Chat Transcript for Building Great Programs for Seniors Workshop

1. Building Great Programs for Seniors Chat Transcript
Note from Amy Alessio amyalessio@sbcglobal.net: I sorted these by topic and took out some of the
basic comments or places where similar comments repeated. I also removed names after drawing for
prizes. If you didn’t win anything, and still want some recipes, or have other feedback or questions for
me, feel free to email.
Basic Notes & Tips on Senior Programming:
• Sometimes word "club" precludes people from joining. Sometimes sounds exclusive.
• We also provide a Speakers Bureau on a variety of topics (history, cultural, tech) and senior
groups come into our library or we take the show on the road.
• We also have senior benefits information center.
• Also Social Security Benefits rep presents a program -- our Adult Services area handles that.
• Uber is coming out with a service for giving seniors rides
• We focus on kids and Teens. Not much interest in programming for seniors. I'm hoping to
change that.
• Has anyone held any community conversations with their senior populations, modeling the
Harwood Institute's Turning Outward initiative, to discover what seniors aspire for in their
communities?
• How about using volunteers from RSVP?
• We have a weekly article in the local newspaper where we can publicize these programs.
• We do email newsletter once a month and that works well for us
• Have you done programs for caregivers?
• What about programming for seniors with disabilities?
Friends Groups/General Senior Clubs/Advisory Boards/Senior Spaces:
• I started an over 50 club at our library.
• We have a Memory Café.
• We also have Memory Cafe and Memory Fitness weekly
• We also have an advisory group in Ajax - morphed from the closure of the Friends group
• Walker Library Friends are having a costume jewelry sale during the Uptown Art Fair this
weekend. Thousands of people attend.
Positive Partnerships (More comments were placed under subject headings for outreach ideas, too.)
• travel log videos are good for dementia patients
• We will be taking our programs out into the local Senior Centers, working with the activity
directors to develop programs to meet their needs.
• I do a 'pop up' library service at the local senior's centre. I bring my laptop and check out all
sorts of our popular material there.

2. • We do several deposit collections in senior residential facilities or senior centers. Use lease
books, (McNaughtons) or paperbacks from book store.
• We received a multi-generational grant for library outreach programs. One of our major
components is our Senior Outreach program.
• We will be taking our programs out into the local Senior Centers, working with the activity
directors to develop programs to meet their needs.
• In Westchester we have an organization called Ride Connect which is a good resource for
transportation.
• Yes, we have librarians who visit the assisted living facilities. It's been successful.
• Some of the senior living places have a bus and they bring groups of senior to events. The active
seniors love getting out for part of the day.
• Sunshine Book Delivery (use volunteers to bring books to homebound)
Festivals:
• In Hoboken (NJ) PL we are planning our annual Senior Day and look forward to hearing some
new ideas!
• Community day of sharing
Medicare/Health:
• We do a Bi-focal program.
• We have a health care navigator that comes to the libraries.
• We have a Medicare program -- HUGE attendance.
• Glucose testing had huge results.
• We always do a health program in January, as part of keeping one's New Year's Resolutions -
getting & keeping well
• We partnered with a local hospital and had an end of life program that highlighted living wills,
dnrs, etc. Very well attended
• We will be doing a Tai Chi for Seniors program starting soon.
• aging eye program
• We had a weekly program for a month, offering speakers on topics related to handling stress,
aging, grief, etc. There was a loyal (but small) core group. Speakers came from local non-profits
and a grad. counseling prgm at the local university.
Downsizing/Housing:
• tiny houses are now popular-- no piano
• antique road shows--our version
• local museum & archives great to bring items in, and sharing and collecting
• Using book The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and
Organizing to help seniors declutter so it isn't so overwhelming for family to handle.

3. Technology:
• We did a CyberSeniors program to teach mobile technology to seniors taught in part by high
school seniors and they loved it!
• We did outreach about tech downloads to a senior community for three consecutive Fridays in
August.
• We have VCR, cassett etc. transfer stations and classes on how to
• I have a Teen tech Tutors here...Highs school students teach the seniors
• Teen senior tech help
• AARP chapters offer social media classes in Minneapolis area
Finances/Safety/Scams/Crimescenes:
• VITA Volunteer tax assistance February-April is very important to our local seniors. Many have
developed friendships with their volunteer preparer.
• VPL has a couple repeating online safety classes
• A local volunteer from AARP presented 5 library programs on topics for seniors: Medicare, fraud
safety, social security, finances
• One library had a class on internet safety that was really well attended
• VPL is planning on a crimescene display for November after seeing that on another of your
webinars.
• We are using the deliberative dialogue guides at NIFI.org for discussions on Medicare, Social
Security, National Budget, etc.
Travel Through Time and Place:
• armchair travel with themed treats are popular
• We did a behind the scenes of Downton Abbey that was a big success.
• We have a cultural day every September and feature a different country. 1,000+ attendees.
• We are going to show educational videos on seniors who are totally amazing. International
inspriational people, people through history. Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela, Jane Goodall,
Margaret MEad, etc.
• A travelog series was popular, show a travel video and then open it up for discussion
• Program on history of Conservation Corps was popular
• My family has food ration coupons.
• African American genealogy at Minneapols Central library was hugly popular
• Having Genealogy program in Sept because people have been requesting.
• I am hoping to do a program discussing the new happenings in the county. Seniors don't always
attend local gatherings that outline a new teen center or budget discussions among the county.
• A taste of Spam might be popular. Spam comes in 14 flavors! (WWII program suggestion)
• Betty Crocker history
• Seniors would appreciate having these kinds of programs outside of Veteran's Day celebrations.

