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S SHORT COMINGS, RESTRICTIVE NATURE, DISADVANTAGES AND OBSTACLES OF THE PRESENT SENIOR CENTER FACILITY
1. We have increased the number of seniors served by 500% in the last 20 years and in the same building, same square footage and with almost the same number of core staff hours.
The facility presently occupied on 538 Pilot Butte Ave was built in 1980. In 1980 everything was built for where we were then but not for the potential for growth that we are now facing and in the future. We have added many new programs and services as needs have been identified! Most days we have programs or activities in every available room. Some of the community based programs have established waiting lists.
2. Parking continues to be our biggest problem. Presently 45 parking places for the 200 to 250 people a day that come into the facility.
3. Continue to work with the water problem. The city/county has spent approx. $175,000 on projects to keep the water out of the basement. Have 2 sump pumps in the furnace room that leads to another sump pump in main line outside of the building. Seniors with breathing problems and on oxygen cannot do any activities in the basement due to the air quality and humidity. We have staff who occupy offices downstairs full time.
4. Ventilation, evacuation and lighting are a problem in the basement along with the humidity. There are no windows and only one emergency exit. Staff have offices in basement and work 40 hours a week. Many seniors are in the basement 20-30 hours per week.
5. Testing of Air quality - Report from Peak Environmental- Carbon monixide levels are unusually high but still within EPA limits but high enough that something needs done or corrections made.
6. We have done several remodeling projects over the years to accommodate the increase in numbers of seniors we serve and the increase in the number of programs and activities offered. But the end result is the same - still only 14,000 sq feet no matter how we remodel the inside.
7. No storage space. With the many programs we offer, the increase in numbers of people we serve, increase in numbers of meals served both Home Delivered and in the Center dining room, and the added programs, there is no storage in the building to accommodate this growth.
8. Expansion of present facility - have applied for grants to build onto the building or to build a second story.. The building has been moved from the flood plain to the flood way and we have been denied the grant funds applied for because of this. Adding needed and desirous programs in or adjacent to the present building is not possible, no land available and would decrease our already limited parking. The condition of the facility is in a deteriorating condition. The lack of adequate space has limited program expansion and created scheduling problems with ongoing programs and activities.
9. Expansion - The Home Delivered Meals program has increased from serving 40 meals a day in 1980 to serving at times in the last 4 years an average of 120 meals a day.
Safety issues and ability to complete work in a timely manner are of great concern.
ADVANTAGES TO A NEW SENIOR FACILITY
1. We could plan for the future - if we know in 15 years time we will be serving an estimated 4000 seniors a year and touching the lives of 1000 or so seniors a day, the sq. Footage required to do all the programs and services would be accommodated in a new building.
There needs to be double the square footage we now have to serve double the population.
Cost for a new senior center as of 7-05: 6,494,769 million (as per Plan One Architects renderings, drawings and cost estimates)
To be built on corner of Reagan & Sweetwater Dr (BLM Land)
Estimate time to build would be 14-16 months
2. More seniors are using the transportation services. A portico on the front of the building would allow for easier loading and unloading. The bus stop would not be on the main street.
3. With a larger facility we could accommodate many of the services that assist
seniors under one roof. Seniors would not need to drive all over town or try to find out locations of and hours these services are in operation, to receive needed services. Example:
Added room for added programs where services could have space to store their supplies and be in the facility with their services for a couple hours each week – Social Security office, counseling center, DFS with low income programs, Vision Impaired program, health services such as pedicures, community nursing clinic, eye screening clinics, hearing clinics. Add computer room for seniors to use. Space would be available for Educational classes and seminars.
4. A raised stage in the dining room area will be beneficial for programs, speakers, entertainment, intergenerational programs.
5. The kitchen area needs to be expanded to accommodate the Home Delivered Meals program and provision for a covered loading area.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Senior Centers are the focal point of service for the elderly. In Sweetwater County we serve, over the course of fiscal year, 90% of the people over the age of 60 with some type of service. We are a Non-profit Corporation.
