Town of Amherst Presents Results of Recent Senior Services Survey

Source: amherstma.gov

The Town of Amherst Council on Aging, in partnership with Amherst Senior Services, conducted a survey to understand the needs of the community’s older adults and assess the town’s Senior Services.   

The survey results show that many Amherst seniors are highly engaged and strongly rooted in the community, with 73% of surveyed participants saying they plan to spend their senior years in Amherst. However, the results also indicate that financial and mobility concerns may make it harder for seniors to remain in Amherst.  

Most of the survey respondents indicated they do not currently use the Senior Service’s offerings, pointing to a significant engagement gap. Those who have participated report high satisfaction, indicating that the programs are valuable but have limited reach. The main barrier appears to be relevance and routine rather than transportation, with 60% of respondents saying the Senior Center is not part of their regular routine. Adding a gym, improving facilities, and offering a wider variety of programs could help make the center more appealing and encourage greater participation. 

“This survey gives us an opportunity to listen to older adults in Amherst and use their experiences to help shape what comes next,” said Director of Senior Services Dan Garcia. “We want every Amherst senior to feel connected, supported, and welcome. We’re grateful to everyone who shared their perspective and look forward to using their feedback to strengthen our programs and work with community partners to respond to changing needs.” 

In total, the survey received 595 responses. Some of the key findings include: 

• Commitment to Aging in Amherst: 73% said yes and 23% said maybe to spending their senior years in Amherst.
• Top Concerns: 63.2% are concerned about local taxes and 54.1% about overall cost of living. 
• Low engagement: 74% to 92% have never used the 17 evaluated services offered by Amherst Senior Services.
• Top Used Services: Fitness classes (26.2%), SHINE appointments (23%), and health services (20.8%). 
• Top Rated Service: Wednesday Market received the highest positive rating at 65.1%. 
• Main Reason Residents Have Not Engaged: 59.7% said the Senior Center is not part of their routine.
• Changes Most Likely to Increase Participation: A gym (55.8%) and better parking (54.1%) would boost participation. 
• Respondent Profile: Mostly women (73.8%), White (84.9%), highly educated (69.7%), and speaks English as a primary language (96.5%). 
• Respondents’ Household Situations: 36% live alone, 45% do not have family members living nearby, and 21% of Seniors provide care to another person.

In response to the survey results, the Council on Aging and Senior Services identified five leadership priorities to guide their strategic planning and decision-making. 

1. Reposition the Senior Center as an active aging and community hub. Expand fitness, wellness, lifelong learning, cultural, outdoor, intergenerational, and younger-senior programming.
2. Strengthen outreach and conversion. Use email reminders, a clearer calendar, targeted outreach to new retirees, and a “first visit” pathway that makes it easy for residents to begin participating. 
3. Address parking, facilities, and long-term space needs. Parking and the condition and identity of the current facility are affecting participation. Short-term operational improvements should occur alongside long-term facility planning. 
4. Expand aging-in-place support. Prioritize housing, tax relief, transportation, health-care access, in-home assistance, caregiver support, and benefits of navigation. 
5. Build programs that perform well. Fitness classes, SHINE, health services, the Wednesday Market, dance, and tech support provide credible foundations for expansion and promotion.

View the full Senior Services Survey Report here or at amherstma.gov/Senior Services

For any questions or comments, please contact Amherst Senior Services by stopping by the Senior Center, emailing seniorcenter@amherstma.gov, or calling 413-259-3060.

About Amherst Council on Aging and Senior Services

The Amherst Council on Aging and Senior Services serves and supports older adults from all walks of life. They help older adults remain as independent as possible while maintaining total well-being and dignity. They advocate for and offer programs and services that support all aspects of life: community building, mental wellness, health, cultural inclusion, volunteer outreach, accessibility, and cost of living. They explore new ways to create or adapt programming to meet the needs of seniors of all ages. They also endeavor to advocate, educate, collaborate, and build coalitions within the larger community on behalf of older adults. Learn more at: amherstma.gov/SeniorServices