“Analytics – The science of using data to build models that
leads to better decisions that in turn add value to individuals, companies and
institutions”. Dimitris Bertsimas.
Telling the Story of Your Senior Programs with Data
Adriana Carr, MPA, CPRP
Senior Resource Group Co-Chair Elect 2019
Lee Senior Center Director
Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation
As a recreation professional working with older adults, you
know two things for certain. One, there
had better be coffee ready and two you can always count on real time feedback
from your core patrons. When it comes
time to turn in your quarterly reports that track attendance or the program
evaluation results on customer satisfaction surveys or volunteer hours, to name
a few; do you often think to yourself: what am I doing this for? Does it go anywhere?
How am I supposed to fit this in with everything else? Do I really need this to see how I am doing?
I know I know...what’s with all the questions? Sure, we all know that the data we provide at
the hands-on service level helps the folks who make the decisions about the
organization’s direction but collecting data and tracking it can also help you
with your programming decision. It’s called
data
analytics and it can make your job more effective, successful and, yes,
less stressful.
For the next few months I have been assigned the task of
compiling the data that is produced by the senior centers in the organization I
work for. It has been very interesting
to see how that data turns into information that tells a story. Additionally, the information derived from
that data it’s so objective that the
next steps are clear. Some of the data
is mine; from my programs. While I would
enter the raw data and go back to analyze it; somehow seeing those same numbers
presented differently is more insightful. Before you pass that data on, take a minute to
really look at it.
In the field of data analytics there are models that can
tell you what happened in the past and then there are models that can help use
data to plan for the future. That is
where we should focus our efforts: on the future. Because in our field, the
landscape is changing rapidly. For
example, the data in the center I manage showsthat patrons are no longer coming for one program and then
heading home. A significant number are
starting to stay longer. Many are
without family nearby or have no family at all. Several have recently retired
and are looking for a place to go on a regular basis. So when I tell the story
of the center I talk about a place that people say feels like home.
We all know about the research pointing to the negative
effects of loneliness on older adults and the prevalence of older adult
orphans. To build up on that feeling and foster community engagement, look
to your data. It offers a clear path and
ability to make objective, impactful program decisions.
How do you use data to plan for your program’s future? Let us know.
