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Gardner City senior center reports about 16,000 volunteer hours; staff calls for better sign-in capture
Summary
Staff told the Council on Aging board the Executive Office of Aging and Independence (EOAI) report undercounts local volunteer contributions and urged improved sign-in practices; the center also plans targeted Medicare outreach materials for younger seniors.
A staff presenter at the Gardner City Council on Aging board's April 7 meeting said the center likely undercounts volunteer activity and that the Executive Office of Aging and Independence report does not capture many community contributions.
The presenter (Staff member) said an internal review found about 16,000 volunteer hours connected to the senior center that are not fully captured in the EOAI reporting software because many volunteers are not recorded through sign-ins or swipe systems. "We did about 16000 hours of volunteer work here. That's an enormous amount," the presenter said, adding the conservative valuation used in reporting understates the real monetary value of volunteer time.
Staff told the board the center currently uses a sign-in system but that evening and offsite volunteers (for example, meal-prep volunteers associated with community groups) often do not sign in at the center. The presenter asked board members and volunteers to increase use of the sign-in process: "If you didn't do it on the way in, please do it on the way out."
The presenter also summarized outreach and marketing steps tied to the technology grant: the center has produced 3,000 Medicare informational cards aimed at people approaching Medicare eligibility (about age 63) and is distributing materials to major local employers to reach residents earlier in the retirement-planning process. Staff said the center is also developing housing, nutrition, financial and legal counseling materials to follow the Medicare outreach.
The board heard metrics from the center's online profiles showing increased mobile access: staff said about 60% of Google Business Profile clicks now come from mobile devices, a change attributable in part to recent technology upgrades. The presenter said programming participation has increased in recent weeks and that the center will continue marketing to broaden participation across age groups of current and future seniors.
The board discussed the need to better capture volunteer hours so that grant and impact reporting to EOAI accurately reflects service levels and outside support from volunteer groups such as the Lions Club and local veterans organizations.
