Seniors across town will soon be receiving an invitation from the town to complete a senior needs assessment survey.
“We haven’t done anything like this in a long time,” said Community Services Director Brandon Fitts. “I’m not exactly sure when something like this was done, but I think it was before this building was constructed, like 15 years ago.”
The needs assessment will involve interviews, focus groups, and a town-wide survey of residents 60 years of age or older. The survey will be mailed to every resident over 60 and will go live on April 29, as it can also be filled out online.
A postcard was mailed out on April 22, alerting residents to the survey.
“We’re trying to get as many seniors as possible to participate in town,” he said.
According to Fitts, the survey, which is happening in partnership with researchers at the University of Massachusetts Boston Center for Social and Demographic Research, was paid for using $35,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds.
In the midst of all the changes happening at the center — namely, the reorganization that brought the Council on Aging, Recreation Department, and Veterans Services under the new Community Services Department — Fitts said the survey aims to figure out what the needs and priorities are for seniors in Belmont.
“It will help us get the pulse on the needs of the community and who we are serving and how we still need to reach out,” he said.
In a statement, Council on Aging Chair Karen Donelan said it was a “critical time” in local policy and planning for Belmont.
“For the first time in many years, we are gathering data on the needs and opinions of all older adults, whether or not you currently use our services,” she wrote. “We will use survey answers to a) understand senior concerns, b) inform strategic plans, and c) compare with other towns.”
