Seniors Speak Out About Programs

by Susan Beauchamp

Southeast Community Services at 901 Shelby St. has many great programs and services for area seniors, but there are many people who do not participate at this time. In an effort to understand why many seniors do not access the services, SECS has partnered with Southeast Learning Partnership and the University of Indianapolis to conduct a survey to identify the interests and unmet needs of our older residents. Lyndsey McCubbin and Emily Burgett from UIndy worked on the project as part of their Spring Term Service-Learning Course. The students, along with Project Manager and neighborhood resident Angie Calvert, worked together to design a survey, interview seniors, and analyze the data collected.

In May 2009, the project team surveyed 75 low-income seniors in and around the southeast area of Indianapolis. Throughout the month, the team interviewed seniors at Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center, Concord Neighborhood Center, The Good Life Center, and Southeast Community Services. They also conducted interviews at seniors’ homes. After all the survey data was collected and compiled, the project team invited all participating organizations and seniors to review the results.

Fifty-four seniors who participate at senior centers took the survey. Twenty-one who do not participate at centers also took the survey. The following is a sample of the information obtained:

Seniors who participate at centers replied that many get there by driving, walking, shuttle or Indy Go and these methods work well. They receive information about the center by word of mouth, the center calendar, and at the center. Many would like to receive information by mail and few would use Internet. The favorite activities are Bingo, card games, taking trips, crafts, and puzzles. The activities that they would most like see added are music/Karaoke/musical instruments, arts & crafts, more exercise, more games, and more trips. The with family, a spouse and or friends. Most have family and friends in the area and some attend church in the area. Many have friends who do not participate at the center.

Of the residents who do no use the senior centers, most have no time due to taking care of a spouse or family members. Others have no transportation or do not know about the senior center activities. About half of the non-participants would participate if they had transportation or more information about the centers. Most would prefer to be contacted by mail or by phone and few would use email. They would most like to receive activity and event details, information about trips and health services. The activities they most want to be offered are exercise classes, trips, Bingo, card games and crafts classes. Most have family and friends in the area. A third of the non-participants live with family, a third live alone, and a third live with a spouse.

Lyndsey and Emily enjoyed meeting the senior residents of Southeast Indianapolis and were happy to learn more about this area of the city as well as to earn college credit for their help. The mission of the Southeast Learning Partnership is to document and collect data for the neighborhoods. This organization is composed of residents and organizations that have an interest in Southeast.