Mt. Si Senior Center (MSSC) has launched a community survey to identify the needs of older adults in the Upper Snoqualmie Valley.
The survey is open to anyone 45+, regardless of whether they use the senior center or consider themselves older adults or seniors. It will support strategic planning and set the course for MSSC’s offerings for the next ten years.
This is the first extensive survey focused specifically on the needs of older adults. It is timely, given that the baby boomer generation is reshaping what it means to age well. This “age wave” puts stress on services but also creates opportunities.
Covid and the post-pandemic economy have also changed the types of programs older adults want and how programs are accessed. Finally, local demographics have shifted, and our community has become increasingly diverse. This is an ideal time to check in with the community about what it means to age well.
MSSC exists to promote and offer support for healthy aging for older adults – and the Center is now on the precipice of a significant uptick in demand for programs and services. MSSC seeks to understand the needs and wants of those who already identify as seniors and those who will soon be in that “older adult” age category.
The survey will inventory the services currently provided in the community, identify gaps in services, and aid in developing strategies to meet the needs of older adults and seniors. The findings will be added to information gathered through focus groups and pop-up events to create a Community Needs Assessment report supporting the Center’s strategic planning.
MSSC offers a communal space for seniors living in North Bend, Snoqualmie, and surrounding regions. It offers a variety of programs, classes, and events that engage local seniors and keep them personally active and involved in their communities. In addition to the senior center, MSSC operates Snoqualmie Valley Transportation, Sno-Ridge Apartments, and Cascade Park Apartments.
As the number of seniors living in Mt. Si Senior Center’s service area grows, it is important to better understand the community’s needs, especially those of seniors.
The survey is available online at http://www.mtsiseniorcenter.org/community-needs-assessment.html. Paper surveys can be found at Mt. Si Senior Center, North Bend Library, Snoqualmie Library, Si View Metro Parks, and Snoqualmie Valley YMCA.
