Building Great Programs for Seniors: Chat Outline (October 2018)

1. BuildingGreat Programs for Seniors
Amy Alessioamyalessio@sbcglobal.net
Servicesfor Seniors
 We've beenthinkingaboutdoingapunchcard.
 We are thinkingaboutstartinga groupof seniorstohelpplan programs.We're thinkingof
callingitSAGE SeniorAdvisoryGroupforEducation.
 Beginningtoworkwithlocal seniorcentertosee how we can worktogetherprogramming - at
the library,at the centerand virtual.
WritingPrograms
 WritingWorkshopforaspiringauthorsall agesduringNaNoWrimo(NationalNovelWriting
Month)
 We're hostingour firstNaNoWriMoCome Write Inat our branch, fingerscrossedwe getagood
turn out.
Reading/Book Programs
We offeredastorytimesforadultslastsummerthat wasverypopular. The participantsrequestedthat
we have it againnextsummer.
TechnologyPrograms
 We've had goodluckpairingteenvolunteerswithdrop-intechhelp,butIthinkthattakesa
special kindof teenvolunteer.
 There are somany ebookdatabase servicesthatwe subscribe to,sohardto keepupto speedso
we can helpand leadtechclasses.
 Andtoo manydevices.We stoppedclassesandswitchedtoone-on-ones
 Ours a little different,it'stiedtothe cityyoulive in, we 'are municipallyfundedsosome people
wholive onthe borderof twolibrariessometimesare disappointedthattheycannotaccess
some of our ebooks.
Medical Events
We have a program inPA sponsoredbyour Deptof Agingwhere volunteersare trainedtocounsel folks
on theirMedicare optionsandit'sSO GOOD. It's nice because it'sthere'salmostzerostaff time required
to maintainitand it'sreallyuseful forthe participants.
Legal Events
 Our wills/probate/powerof attorneyprograms(heldinthe late afternoon/eveningworkwell)!
 We have a great lawadvice grouphere too!
 One of ourbiggestprogramswas abouthow you can know whenyoushouldgive updriving.
 We dohave folkscome to talkabout Medicare,AARPtax prep.

2. Food Themes
That's one of our popularprograms - findingall the waysto save onfood.We've partneredwithour
local creditcounsellingsociety.
Housing Ideas& SellingBelongings
 We provide ahousingfaireveryotheryearandthispast yearwe had 27 differentfacilitiesand
over187 patronsand theirfamiliesattended.
 We hada programon "rightsizing"yourhome asyouage andit wasverysuccessful.
 Local AntiquesRoadshow wasverypopular
 We've done an earthquake prepone byofferingthe roomanddidthe publicityfor it.The police
providedthe speaker&handouts.
Decades
 We diddecade displaysatthe frontof the libraryoverthe summer
 I wouldlike todoan Elvisprogram, but am havinga hard time findingsomeonetodoit.
o Wouldyoube able todo an Elvisfilmscreeningandpeople canweartheirbestshirts?
Crafts
 My grandmothermade footstoolsoutof large drinkcans that she coveredwithupholstery
material. (Retrocraftsdiscussion)
 We hada Christmascard crafternoon andwhile we openitupto all adultsandolderadults,it
was greatto have someone fromournearbyseniors'residence attend.He made 10 cards forhis
friendsandfavourite staff.(sosweet).