PERCEPTION OF SENIOR CENTERS BY THE BLACK ELDERLY

Abstract

This study explored the impact of the neighborhood senior center on the black elderly by determining their perception of senior centers. Three groups of black elderly were interviewed: attenders of a neighborhood senior center (n = 46), non-attenders in the same community (n = 33), and non-attenders in a comparable community without a neighborhood senior center (n = 27). A 29-item interview schedule was conducted that determined awareness of senior center activities and services. Significant differences were found among the three groups with the attenders and non-attenders in the same community having the highest level of awareness of senior center activities and services. Age, sex and marital status were not found to influence perception of senior centers. The findings suggest that the neighborhood senior center needs to be further examined as a model for serving minority elderly.