Why Don't Older Adults Use Senior Centers? Evidence from Adults Age 50 and Older in Massachusetts

Senior centers are crucial community resources, providing programs and services intended to meet a range of needs and interests among older adults and serving as community hubs for social connection with peers. This study aims to compare older adults who attend senior centers to those who do not and assess reasons for non‐attendance. Secondary data pooled from community needs assessment surveys includes a sample of 8,573 community‐dwelling adults aged 50 and older from eight communities in Massachusetts. Three‐quarters of respondents reported not attending the senior center. The most common reasons selected for non‐attendance are not being interested (26%) and not feeling “old enough” (27%). There are significant differences among age groups for all reasons given for non‐attendance. Moreover, there are significant gender differences among most reasons given. This study suggests that senior centers and policies supporting senior centers may increase participation by expanding outreach and marketing efforts to include older men and those aged 60‐69, and by adapting programming that appeals to different age groups and changing interests of older adults. Results suggest that adjusting hours of operation may offer those aged 60‐69 a better opportunity to participate at the senior center. This research indicates an opportunity for reevaluating and updating senior center operations to reflect current interests and more effectively attract and serve an evolving older population.