person or by mail. This
information may also be collected through focus groups, informal
discussions, or other community gatherings. Record the responses to the 12
questions below.
If gathering the information through a survey, consider eliciting
responses through a Likert scale (i.e., 1 5 with 1 being low and 5 being
high.) If gathering the information in-person (i.e., via focus groups,
informal discussions, or other mechanisms), use open-ended questions.
Engage the community in an in-depth discussion (through focus groups,
community dialogues, or town hall meetings) about the 12 questions.
Explore the following issues for each question: 1. What is the preferred
future? 2. What is the current reality? 3. What are the gaps, leverage
points or strategic opportunities?
Total Number of Community Residents Surveyed: ____
Date:________________________
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Quality of Life Questions |
Likert Scale
Responses (1 to 5, with 5 being most positive) |
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1. Are you satisfied with the quality of life in our community?
(Consider your sense of safety, well-being, participation in community
life and associations, etc.) [IOM, 1997] |
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2. Are you satisfied with the health care system
in the community? (Consider access, cost, availability, quality,
options in health care, etc.) [IOM, 1997] |
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3. Is this community a good place to raise
children? (Consider school quality, day care, after school programs,
recreation, etc.) |
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4. Is this community a good place to grow old?
(Consider elder-friendly housing, transportation to medical services,
churches, shopping; elder day care, social support for the elderly
living alone, meals on wheels, etc.) |
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5. Is there economic opportunity in the
community? (Consider locally owned and operated businesses, jobs with
career growth, job training/higher education opportunities, affordable
housing, reasonable commute, etc.) |
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6. Is the community a safe place to live? (Consider residents
perceptions of safety in the home, the workplace, schools,
playgrounds, parks, the mall. Do neighbors know and trust one
another? Do they look out for one another?)
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7. Are there networks of support for individuals and families
(neighbors, support groups, faith community outreach, agencies,
organizations) during times of stress and need?
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8. Do all individuals and groups have the opportunity to
contribute to and participate in the communitys quality of life?
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9. Do all residents perceive that they individually and
collectively can make the community a better place to live?
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10. Are community assets broad-based and multi-sectoral?
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11. Are levels of mutual trust and respect increasing among
community partners as they participate in collaborative activities to
achieve shared community goals?
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12. Is there an active sense of civic responsibility and
engagement and of civic pride in shared accomplishments?
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