In 1988, the Egyptian Area Agency on Aging identified two communities which have a high percentage or large numbers of minority older people and administered a survey developed at Southern Illinois University Carbondale to determine participation in and knowledge of services under the Older Americans Act.

Mounds (27% minorities) and Carbondale were identified as the communities in which to conduct the survey. The community of Carbondale was used as a pilot site to test the validity of the survey instrument. Changes were made to the survey instrument based on the pilot testing.

Arrangements were made at Shawnee Community College to utilize and train a Social Work class which conducted the survey in Mounds. The survey was conducted in April, 1988 with eight students administering the survey.

Senior adults were solicited from the senior center site and from announcements which were broadcast on the radio and in the newspaper. Of the 24 people interviewed, only one indicated being under the age of 60. Just 21 respondents indicated their race with 70.8% minority and 16.7% white. Of the 22 who indicated their gender, 77.3% were women. Most (13 of 19) have very low household income (less than $5,000 per year) and 36.4% (8 of 22) indicated having less than an 8th grade education.

All but one of the respondents know that there is a senior citizens center in Mounds. The survey respondents were asked to describe what they knew about the senior center and the most frequent description given involved statements about serving meals (29.2%), nice place to eat lunch (20.8%), provided home delivered meals (20.8%), and it has social services (20.8%). Other responses included statements about the activities at the center such as playing bingo (12.5%), provides transportation (12.5%), has devotions (8.3%), and various other services (20.8%). A smaller percentage (16.7%) of the respondents either don’t go to the center or know little about it.

Most of the respondents (79.2%) indicated there should be a newsletter with big print to publicize the senior citizens center’s services. Suggestions made of other methods of publicity of the senior center’s services are newspaper (54.2%), radio (45.8%), word of mouth (25%), television (20.8%), church bulletin (16.7%), pamphlet or flyer (12.5%).

70.8% of the respondents indicated that the senior center is a source of information about things related to older individuals.

41.7% of the respondents presently do volunteer work and 29.2% have volunteered in the past.

69.2% of the 13 who answered, indicated they did not file their Medicare claims themselves. After being told that the senior center staff is available to answer questions about Medicare and would assistance them with insurance forms, 35.7% of the 14 who answered this question indicated they would call the center for this help and 50% indicated they might call.

54.2% of the respondents use a car for their transportation needs, 25% relied on family, 8.3% relied on friends, 8.3% used a combination of the senior van or other means, and one (4.2%) relied on a home health care agency for transportation needs. Only 16.7% of the respondents had used the senior van for transportation before, but all of these individuals indicated they would use it again.

When asked if they were well informed about the available services for senior adults, 33.3% indicated yes, 29.2% indicated no, 25% indicated somewhat, and 12.5% wanted more information.

55% of the 20 who answered indicated they help an older person care for him or herself.

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