Senior Center Best Practices

Managers, Directors and Center Personnel

Senior Center Best Practices

Category
Creative Meals

Senior Center/Nutrition Program/Organization Name
Lutheran Service Society-Butler County

Address
424 North McKean Street

Phone Number
724-283-9002

E-Mail
mhuff@lsswpa.org

Contact Person
Maureen Huff

Event Name
Supper Clubs

Description/Overview
We implemented evening supper clubs in January 2010. The goal of the supper clubs is to offer services and programs to older adults who are still in the workforce and or to those who are in a caregiver role. Ten supper clubs have been implemented between January and June 30th. The meal is served at 5:00pm or 6:00pm. The menu for the Supper Club is a more elaborate meal than the meal served at lunchtime( Stuffed Porkchop, Stuffed Chicken Breast), and is served as a sit down meal by the very professionally attired Nutrition Provider (the Nutrition Group) staff. The tableware includes table cloths, fancy plates, silverware and coffee cups-no Styrofoam. The program that accompanies the meal consists of anything from entertainment and music to Ask the Lawyer sessions and Crime Prevention University.

Time and Manpower
Planning the programs that are offered also with the evening meal takes some time and planning. The Senior Center Managers have agreed to work in the evening when their Center hosts a Supper Club. Either the assistant Center Manager or the substitute Center Manager covers the Center during the day. The Senior Centers supervisory and administrative staff attend and assist at the Supper Clubs.

Marketing
We utilized posters, radio PSAs, radio talk shows, local newspapers, the Butler County Senior Express, the Butler County Senior News and the LSS website.

Audience Served
More than 900 older adults aged 50 and over have attended the Supper Clubs since January.

Partnerships Utilized
Pa Attorney Generals Office, Law Offices of Shapiro and Pater, Pa State Police, Butler AAoA, The Nutrition Group

Budget/Costs
The Butler County Area Agency on Aging agreed to pay for the additional meal costs associated with the Supper Clubs. The average donation per meal collected at the ten supper clubs has been $2.19 per meal

Impact On Center
The supper clubs have been offered in all of the Butler County Senior Centers (excluding satellites) and have drawn between 60 and 225 older adults at each event. The evening Supper Clubs have reached seniors who would not otherwise attend the Center during the day and has given us the opportunity to promote and showcase the Centers as a more viable upscale part of the community.

Good Tips/Other
The Butler County Area Agency on Aging has been very supportive of this initiative.