Handout for Building Great Program for Seniors Workshop
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The document provides an overview of program ideas for seniors, including trends and topics that are of interest. It discusses the characteristics and interests of different generations, such as the Greatest Generation and Baby Boomers. A variety of program topics are suggested, such as health and fitness, safety, technology training, crafts, music, and books. The document emphasizes offering a variety of low-cost, educational, and social opportunities tailored to seniors' interests in independence, social engagement, lifelong learning, and more. It also provides ideas for expanding existing clubs and recurring events for seniors.
Handout for Building Great Program for Seniors Workshop
- 1. Building Great Programs for Seniors Amy Alessio Goals for Workshop • Revisit what topics interest today’s seniors and why • Review 35+ program topic trends and ideas to replicate or • To expand into clubs • Highlight elements of clubs or recurring events Greatest Generation: 1901 - 1925 • Perseverance in face of adversity • Courageousness • Frugal spending habits • Traditional values Silent Generation: 1926 - 1944 Baby Boomers 1945 - 1964 • Independent • Competitive • More open-minded social values • Focused on health and wellness • Values individuality Second Chapter Café Whitehall Public Library, PA • Coffee bar • Collection including puzzles, gadgets • Programs Understanding Their Interests Library Provides • Social Opportunities • Education • Entertainment • Assistance and Training • Resources • No or Low Cost Services • Independence
- 2. Options for Growing Clubs • Realistic timeline for staff while retaining interest: monthly, weekly, quarterly • Duplicate club during day and evening (Don’t recreate the wheel.) • Multi-generational • Streamlined registration • Welcome new folks, easy to participate • Rotate leaders or project leaders • “Club Connection Slides” Friends Groups • Fits lots of requirements from previous page • Maybe a younger Friends group is needed also • Can fund senior programs or special events • Should have its own special events/rewards • Train library volunteers • May have to end and restart periodically as members change Topics and Trends • Non-binding registration • Microphones • Visibility (even subtitles) • Lighting • Short handouts • Time for sharing • Early seating • Reminders for upcoming events Senior Friendly Services • No fines • Punchcards for fines, bonus materials, extensions • Discounts for trips, events • Technology drop ins • Appointments for extra help or designated times • Repeating popular events Medicare and Medicine • Partnerships with hospitals, health departments, agencies • Screenings and drives • Information and resources
- 3. o Medicare o Showing people how to look up medicines o Housing funding Health and Fitness • Health Fair: gyms, simple screenings, demonstrations of classes • Self-Defense • Wellness and Healthy Living • Grocery Stores: new food choices • No Sweat Sugar Free • Couponing • Mental Health: stages of grief, holiday stress Easy but not Fast Food • Microwave magic (also good for new adults) • Four ingredient recipes • $5 dinners • Super salads & soups • Ethnic foods and history • Restaurant festivals Safety and Scams • Internet and phone scams • Basic self-defense • Travel safety – international and domestic • Identity and password safety CSI and Forensic Fun Housing Fair • Organizations to help Age in Place • Information on Hospice • Representatives from Day Programs • Organizations with Senior Programs • Housing Representatives • Veteran Benefit Speakers • Downsizing and Selling Houses Value of items
- 4. • Selling Online • Antiques Expert Fair • By Theme: Books, Jewelry, o Glassware • Presentation on Values of o Popular Items by Decade • Display of Items with Resources • Trigger Memories Club Connection: Decades • Fashion • Food • Music • Books, movies or TV from that time or set in that time • Videos of dance steps • Photos • Memories • Trivia Contests Leaving a Legacy • Genealogy • Recipes • Memoirs • Story History • Photos • Transferring media Club Connection: Geneaology Technology • Technology Training Tips • Small Class Sizes • Tip Sheets • Hands On • Follow Up • Social Support/Encouragement • Individualized Attention
