LYNN — The city is conducting a survey for residents 60 years or older to address the needs and wants of the senior population.
The results of the survey will be used to provide better services for a new senior center.
“The goal of the survey is to assess the wants and needs of Lynn’s senior population,” said Director of Elder Services Christopher Gomez.
The data will be processed by the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts – Boston.
“UMass Boston will tabulate everything once the survey is finished,” said Gomez.
The city sent out the survey form to each elderly resident in the city, and senior residents can also participate online.
“There is a prepaid envelope, and they can send it back with no cost,” said Gomez.
The city estimates that it will take around 15 minutes to participate in the survey, which consists of 30 to 40 questions. The questions were developed in collaboration with the UMass Boston Institute of Gerontology. The questionnaire includes questions on the services desired or preferred by the elderly, as well as on the possible improvements to the work of the department.
“In part, we wanted to get input on the seniors’ wants and needs before embarking on this new journey with the new senior center,” said Gomez. “I felt an unbiased survey was important for us to open the new senior center.”
Even though the city is still having problems renting the premises for the new center, it uploaded a job posting for a program manager for the senior center last week, and has started to receive applications.
“Most senior housing is in downtown Lynn, so we felt the senior center should be located downtown to accommodate those seniors who don’t own cars,” Gomez said.
Gomez mentioned that the seniors were excited about the new center, as they have had to do without one for a couple of years.
By now, the city has already developed a preliminary plan of the services and attractions that will be available at the facility. The list of services includes tai-chi classes and a teaching kitchen.
“Lynn has a predominantly Hispanic population, and we will have a healthy teaching kitchen in which we will teach healthy recipe alternatives such as quinoa instead of rice,” said Gomez.
Language classes promise to become another attraction for the elderly residents.
All the activities at the new center will be free of charge for the members. To become a member, you must be 60 years or older and a Lynn resident. However, as Gomez noted, in practice the city expects an influx of visitors from other places, too.
The visitors will have to pay for some services, including those of hairstylists and barbers. But those costs should be lower than they would normally be.
“For example, instead of doing a haircut for full price they would do one at a discounted rate for the seniors at the senior center,” said Gomez.
The city will bear the expenses on the staff to coordinate all the activities, but a lot of activities will be conducted by the volunteers, and Gomez promises to teach Spanish classes as a volunteer, too.
The results of the survey are expected to be available between late May to early June.
Those having trouble filling out the questionnaire can email the Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging at [email protected] or call 617-287-7413.
