U.S residents should begin receiving census forms by email or mail starting in mid-March. Since this year’s census will be the first to be completed largely online, some are concerned that older adults may face challenges in participating. Thankfully, there are multiple ways to complete the 2020 Census—online, on paper, by phone, and in different languages. People can choose the method they are most comfortable with. If the older adults you serve need help with the forms, support is available at DisabilityCounts2020.org. Older adults should be encouraged to fill out the census form and send it back as soon as they receive it, even though the “official” census date is April 1. The information people share with the Census Bureau is confidential and protected by law. Only statistics are reported. Encourage the older adults you serve to make sure they’re counted by the Census. The benefits they rely on may depend on it. If a resident isn’t counted, their needs may not be met. Critical funding for public libraries, early childhood education, school lunch programs, health services, affordable housing, and special education depend on an accurate census count. The same is true for programs older adults rely on like Medicaid and Meals on Wheels. | |
