Politics & Government
What Do Seniors Want?
As the town prepares to reopen the Veterans Memorial Building, it wants to provide services that local seniors will be eager to use.
That’s a question that the Town of Danville put to its residents over 55.
The town’s senior programs will be based at the newly renovated Veterans Memorial Building, which will open at the start of 2012.
The town’s parks and leisure department wanted to get an idea of which programs to emphasize, especially now that the new building will allow up to six rooms where classes can be offered simultaneously Monday through Friday.
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Right now, the department can only allow one class at a time in its temporary home at the town meeting hall.
This past summer, the town sent a survey to 7,000 Danville seniors and received replies from nearly 700. Survey results reported to the Parks and Leisure Commision on Wednesday offered a portrait of a growing segment of Danville's population.
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Some 10 percent of the town's 42,000 residents are 65 or older, according to U.S. Census figures. City leaders expect the percentage of Danville seniors to grow, said Marcia Somers, assistant town manager. By 2030, one in five U.S. residents will be 65 or older, according to the census.
"As they age, people want to stay in Danville, and they want to stay independent," Somers said.
They also want to stay active, said Recreation Services Manager Michelle Lacy. According to those surveyed, Danville seniors would be "somewhat" to "extremely likely" to participate in organized day trips, take fitness classes and attend lectures on issues facing seniors and on educational topics such as history and finance.
"They don't want to be sitting around playing card games. They want to be fit and active," Lacy said.
That's right, Danville seniors said Bingo or bridge games would not be popular draws for them.
And, 60 percent said they would not be likely to need a reduced-cost lunch program. As Somers said, Danville’s seniors are independent, with nearly 85 percent of those surveyed saying they would drive themselves to the Veteran’s memorial building.
Somers added that having services located in the Veterans Memorial Building, in the heart of downtown, is attractive to seniors, who want to be close to other amenities, such as the library and restaurants. Unlike centers in other towns, where seniors might stay an entire day, Danville's would attract seniors who would come for a certain class or activity, then go off to run errands or meet friends for lunch.
