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The Thayne Senior Center offers services which enable our patrons to remain as independent as possible in his/her own residence preventing premature institutionalization. The goal of the Thayne Senior center is to enhance the quality of life for the older citizens of our community, in a positive,friendly atmosphere. The Thayne Senior Center is a multi-resource community center for any individual over the age of 60. The Thayne Senior Center is also used as a community center hosting meetings, weddings, receptions, company parties, etc. Our facility is constantly busy helping those organizations or businesses that need places to meet. We are as accommodating as possible to help meet the needs of the community. The Thayne Senior Center's most important aspect is our Meals-on-Wheels program. We provide hot, nutritious, attractive meals to homebound individuals in our service area 5 days a week, which are delivered to the clients' home. In order to insure that the meals are delivered as hot and fresh as possible we have cold insulated bags and heated meal containers. However, the insulated bags and meal containers wear down from use and need to be replaced. Since our objective is to help our seniors feel The other services we provide are as follows: We try to focus our service on the low-income seniors, hoping to make a difference in their lives. Helping people in need truly makes our work worthwhile. We support and encourage all that wish to participate regardless of their financial situation. The Congregate Meal Program merges various individuals from the local community with that of a rapidly growing retirement community. The last State census shows a 25% increase in the age bracket (60 and older) in our county. This influx of "snowbirds" causes our Senior Center to stretch to its utmost limits. In our dining room, we have 13 tables we can set up to accommodate the tremendous crowds we feed in the summertime. Also, we have outdoor seating on the patio when the weather permits. And still, we are asked when we are expanding our facility, because many times there is not enough room for the many people we serve in Wyoming Association of Senior Project Directors Wyoming's Senior Centers: Fact Sheet - January 2008 Background: Wyoming's 40 senior centers are on the front lines of providing high quality, cost-effective services for Wyoming's more than 77,000 residents 60 and older (2000 U.S. Census). Wyoming senior centers are often the first point of contact seniors and their families encounter in the continuum of long-term care services and as a result, end up saving the state millions by Wyoming Senior Center Director Survey Results: In September of 2007, the Wyoming Association of Senior Project Directors conducted a comprehensive survey of all Wyoming senior center directors to better ascertain current concerns and future needs. About 36 projects participated in the survey. The following survey responses were recorded: Competitive Wages and Employment: All directors surveyed, indicate that their top-of-mind concern is how to offer and maintain competitive wages to attract and retain quality employees. 60 percent of all senior centers believe that they cannot compete in their local job markets for qualified employees. Centers cannot afford to offer the competitive salaries or benefits offered by the energy, service and health care sectors. 67 percent of all senior centers employ less than ten workers; 13 percent employ between 10 and 19; 13 percent employ between 20 and 29 and only 7 percent employ 30 or more workers. Most senior center directors voiced a strong concern about how they will cope with new minimum wage requirements over the next two years as minimum wages will raise from $5.50 per hour now to $7.25 in July 2009. Directors report that kitchen or food service workers and Certified Nurses Assistants are the toughest to retain and recruit in this competitive environment. Composition of Wyoming Senior Center Budgets:
It is interesting to note that all local sources of funding (program income, support from towns and counties, local agencies, donations and fundraising efforts in local communities) account for nearly one fourth or 24% of Wyoming's total senior center budgets. Employee Benefits: Only 25% of Wyoming senior centers offer health care insurance to workers. 69 percent offer some form of retirement benefits (most participate in the state's retirement system).
All senior center directors reported that costs associated with the preparation and provision of meal services have increased by at least 10 percent. When asked how centers are adjusting for the increased cost in meal services, a variety of solutions were identified including: Leaving unfilled positions open; increased fundraising; looking to local government entities; donations; Wyoming Senior Services Board funds; not serving some meal items; increasing meal donation requests; and freezing salary increases, etc. When asked how recent increases in fuel prices have affected their budgets and what steps they are taking to cope with the increases, senior center directors replied with a variety of strategies: Leaving positions open; WSSB funds used for increase; cut back or eliminate trips out of town; considering or have increased donation amount for both transit and meals; no raises, and raise additional funds. In addition to increased food service and fuel costs, nearly all senior center directors identified increased utility, administrative, building maintenance, and insurance costs as major concerns.
Contacts: Jeri Bottenfield, 532-2796, and Jeanine Cox, 352-6737 |