The average monthly cost for the senior center to keep someone in their home is approx.$200.
The growth of the senior population in Wyoming is the fifth-fastest in the nation In the coming years, a greater percentage of the population will need services to allow them to remain independent in their own homes for as long as possible and to enhance their quality of life.
The Senior Center has never charged a membership fee or given membership cards. We ask only that each person over the age of 60 help by participating in the "Appreciation Donation Club". They can donate $12, $20 or $25 per year for a level in the “Appreciation Donation Club” or a donation in any other amount.
The Senior Center receives authority from the Older Americans Act of 1965.
We are a business as well as center for delivery of services, programs and activities, a focal point - a network of all services - in the community for all agencies and individuals in Sweetwater county. We have no official membership
A senior center is a focal point in the community for the network of services available to seniors
1. Serve 2 groups of seniors
a. Those at the Congregate site - generally more active, higher income and able to participate Staff ratio is 100 - 1
b. Those needing services in their homes - 60% of services are on a 1-1 staff ratio
2, We serve approx. 2600 seniors each year – 154,686 service count/year
3. We do over 620 services each day out of the Young At Heart Center
60% of these 620 services are to seniors in their homes
4. Across all programs we average 45 staff of which 7 only are full time (35h/w).
a. Average wage is $7.61 (this drops to $6.45/hr if you add in our senior employee programs)
FUNDING
Federal -15% State - 23% County -44% City -4% All other: 12%
Have to raise approx. $55,000 each year to meet annual budget needs
PROGRAMS- In Sweetwater County the Young At Heart Center is responsible for and coordinates the funding grants / bookkeeping for the following programs in all of Sweetwater County:
Congregate Meal Program - Meals here at the center at 11:30 am M-F + Mon evening at 6:00 pm along with a program + one Sunday a month for a Pancake Breakfast
OAA programs - CII - Home Delivered Meals
Special Diets - both Home Delivered and in the center - Coordinated with Young At Heart, Golden Hour, Memorial Hospital and Castle Rock Convalescent Center
OAA programs - IIIB - Administrative services and Social Programs, activities
OAA programs -IIID - Health programs
STAR Transit - pay $78,000/year for senior transportation
Community Based in Home Services - Respite care, personal care, homemaking, chore
and Nursing services - serving approx 250 people each year in the county
National Family Caregiver Program - doing Respite for the caregiver, support groups, training for the caregiver
Companion program - presently giving 60 hours each week free to help seniors in their homes
Foster Grandparent Program - presently giving approx 200 hour each week (9mos)- seniors helping in the schools
File of Life - in cooperation with Emergency Management
Wy. Senior Health Insurance Information Program- helping people with questions they have with paper work and bills pertaining to insurance, Dr. bills, hospital bills, etc
Coordinate Volunteer program - ACaring & Sharing@
approx 240 volunteers give over 26,000 hours a year to the senior center and the
community. If you paid out even min. Wage cost would be $136,500 for the
hours these volunteers give. The senior center could not operate without
volunteers!!
AARP CAT - Core group meets monthly - advocates for seniors, plans what legislation to support, spring each year coordinates AHoney Do Week A- AWe=ve Got Your
Number@ placing house number on homes in spring & Car Service Day in Fall
TNT - Travel & Talk - Seniors going places!! By car, bus, train, and plane
Gatewatchers - this program is a community effort to systematically locate and identify Aat risk@ people who may be in need of some type of assistance in order to maintain their independence.
GROWING POPULATION STATISTICS
Increase in numbers of seniors served each year and increase in numbers of seniors to be served
1988 served 707 seniors with 32,647 services or average of 130 services/day
1995 served 1,682 seniors with 94,168 services, ave. of 377 services/day
Budget was $349, 935
2000 served 2,126 seniors with 158,683 services, ave. of 634 services/day
Budget was $570, 615
2002 served 2300 seniors with 175,000 services, ave. of 700 services/day
Budget was $740,000
2005 served 2600 seniors with 154,686 services, ave of 620 services/day
Budget was $880,000
Increase in seniors served but doing more inhome services with staff ratio at 1-1 & some recreation/program areas have been made into office space and storage.
