Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Telling the Story of your Senior Programs with Data





“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.