Senior Centers: Teaching, Learning, Good Times

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Senior CentersTeaching, Learning, Good Times

• Shelly Zylstra
• Northwest Regional Council
• zylstra_at_dshs.wa.gov

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Overview

• What Happens Today at Senior Centers?
• Watch Out!
• Suggestions for Activities and Ideals
• Where to find funding?

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What Is Going On Today?

• There are many good ideas which exist in Senior
  Centers
• Some Centers are very active
• Other Centers do not have many activities planned
• There are lots of ideas for activities which
  elders can love, which staff can manage, and
  which dont have to cost lots of money

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Watch Out!

• Busy Elders are Happy Elders
• Happy Elders dont complain nearly as much
• Elders that dont complain help make staff happy
• Happy staff are better able to keep Elders busy
• ANOTHER SACRED CIRCLE!

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Successful Activities

• In order for the activities to be well-received,
  it is important that the activities be diverse
• Everyone needs to have a chance to be successful
• Some activities may be too difficult for the most
  frail participants, so be sure not to leave them
  out

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Suggested Activities

• Educational Activities
• Health
• Fun and Games
• Fundraising
• Intergenerational
• Travel
• Special Dinners
• Cultural Events

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Educational

• Everyone Grows through Education
• Ask for input because any programs should meet
  the needs of Elders
• Could be nearly anything
• Healthy Eating with Traditional Foods
• How to use the Internet
• Diabetic Shoes
• Services in Town
• Learning to read

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Educational

• Have specialists come to talk about nearly any
  topic that people want to hear
• Dont forget that Elders today really need some
  new information just to understand what is going
  on with their children and grandchildren.

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Health

• Keeping Elders healthy is essential to keeping
  the program vital
• Get the clinic involved in your program and have
  a special health presentation or activity each
  month
• Clinic will likely appreciate having a group
  visit for things like HgA1C, foot checks, blood
  pressure checks and cancer screens

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Health

• Foot Clinics monthly
• Blood Pressure
• Brown Bag luncheon for medications
• Ask the NURSE!
• Traditional Medicine
• Heart Healthy Traditional Foods
• Nutritional BINGO
• Exercise Activities

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Fun and Games

• Elders love to joke and tell stories and so the
  senior center can be a place where they can
  really cut loose
• Not for the faint of heart!!
• Planning a fun activity every week can be a great
  way to introduce them to one another
• NOT JUST BINGO!

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Fun and Games

• Card Games
• Puzzles
• Bean Bag Toss
• Stick Game
• Swap Tournament
• Sharing Table
• Talent Show
• Dances

• Gardening
• Ask the Elders and make certain that you are in
  contact with other programs
• Get on a electronic newsletter for senior
  activities
• Get a book for activities

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Fundraising

• Programs are poorly funded as a rule
• There is always a need for more money to do
  activities
• In the Title III Programs, there are many
  programs that fundraise for meals
• In our area, the three programs have to fundraise
  about half a million dollars just to keep the
  programs open

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Fundraising

• There are a variety of ways to support programs
• Long Term Overall Fundraising
• Short Term Specific Activity Fundraising
• Fundraising that is ongoing

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Long Term Funding

• Most effective is to go to the Council and ask
  for support money
• In most tribes, the Elders can ask for resources
  and usually receive them.
• Ask for ONGOING Support so you dont have to keep
  going back and begging
• Ask for money for the programs BEFORE you need it
  so you can count on having it and include it in
  your budget
• If it is in the budget from the beginning it
  assists with planning and program development

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Short Term Funding

• These can be fun activities with a special end in
  sight
• Gas Money and Lodging for a visit
• Assistance to put on a special dinner to honor
  elders, caregivers, grandparents, relative or
  kinship caregivers
• A piece of equipment for the center
• Activities funding for materials

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Ongoing Fundraising

• Some programs find that having an ongoing means
  of support is helpful for income
• Long term fundraising is possible with a little
  out of the box thinking
• Dont only ask for money

• Catering special dinners
• Catering other tribal programs
• Gift Shop
• Adopt an Elder
• Grocery Store swipe cards
• Sales, Powwows, Stommish/ Canoe Journey

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Intergenerational

• Elders and children go together
• Supporting the kids and having them work for the
  elders programs can help to bring them together
  the way that it used to be
• Programssongs, dances, visits, stories
• Assistance with special dinners for the
  eldersyouth
• Place mats, table decorations, special gifts for
  the homebound elders

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Travel

• Elders are always on the GO!
• Love to visit other areas and tribes
• Would be gone all the time if they could!
• Make sure that everyone has a chance to go
• Oldest or frailest get a chance to go first
• Take along caregivers if you need to do so
• Dont be afraid to take elders who are not able
  to participate in all of the activities.

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Special Dinners

• Dont think that these have to an extravaganza
• Should have one thing per week
• Theme dinnersMovie Day Italiano American Pie
  Sons of Norway Day (!)
• Special Foodshot cobblers, make your own ice
  cream sundae build your own soups, pasta, or
  potato
• Recipe Contests
• Tasting Tables

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Traditional Activities

• Vary Widely
• Gathering Traditional Foods
• Making Traditional Foods
• Crafts
• Language, stories
• You CHOOSEbut make certain that the activities
  are appropriate for their needs