1. Evaluating Retention Rates at Gloria J. Parks: Senior Services
Elite Interviews were completed as well, and findings were similar to the satisfaction surveys that seniors completed. The findings have indicated that:
All elite administrators agreed that the senior programming offered at Gloria J Parks is functioning effectively and efficiently.
Elites as well as some seniors agree that there are areas of the program that can be improved, but elites believe that they will need ideas and input from seniors to make those changes and improvements to what every activities that seniors may feel is needed.
Recommendations
To assist Gloria J Parks in continuing to serve their current clientele base and also attract new members, I would like to recommend that:
Gloria J Parks should implement more activities that would attract male participants being that there is a disproportionate ratio of male and female participants.
Gloria J Parks should take a closer look at other senior centers to gain insight on how other centers are being marketed to appear more attractive to seniors or all ages.
Gloria J Parks should start a senior committee/board to fully engage seniors to solicit their ideas to improve the program from their perspective, since they are the persons utilizing the services.
References
Evaluating Retention Rates at Gloria J. Parks: Senior Services
Sarita R. Sanders, Public Administration · Project Advisor - Dr. Rivera
Introduction
In the early 1960’s University Heights Community Development Association (UHDCA) was known as a safe recreational center for youths. This organization was thought of and developed through mothers in the University District neighborhoods (Buffalo, NY Zip Codes and 14215). These mothers all had a common goal, that goal was to provide a safe and organized place for their children to play. In 1971 UHDCA received their first grant to start a summer youth program. In 1974 UHDCA expanded its services and opened a “storefront” center, which began to offer services to senior citizens. In 1976 UHDCA became a non-profit corporation, and later in 1992 UHDCA changed its location to 3242 Main St in Buffalo, NY. The organizations was renamed Gloria J Parks (GJP’s). This was now known as the new home of UHDCA.
Purpose Statement
The purpose of this study was to conduct a program evaluation at Gloria J. Parks to analyze their retention rates among their senior programs. The evaluation was designed for several reasons. The first was to see what activities seniors appeared to benefit from and utilize the most. Another reason was to gather information from administrators to see if they felt that the senior service program was functioning effectively and efficiently.
Literature Review
Researchers have observed that there are a number of variables that have been found to influence whether of not senior citizens choose to participate in senior service community center programs:
*Personal Autonomy - research suggests that autonomy determines what one does independently, without being forced to do so by some outside power (Boden 2008; Anderson 2014; Bittner 2014; Santiago 2005).
* Transportation & Proximity - research suggests that seniors that have problems with transportation were older, in poorer health, and had lower income and income satisfaction (Rudman et al. 2006; Weeks et al., 2015, Hostetler, 2011; Haustein and Siren, 2014).
* Age & Gender - research suggests little attention has focused on senior center programs and activities that address the needs of younger and more active older adults. (Markwood, 2013; Fitzpatrick and Cabe, 2008). Research has also found gender to be a personal characteristic that structures the way senior centers are administrated (Marhankova, 2014; Aday et al., 2006).
* Clientele Interest - research suggests that not all programs offered are appealing to senior populations, which prevents seniors from becoming interested in participating in a particular senior center’s program (Turner, 2006; Walker et al.,2004; Cox, 2004; Pardasani, 2010).
Methodology
In order to answer my research questions I used a mixed methods approach that included the administration of a satisfaction survey and interviews with three elite administrators. Surveys were used to gather information from senior citizens relating to their interest in activities offered, how beneficial those activities were and their decision to participate or not in Gloria J. Parks senior service Programs. Administering the surveys to the seniors allowed seniors to give their perspectives on how satisfied they are with Gloria J Parks senior activities. Interviews were then conducted with three elite administrations who worked within programming. The information gathered from these interviews focused on the effectiveness and efficiency of the program and activities that’s being offered.
Findings
A satisfactory survey was completed by 32 seniors, who are active members of Gloria J Parks regarding activities they utilized more often and how satisfied they were with services rendered by Gloria J Parks staff. Important findings included:
Seniors who participated in the survey were more likely to utilize physical and nutritional activities than other activities.
Seniors were very satisfied with Gloria J Parks senior program staff and activities offered with a very small number of participants of the survey of feeling like there needs to be added activities.
More than ¾ of senior who participated in the survey appeared to have liked the program and activities just as it was designed with the exception of less than ¼ wanting to see more added activities.