2010 project to serve a 20% increase in seniors
2020 project to serve additional 30% increase in seniors
2025 project to serve a 45% increase in seniors
2050 project to serve 100% increase in seniors or double what is being served in 2002
PLANNING FOR FUTURE
How do we plan to pay for additional expenses with more square footage: Legislative funding received for FY04-05 was $43,000 – we have plans to add to this in the next 5 years. Some of these funds could go to building utility costs
Equipment/repair/emergency cost grant given in FY04-05 received: $23,130 – replaced two furnaces, a dishwasher, garbage disposal, cook/Hold cabinet oven, copy machine and a vacuum cleaner. 2006 session hope to have this 1 mil. Added on an annual basis to the senior center grants.
1. Young At Heart Foundation - providing for future growth - to have 1 million balance
The YAH Foundation will grant funds to the senior center for the operation of the
facility and for programs.
2. More funding from State legislature and other sources
3. Provide for new opportunities for programs and services, along with funding from
grants
4. Open and serving meals in the center and home delivered meals seven days a week
5. Offering In home services 7 days a week and evenings
BENEFITS TO BEING BY THE RECREATION CENTER OR IN THAT AREA OF CITY
Access to White Mt. Mall, Walmart, Kmart and other shopping areas
Access to two main grocery stores, main post office, Social Security office, DFS office - all at that end of town
Established main roads leading to the center as well as Recreation Center, traffic does not have to go through a neighborhood.
General access to Recreation Center and all the programs offered there.
Same distance to Hospital and Medical Center
TRANSIT AUTHORITY
Presently has 12 buses
Buses already drive in that area of town daily
Will be a bus garage - not a bus barn
will meet elevation code for that area
Architectural design will fit in with the center
OTHER INFORMATION
Board and New Building Committee – very responsible – planning for the future – looking at budgets, fundraising, providing funds for the future through the YAH Foundation and seeking additional funding from the State Legislator, expecting growth of senior population – All while doing the day to day operations now.
SENIOR CENTER OPEN 7:00 am to 4:30 pm
Center is most used between the hours of 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. Approx. 200 seniors a day at these peak times.
What is done between the hours of 7:00 am to 10:00 am & 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm?
Some full time staff come early morning – some stay latter in the evening.
Most part time staff are scheduled during the peak times when services are being done.
Will depend on the day of the week, what activities are scheduled, is it winter, summer,
spring or fall, are there evening or weekend activities scheduled?
AM – seniors calling in for meals, kitchen staff is cooking and baking
In home staff are calling in, picking up their schedules, or here latter in the afternoons at
training meetings
People come in to pick up forms for prescription drug assistance, lending closet, sales tax
refund, use exercise equipment, use computers, have coffee and socialize
Staff need time to get work done, plan and prepare.
We have limited staff –they do work in the peak hours – most activities and events
scheduled in these peak hours
FEASIBILITY STUDY – intent - was completed in March 2005 – was done to explore the idea of raising the funds through business and individual donation. 86% did report they would support a one-half cent sales tax if it were to come up for a vote and virtually everyone believed this method of funding would be the Center’s best chance for raising the funds necessary for the construction of a new facility. Almost all respondents felt that the proposed project should be funded through some form of government/public assistance rather than private sector donations.
NEED TO DO -
Was felt by the committee that we had the support to move forward with a new facility
1. It was conducted to establish if a capitol campaign would be received by the businesses and individuals who had wealth available to donate – and would they feel the senior center a worthy project to donate to.
2. If a capitol campaign was conducted, could we combine donations with other grants and foundations funds to realize 6 million.
