Types and Attributes of Neighborhood Resources Related to Chronic Disease Management Identified in Patient and Community Leader Interviews and Tours
| Resource Category | Attribute/Specific Examples |
|---|---|
| FOOD | Price, quality, and availability of food for purchase |
| (grocery stores, restaurants, food pantries, food assistance programs, farmer's markets, free meals programs) | Patient 3 identified a social service agency that provides food tailored to diabetes-related dietary restrictions. |
| Patient 7 explained that a grocery store is often messy and its prices can be twice the price of stores in other neighborhoods. | |
| Free groceries and meals | |
| Patient 1 noted that a church hands out free produce once a week. | |
| PUBLIC SPACE/RECREATIONAL PLACES | Places where people congregate |
| (community gardens, public parks, libraries, pools, playgrounds, community and senior centers) | Patient 4 explained that there are activities for seniors in a park and a nearby area recently had a free health fair. |
| Safety | |
| Patient 3 mentioned avoiding certain streets due to gun violence. | |
| Accessibility of public spaces | |
| Patient 2 identified a church as being handicap accessible. | |
| HEALTH | Types and availability of local health services and programs |
| (healthcare facilities, community health centers, pharmacies) | Patient 1 explained how much she loved her diabetes education class. |
| Patient 3 noted that it takes her a long time to get to her primary care clinic by bus. | |
| Specific services that can be requested at local clinics and pharmacies | |
| Patient 2 discussed how his pharmacy delivers medications with clear instructions. | |
| SOCIAL SERVICES | Availability and accessibility of social services |
| (legal representation, mental health services, cultural resources, nutrition programs, access to government identification, homelessness programs) | Community leader 10 pointed out a family resource center. |
| Free services available for vulnerable populations | |
| Community leader 5 explained that a social services agency hosts free computer classes, a needle exchange and gives out free phones. | |
| Patient 6 described a social services agency where he can get free socks helpful for his diabetes-related foot problems. | |
| EDUCATION | Availability of child-focused programs |
| (schools, afterschool programs, libraries, city colleges, education initiatives) | Community leader 10 described an organization that provides culturally relevant services to low-income youth. |
| Learning opportunities for adults | |
| Patient 6 described going to the public library to learn about health and meet people. | |
| TRANSPORTATION | Service quality, accessibility, and reliability of bus lines |
| (public transportation, paratransit, bus/taxi voucher programs) | Patient 2 appreciated the reach of the public tram line but also explained that paratransit has long wait times and no same-day requests. |
| Community leader 6 explained that the public tram line does not consistently stop in their neighborhood. | |
| HOUSING | Housing displacement |
| (affordable housing communities, assisted living facilities, shelters, single residency occupancy hotels) | Patient 5 noted many buildings whose Black former owners were pushed out due to redevelopment policies and gentrification. |
| Housing tailored to specific populations | |
| Community leader 8 noted a low-income housing community serving residents with special needs. | |
| ART | Availability of art and cultural events |
| (cultural shows, murals, musical events, museums) | Patient 3 explained that a social services agency gives free tickets to the opera, ballet, and sports games. |
| Appreciation of public art | |
| Patient 6 noted how much he liked a mural in his neighborhood. |