Scituate senior center flags membership data gaps, transportation demand and volunteer shortfalls

At its regular meeting the Scituate Council on Aging Board discussed operational strains at the senior center, including incomplete membership records, challenges with a new scheduling system and continuing high demand for transportation services.

Outgoing Director Linda Hayes Kelly told members that recent membership data are incomplete — missing birthdates, addresses and electronic check‑ins — which skews attendance reporting. Kelly said the board has discussed adding a greeter or assigning volunteers to help capture accurate check‑in data to ensure statistics reflect who actually attends programs.

Kelly also described a recent larger grant written by a regional partner that allows more discretion to provide free transportation. "This time she wrote a bigger grant. So there is actually more money available... this one less criteria so we can utilize the money to provide some free transportation to clients that that might need it most," Kelly said. The board discussed using Old Colony Planning Council and partnerships with regional aging services to channel funding.

On operations, Kelly reported data from Lauren’s scheduling report: roughly 74 regular riders and about 484 rides over the reporting period, with frequent trips for recurring medical needs such as dialysis. The program currently relies on six drivers; staff said they continue efforts to recruit a seventh driver to cover absences. Kelly also noted that the new software used to schedule rides and extract reports has not yet produced easy-to-use output and staff plan to engage senior center IT support to tweak the system.

Assistant Director Kelly Walsh reviewed program activity and volunteer support. Walsh described several ongoing activities — Tai Chi, grief and caregiver groups, a memory/café program and day programs — and said volunteer appreciation outreach invited about 115 people with approximately 90–93 expected to attend. Board members discussed balancing instruction time and open play for some activities to accommodate rising beginner participation.

The board did not take formal votes on these operational items at the meeting; they identified follow‑up tasks for staff to improve check‑in procedures, refine reporting, and continue recruiting transportation drivers and volunteers.