No abstract

LGBTQ seniors have some different needs for programs and services, are at a higher risk of social isolation, and are often underserved in the community. Senior centers serve as a hub of resources in a community and are purposefully situated to address the needs and interests of all seniors in a community; they are a natural outlet for targeted programming for LGBTQ seniors. The purpose of this project is to demonstrate what municipal senior centers across Massachusetts are doing to meet the needs of their LGBTQ seniors. A total of 24 senior centers were identified by the Massachusetts Association of Councils on Aging (MCOA) as providing LGBTQ programming. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 senior center directors or programming staff from different communities across Massachusetts to learn more about their specific programming. For almost all senior centers in this study, the main LGBTQ-specific programming was a congregate meal with an activity. Activities included both recreational activities like a film-screening and educational engagements such as guest speakers or specialists on housing, legal services, and health promotion. Distinguishing characteristics included whether or not programming had an intergenerational component, type of recruitment methods, and geographic clustering of programs. For example, two regions emerged as having shared activities for LGBTQ seniors. Results from this study will be used to illustrate models of best practice when it comes to LGBTQ programming for older people.

Senior centers provide a wide range of programs and services to meet the needs of the growing aging population. As senior centers aim to serve all older community-members, it is important to assess the value of these services through the lens of both attendees and non-attendees of senior centers. Using a sample of 4,750 community-dwelling adults age 60 or older from Massachusetts, this project aims to analyze perceptions of program importance by center attendees versus non-attendees. Almost 60% of the sample never attend a senior center. Nearly a third of center attendees ranked exercise classes and education opportunities as important, compared to about 20% of non-attendees. Almost half of attendees rated application assistance and nutrition programs as not important, compared to 38% and 40% of non-attendees, respectively. Conversely, for all programs listed, non-users more frequently checked “unsure” of program/service importance. This was especially true for exercise classes, professional services, social or recreational activities, educational opportunities, and trips, for which 18% of non-attendees selected unsure. Center attendees more frequently view the programs/services offered at the senior center as important or very important, likely because they have greater awareness. Results highlight that that non-attendees are unsure of the value of programs or have no interest the programs and services provided. Not only do these results provide an opportunity to senior centers to assess how valuable certain programs and services are, they also emphasize the need for continued information streams regarding programs and services offered at senior centers to those who are unfamiliar.