4. • Hero tree
• History of wedding customs
• We have had a Veterans Oral History Program from veterans in our community
• Viet Nam War photo exhibit and program
• We just had a Scholar Series that featured the 60s -- fashion, music, civil rights, etc.
• Some websites sell classic candy and snacks from previous eras (they are fresh, not stale, ha).
Maybe that could be basis of a tasting program?
• We have a "Heroes and Characters of the Miami Valley" program (heroes from WWII and
gypsies -- separately)
• We have a genealogy club that runs once a month. Customers helping each other, plus guest
speakers.
• Researching your house history
• songs from the 20's 30's & f0's connect with absent elders
Food:
• Had Chocolate Program. Professor of Chemistry from local community college did presentation.
Great attendance.
• If they forget their binder (for recipe scrapbooking) they can just tie their page protectors
together with pretty ribbon
• Lutefisk and lefse
• Apple tasting would be easy
• Chocolate tasting!
• We had a book club meeting that was Pie themed and I brought in pies for everyone to try
• Where I used to work, there was an annual Feb. program for teens: Chocolate Saturday (crafts,
tasting, just loving all kinds of chocolate). Seniors like chocolate too!
• What is 'gross' to some may be 'gourmet' to others....
Crafting:
• (retro crafts) Remember the doorknob covers? Santa Claus with whiskers? Erma Bombeck made
those ...
• Gardening workshops with county Master gardeners
• making cards for national senior citizens day aug 21
• History of beer brewing and optional side trip to local pub for tasting
• That would be a great program to coop with teens. Our teens LOVE tie dye programs.
• We've tried hosting a knitting circle. Participants bring their own projects & supplies, have a
chance to visit and share while working on their project.
• We have knitting groups: Wednesday evening and Thursday mornings. Has grown -- great
attendance now.
• We have a knitting/crochet group every Wednesday. teens knitting with seniors!
• One of our staff members does a holiday wrapping event in December.

5. • Our Knitting and Crochet group has grown so large we're splitting between Friday nights and
Friday mornings. Teens and Older Adults.
• We have a wonderful group that makes mats for the homeless out of plastic store bags called
New Life for Old Bags.
• We are going to do an intergenerational christmas ornament creation program for the holidays
• new ideas... coloring with seniors
• We do a crafternoon - intergenerational & recycle multiple items - paper / boxes / wool / burlap
/ buttons
• We're going to do a painting class ... like the popular painting place (Raise Your Brush, Pinot's
Pallette, Painting with a Twist) but without the alcohol.
Books & Writing:
• We have an adult writer's group that's popular.
• 50 and better creative writing weekend conference
• I do a themed Book club and an Online Memory Journaling class for seniors.
• We have a seniors bookclub with long standing members. They meet once a month.
• We have an afternoon book discussion club and an evening book club -- they read the same
book and have the opportunity to attend whichever fits their schedule.
• We also have a senior book club group that has been working well for us.
• I run an afternoon senior's book club with a 15 person wait list...
• (Question about book clubs by phone or online): Have you ever done a book club by telephone?
I had a senior patron who is having trouble hearing in large groups but had mentioned a book
club by conference call (webex) might be good?
o We do a book club on Facebook.
o I've seen that on a NY Public Library info video
o The Kenosha Public Library System does a phone book club.
o (referencing a Facebook group) We have a facilitator and start with the question: What
are you reading? What do you recommend or recommend staying away from?
• This is where we have our Online Memory Journaling program
• Have a writers' program -- second Monday of the month.
• We offer a memoir writing workshop and with permission share these stories with the public.
Very popular.
• I bring the next month's selection to the current month's discussion.
• story time for grown ups. read-aloud program for senior facilities
• I have a book guide sheet that I hand out so they can write down notes about the book they
have read
• Love the audio idea. I listen in the car all of the time, but think it would be great for folks to
listen together. A bit like the seniors who listened to radio programs before TV.
• I get Audio editions for book club as well as regular and Large print

6. • What about seniors reading to kids? Families live apart so they may miss out on this within their
own families.
• Time Slips, creative storytelling using photos
• We do books discussions at one center, book talks at all the homes, speakers bureaus at all the
homes. Now starting to take tech classes to the homes.
Movie Clubs:
• Doing a movie club at the local seniors housing complex
• Sunday afternoon live music concerts
• movie lovers book club screening program
Other Successful Senior Events!
• We do an ongoing Scrabble program that is popular.
• Game night on Mondays --Scrabble
• Fremont Main has read to a dog