Make Sure Your Community is Counted in the 2020 Census
Thursday, April 30, 2020
Section: April Associate Newsletter




Earlier this month, about 64 million households across the country received a paper questionnaire from the U.S. Census Bureau. Even in these trying times, it is important to help ensure that older adults in your community are counted. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some areas are now receiving a letter in the mail instead of an in-person visit reminding them to participate.

Even if households didn’t receive a letter in the mail, the Census Bureau will drop off a census invitation and paper form as soon as it is safe to do so. Census takers will also follow up with all households that do not respond on their own.
 
Households that received the paper questionnaire can still respond online, over the phone or by paper through the mail. The 2020 Census questionnaire takes about 10 minutes to complete. According to the Census Bureau, of the nation's households, 51.8 percent have already responded to the 2020 Census. Responding now will minimize the need for census takers to follow up and visit homes in person later this year.
 
Every 10 years the Census Bureau counts every household and person living in the U.S. as of a certain date—this time that date was April 1, 2020. We encourage n4a members to take action to ensure that the older adults and caregivers they serve will be counted. Census data is factored into a tremendous number of policy actions and funding formulas (including Older Americans Act), at the federal, state and local levels, so it's important that everyone living in the U.S. is counted.
 
For more information visit: 2020census.gov.