Performance MeasuresPerformance Measures

Darien Senior CenterDarien Senior Center

Susan M. Swiatek, CPRP

Elizabeth M. Paris

January 23, 2010

The Curtain Opens on a New The Curtain Opens on a New Beginning Beginning

In July 2009 the Darien Senior Center became part In July 2009 the Darien Senior Center became part of the Parks and Recreation community service of the Parks and Recreation community service team.team.

In August 2009 Elizabeth Paris was selected as In August 2009 Elizabeth Paris was selected as Senior Center Coordinator to lead the center into Senior Center Coordinator to lead the center into the future.the future.

**Data contained within this report includes July – December 2009 only**

Issues taken onIssues taken on Current roles were re-Current roles were re-

defined and areas of task defined and areas of task assignments identified.assignments identified.

The Center building was The Center building was reviewed and areas of reviewed and areas of concern for health and concern for health and safety were identified.safety were identified.

Operations went into review Operations went into review in order to develop policies in order to develop policies and procedures in keeping and procedures in keeping with Town practices.with Town practices.

Areas of service were Areas of service were identified and reviewed in identified and reviewed in order to develop new order to develop new programs and services.programs and services.

Facility membership was Facility membership was reviewed and plans for reviewed and plans for update and recruitment update and recruitment drive began.drive began.

Students taking part in Spanish lessons

The SiteThe Site Parks and Recreation Parks and Recreation

Maintenance took over the Maintenance took over the exterior grounds at the exterior grounds at the Center.Center.

Planted areas, access Planted areas, access ways, parking lot lines, site ways, parking lot lines, site trees & shrubs were trees & shrubs were addressed.addressed.

Original school site Original school site playground equipment was playground equipment was removed.removed.

Eagle Scout project to Eagle Scout project to plant bulbs and mulch plant bulbs and mulch planting beds took place.planting beds took place.

general site clean up general site clean up continues.continues.

ADA entrance before Parks & Rec.

ADA entrance after overgrown shrubs removed & fence installed

Programs and ActivitiesPrograms and Activities Assessment of programs Assessment of programs

began – both subsidy and began – both subsidy and volunteer based.volunteer based.

Daily facility use data Daily facility use data collections began.collections began.

Instructor data base Instructor data base development began.development began.

Collaborative relationships Collaborative relationships with other agencies were with other agencies were nurtured and/or begun.nurtured and/or begun.

Center membership update Center membership update and recruitment drive and recruitment drive began.began.

Collaborative programs with Collaborative programs with the Board of Education were the Board of Education were continued and/or developed.continued and/or developed.

Oil Painting

2010 Program Attendance (units of service)

1321

1681 17311845

1546 1486

0

500

1000

1500

2000

July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

Month

Programs and ActivitiesPrograms and Activities Trips with AARP New Canaan Trips with AARP New Canaan

and Darien Seniors took and Darien Seniors took place.place.

Volunteer core program Volunteer core program development began.development began.

An oral history program in An oral history program in conjunction with Norwalk conjunction with Norwalk Community College took Community College took place.place.

Eagle Scout project working Eagle Scout project working with seniors on energy with seniors on energy efficient lighting took place. efficient lighting took place.

Coordination with the Aging Coordination with the Aging in Place Agency, Social in Place Agency, Social Services, and the Health Services, and the Health Dept. continued.Dept. continued.

Ballet for Seniors

Painting

Membership and MealsMembership and Meals

583659 661 621 540

645

0100200300400500600700

July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

Month

2010 Senior Center Meals Served

57

10

14

810

02468101214

July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

Month

2010 New Members

Current data available from July 2010 to December 2009 only

The BuildingThe Building Computer and phone lines Computer and phone lines

were installed linking the were installed linking the center to the Town Hall center to the Town Hall email, web site, and email, web site, and communications systems. communications systems.

Exterior doors were Exterior doors were repaired.repaired.

Locks for interior offices Locks for interior offices and building entry doors and building entry doors were repaired.were repaired.

Parks Maintenance painted Parks Maintenance painted rooms, made small repairs, rooms, made small repairs, installed equipment.installed equipment.

New carpet was installed in New carpet was installed in the café.the café.

Repairs to kitchen Repairs to kitchen appliances took place.appliances took place.

Rotted door frame in gym, before repair by DPW

Original school play equip prior to P&R removal

Going ForwardGoing Forward Parks and Recreation and the Senior Center Staff Parks and Recreation and the Senior Center Staff

look forward to continued collaborative efforts to look forward to continued collaborative efforts to deliver needed services to the community of Darien. deliver needed services to the community of Darien.

2010 will include efforts to market services and 2010 will include efforts to market services and perform out-reach to those in need and those perform out-reach to those in need and those providing care for our citizens. Efforts will take place providing care for our citizens. Efforts will take place to improve services as cost effectively as possible. to improve services as cost effectively as possible.

It is important to remember that one in eight citizens It is important to remember that one in eight citizens in Darien are over the age of 65 according to a Town in Darien are over the age of 65 according to a Town profile published by the Connecticut Economic profile published by the Connecticut Economic Resource Center in 2008. Resource Center in 2008. We must be ready to We must be ready to respond and work toward creating a respond and work toward creating a healthy healthy lifestyle in a livable community. lifestyle in a livable community.