Outreach to low-income seniors: Identifying and reducing barriers to access for an urban community senior center

This presentation will describe a theory-driven examination of factors affecting access and use of an urban community health education and wellness center by nearby senior residents. This urban senior center, developed through an innovative partnership between a community hospital and County government, offers seniors access to health and wellness classes and other education. The center location was selected to provide accessibility for vulnerable populations in the community; however, participation rates among low-income elderly community residents remain lower than anticipated despite the center's close proximity. This project was conducted to identify barriers to access for residents in a low-income senior housing facility located adjacent to the center, implement an outreach program, and examine the impact on participation. Thus, the project entails three components: (1) a formative evaluation, designed to assess resident perceptions of the center and identify barriers to access/engagement; (2) an outreach program, designed to reduce barriers identified in the formative evaluation; and, (3) an outcome evaluation to assess the impact of the outreach on program participation by seniors in the target audience. Rogers' (2003) diffusion of innovations theory guided identification of key outcomes of interest, including target audience awareness of the center, attitudes towards the center, and use of the center. The target audience of interest for this project consists of the culturally diverse residents of a high-rise apartment facility for low-income seniors that is located adjacent to the senior center in downtown Silver Spring, MD. Presentation will describe study methodology, key findings, and implications for outreach efforts.