The Steering Committee is being asked to provide local knowledge, experience, perspective, and thoughtful questions throughout the feasibility study.
We recognize that Steering Committee members are busy business, church, and community leaders. The goal is to make participation meaningful while respecting your time.
Members will primarily participate by reviewing information provided through this website and sharing their questions, observations, and suggestions.
Your participation may include:
• Reviewing demographic information, survey results, and other research
• Sharing your knowledge of the community and its resources
• Identifying information that may be missing or require additional research
• Asking questions and raising concerns
• Providing feedback on potential programs, services, and operating considerations
• Reviewing major findings as the study progresses
• Participating in a limited number of meetings when group discussion or decisions require it
You are not being asked to commit to establishing, operating, funding, or supporting a Senior Center. Your role is to help ensure that the feasibility study considers the information and perspectives necessary to develop well-informed findings.
The feasibility study will be conducted in several stages, with each stage building on the information gathered in the previous stage.
1. Understand the Community
We will examine demographic and census information to better understand the number, characteristics, and geographic distribution of older adults within the proposed service area.
2. Listen to the Community
We will gather input from older adults, family members, caregivers, community organizations, and other residents through surveys and other forms of community input.
3. Examine Existing Resources
We will identify existing programs, services, organizations, and resources available to older adults and consider where gaps or unmet needs may exist.
4. Consider Potential Programs and Services
Based on the information gathered, we will identify programs and services that older adults indicate they would value and consider what a senior center might reasonably provide.
5. Examine Feasibility
We will consider the practical requirements of establishing and operating a senior center, including facilities, staffing, transportation, funding, ongoing operating costs, and community support.
6. Develop Findings
The information gathered throughout the study will be reviewed to identify key findings, questions that remain unanswered, and conditions that would need to be addressed.
7. Make Recommendations
At the conclusion of the study, recommendations will be developed based on the evidence gathered. These recommendations may support moving forward, identify steps or conditions that should be addressed first, or conclude that a senior center is not currently feasible or appropriate.
As the feasibility study progresses, information will be added to this website for Steering Committee members to review. Members will not be expected to review everything at once. Information will be added as it becomes available.
Materials may include:
• Demographic and Census Information — Population, age, household, and other demographic information relevant to the proposed service area.
• Community Survey Results — What older adults, families, caregivers, and other residents tell us about needs, interests, and potential participation.
• Existing Services and Resources — Information about programs, organizations, transportation, and other resources currently available to older adults.
• Potential Programs and Activities — Information about programs and activities that may be appropriate based on community input and available resources.
• Operating Considerations — Information about facilities, staffing, transportation, funding, costs, and other requirements associated with operating a senior center.
• Community Input and Observations — Information, questions, and observations contributed by Steering Committee members and others involved in the study.
Members will be encouraged to identify information that is unclear, incomplete, or may require additional research.
Steering Committee members will be encouraged to share questions, observations, and suggestions as they review the information presented through this website.
Rather than waiting for the next meeting to raise a question, members will be able to provide feedback as they review each section of the study.
Questions and comments may include:
• Questions about information presented in the study
• Observations based on personal knowledge or experience in the community
• Suggestions for additional information or research
• Concerns about assumptions, findings, or potential gaps in the study
• Suggestions regarding potential programs, services, or operating considerations
• Information about existing community resources that may not yet have been identified
A simple online feedback form will be provided for Steering Committee members to submit questions and comments. Feedback will be reviewed as the study progresses and may be incorporated into the research, addressed through additional information, or brought to the Steering Committee for discussion when appropriate.
The goal is to make it easy for members to contribute when their time allows, while reserving meetings for issues that benefit from group discussion.
Steering Committee meetings will be used primarily for discussion of issues that benefit from group input and for reviewing major findings as the feasibility study progresses.
The goal is to keep meetings focused, productive, and respectful of members' time. Whenever possible, information will be provided through this website in advance so members can review it on their own schedule.
Meetings may be used to:
• Discuss questions or issues that require group input
• Review significant findings or new information
• Consider areas where additional research may be needed
• Discuss issues that cannot be adequately addressed through individual comments or feedback
• Review major conclusions and recommendations before the study is finalized
The Steering Committee is not expected to meet simply to receive information that can be reviewed through the website.
The feasibility study will continue as information becomes available and community input is gathered.
Steering Committee members will be notified when new information is added to the website and will be invited to review the material and provide questions, observations, and suggestions.
As the study progresses, we will:
• Continue gathering demographic and community information
• Review community survey results and other input
• Identify existing services and resources
• Examine potential programs, operating requirements, and challenges
• Identify questions or areas that require additional research
• Share major findings with the Steering Committee for review and discussion
At the conclusion of the study, the information gathered will be brought together into a final feasibility assessment. The assessment will identify the major findings, opportunities, challenges, and conditions that should be considered.
The final findings will be based on the information gathered throughout the study and will not be determined in advance.
The Steering Committee will have an opportunity to review the major findings and recommendations before the study is considered complete.