Reading Asking Residents to Take Part in Senior Services Survey

As is true across Massachusetts and America, the population of people aged 65 or more in Reading is growing.

According to the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, Greater Boston’s Regional Planning Agency, the number of senior citizens in Reading will increase by 73% by 2030.

Reading’s Elder/Human Services Division wants to ensure its services and programs are meeting the needs of its older residents, both now and in the future. For that reason, the town is asking adult residents to participate in a community survey which examines the use of and satisfaction with the current services offered, and will to help determine what services should be priorities for the future.

“I really hope as many adult residents as possible take the survey. We may not all be seniors now, but we all hope to be, and we should expect that excellent services will be there for us when we reach that stage of life,” said Board of Selectmen Chair Daniel Ensminger.

“Reading is a great place to live for people of all ages and we want to make sure it stays that way. Our senior population is growing and the needs of our older residents will continue to evolve. It’s the Town’s responsibility to understand those needs and adapt services accordingly,” said Town Manager Robert LeLacheur.

The survey will be available to Town residents via the Town website and at the following web address: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/readingcommsurvey2015.

Town officials will also be making paper copies available at the Pleasant Street Center (i.e. the Senior Center), and at Town Hall and the Library and paper responses can be submitted at those locations. The survey will also be available at Town events, such as the Fall Street Fair which is taking place on September 13th. Town residents have until September 25th to respond.

“We offer a range of programs to Reading seniors, from transportation services to healthcare counseling, to fitness programs and tax preparation assistance. We want to know what services residents consider most important now and for the future,” Elder/Human Services Administrator Jane Burns explained.

“A Reading that is age-friendly – that enables seniors to participate in the life of the community, stay active and healthy and remain in the Town they love – that is our goal,” said Council on Aging Chair Thomas Procopio.

Reading’s Elder/Human Services Division works to advocate, promote and provide programs and services to meet the needs of Reading residents age 60 and over. The Division offers a comprehensive range of services and programming to seniors in our community, including transportation, socialization, wellness, crisis support, health counseling, property tax support and tax assistance.

The community survey was designed with the assistance of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, which has been working with Reading on a number of strategic planning projects as part of the Reading 2020 initiative.