3. At the same time wanted to interview interested individuals that were for building a new center and interview some that were against building – wanted to glean every suggestion, complaint, etc to help us go forward.
4. Determine support for excise tax issue
5. Was they support to request donations for the YAH Foundation within a capitol campaign.
CHANGES IN THE PAST
Change is hard.
No one place will be perfect for everyone
In 1989 the STAR was formed – before that the bus was owned and operated through the senior center. Many questions about how the seniors would get service now that it would be run by a separate entity. How would the funding and donations work, what would the seniors have to pay to ride. What about all the special trips, would we lose that privelidge? After a year of operation, time of trial, the STAR has proven to be a great asset to the way services are available to the seniors.
In 1992-93 the YAH Board moved the senior center would now be a NON SMOKING facility.
We had angry seniors attend the board meeting and complain, say they would never come to the center again. Within 6 mos. Everyone that had complained were again attending. An the smoke free atmosphere pleased 99% of those attending.
WHAT IF WE JUST STAY IN THE PRESENT BUILDING?
Might need to move the offices upstairs – turn lounge into offices. Would decrease again activity/program space, dining room space, space generally used by other companies offering services to seniors would now not be available.
Could rent office space somewhere else downtown at ave cost of $1,400 per month.
HAVE WE ANSWERED THESE QUESTIONS?
1. Look at older buildings, empty and available - like a school like GR did
Areas we have considered thus far: 16 total – we continue to explore options – the #1 choice is still the BLM land on the corner of Reagan and Sweetwater Dr.
2. Do most seniors live down town?
3. Is new center centrally located?
4. Can we repair what we have?
Nostalgia for downtown: We know there are some who still feel the senior center needs to remain in the old down town area. What would it cost to remodel the present facility:
Estimate $8,651,367 and would have only 30 parking spaces (we have 45 now) This would include 3 stories, would give us the additional sq. footage, foundation would have to be deeper incurring more cost and overall cost/sq ft would be higher. Estimated operating cost - $57,488.
If just remodeled, and added portions new estimated cost would be 7,550,860 with only 14 spaces for parking.
There is no room for STAR in the plans at all.
5. Will City of RS and Sweetwater County still do building expenses and maintenance at 65% county paid and 35% city paid%? In the past we have just put this in the budget and has always been done. We have not asked the City/County specifically if they will do this on the new building. Future expenses: Present building budgeted for- $33,100 (2005)
City % is $11,585 County is $21,515
This includes maintenance costs of equipment and building
New facility estimate cost is $54,813 – 40% increase
City now pays the fire insurance cost.
County pays the liability insurance cost.
6. What additional personnel will we need?
Expecting initially only extra hours for janitorial. More personnel would come the added grants or funding from the legislature to offer additional services.
8. Why is it best for the City of Rock Springs to Sponsor the Young At Heart Building Project? The present building is owned by the City of RS. The application for the BLM Land is made with ownership of the new facility to be by the City of Rock Springs.
We are very fortunate to have the county pay 65% of the building expenses but the building will be owned by the City of Rock Springs and will be in the city limits. Estimated 96% of people who use the facility are from Rock Springs.
9. Why is the BLM land application not yet granted? We need to have a funding timeline and a completion timeline before our application is complete to have the land granted. Approx. $9,000 has been spent on the land to do a survey, geo-tech and archeological survey. In a conversation with Patricia Hamilton on 8-2-05 – if we receive the funding – our application can be moved to active status again. Update BLM Application Signed & Completed in Aug 2007
10. Schools: All are presently still being used to serve the school dist. Or children’s programs such as Head Start or Child Developmental Center. (and they do not have the facilities as a permanent home) We inquired again in Jan of 2005 and the school dist. is not relinquishing the school buildings to other disciplines. (except for Reliance and Superior which would not work for a senior center)
11. Annual Surveys done: 4-05 survey – 79% said yes to question “Would you vote for a ½ cent sales tax for a new senior center?”
