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Selma senior-center survey finds meals are top complaint; city to pilot catered days and new programming
Summary
Staff told the council that a 34-person survey found meal quality and variety were the top concerns at the Selma Senior Center. Council and staff outlined immediate changes: new EOC-informed menus, two catered meals per month to start, monthly guest speakers and more volunteer sign-up options.
The Selma City Council received a staff briefing on July 21 summarizing a survey of senior-center participants and approved staff directions to implement programming and meal changes recommended in the report.
Community Services staff said 34 participants completed the first survey (24 from Selma). The largest area of dissatisfaction was the meal service: participants criticized taste and repetition. Staff said they worked with the Elderly Outreach Center (EOC) to submit menu preferences, conducted meal tastings, and have already seen improved satisfaction with the updated menu.
Staff listed actions already underway and proposed near-term steps: switching to more locally catered meals for two days per month, introducing at least one monthly guest speaker (topics include heat prevention and senior nutrition), increasing craft and fitness offerings, shortening volunteer rotations to three months, improving signage and large-print materials, and installing additional seating and rest areas where feasible. Staff said 88% of respondents reported feeling safe at the center and that bingo remains the most popular program.
Why it matters: the senior center serves older residents’ social, nutritional and mobility needs; menu satisfaction affects participation and nutrition outcomes. Council members asked staff to continue outreach, monitor the menu changes, and update council on the impact of initial catering days.
Next steps: staff will track participation and satisfaction after implementation and report back to council.