- 5. Club Connection: Tech Savvy Seniors • Setting up Goodreads shelves, other social media • New library technologies: 3-D printer, downloadables • Test gadgets or services for other seniors Senior Tech Scavenger Hunt • Prizes for completing or entering • Online chat with reference • Downloadable app – show staff • Sign up for program • Link to library social media • Put item on reserve online, or online search • Use online databases • Download ebook or audio book Living Wills getyourshittogether.org Local and National Benefits • State Department on Aging • Spousal Impoverishment • Illinois Family Caregiver Support • Grandparents Raising Grandchildren • Basic Overview of Types of Retirement Accounts Veterans Voter Registration: Candidate Forums Senior Discounts • AARP Card discounts • Feature Chamber businesses with senior promotions • Senior business fair • Travel and transportation for less handout in summer or around holidays Job Fairs? • Part-Time or Volunteer Opportunities • Resume Writing, Tips • Job Hunting • Computer and Social Media Training Club Connection: Library Academy
- 6. • Four Weeks • Presentation on Each Department • Quick Trainings • Fun Handouts • Based on Community Police Academy • What do you wish more of the public knew about? Club Connection: Grandparent Opportunities Family Entertainment • Gaming Night • Reading Night • Healthy Snacks • Movie Nights • Crafts • Special Events • Day Trips or Free Tickets to Museums Support Grandparents Raising Children Groups Materials on State Support Family Programs School Readiness College Application Process Support Financial Aid or Family Finance Workshops at Same Time as Kids’ Events Preserving Family Recipes: More About Memories Than Taste! • Family Recipe Scrapbooking • Worksheet and presentation to trigger memories • Pass on all traditions, especially ethnic ones • Easy binder and page protector recipe albums • Apron Decoration Secrets of the Recipe Boxes Club Connection: Cookin’ Up Nostalgia • Retro Recipe Exchange • Jello • Vintage Holiday Foods • Classic Chicago Candies
- 7. • Desserts by the Decade • Vintage Tea Parties • Kolackies and More • Apple Pie and History of Harvest Foods Club Connection: Crafty Seniors Retro Crafts • Flower Loom • Quilling • Pom Poms (think roller skates) • Macrame (but no plant hangers) • String Art • Woven Barrettes • Fascinators Modern Fun • Scrapbooking • Knitting/Crochet • Quilting • Computer Crafting: printing transfers • 3-D Paper Crafts, origami, ornaments • Terrariums Club Connection: Crafting for Charity • Cards for Senior Centers, Veterans • Knotting Blankets • Knitting/Crocheting: clothing, blankets, squares for blankets • Blankets for Animal Shelters • Sell or Raffle Items for Charity Indiana Public Media Creative Aging Festival Club Connection: Creative Writing • Memoirs • Calligraphy • Journaling • Basic Blogging • Website Creation • Non-fiction Writing • Query Process
- 8. • Magazines Seeking Senior Stories: Reminisce • Self-Publishing • Book Talk on Writing Craft Books Music, Dance and More Music • Festival • Connected to Dates: Elvis’ Birthday • Summer or Outdoor Programs • Beatles’ Tribute Bands, Civil War Music, Renaissance • Big Bands • High School Musicians • Veterans and Memorial Day Events • Local Trips for Concerts Dance • Preview Upcoming Seasons • Teach dance steps for classic steps • Victory Tea or Prom for Seniors • Demonstrations with Music from Professionals • Ethnic Dance Groups Movies • Academy Award Winners: history, show one from each decade • Academy Award Party • Family Movie Nights • Hollywood Trivia • Film Discussion Group • Foreign Films Books with Pizzazz • 50 Shades of Racy Reading • Sweet Reads w/Cupcake Decorating • Crafty Reads • Delicious Reads • Forgotten Reads or Shocking Reads • Novel Bites: Book Club Food Suggestions • Edgy and Sexy Reads Club Connection: Book Clubs for Seniors
- 9. • Easy lending, registration • Flexibility in choices, themes • Skype with authors • Books set in past, even children’s • Non-fiction • Play audio Reading with Animals Questions? Time? Space? Funding?