Stories
Stories foster community and bring us together (even if we can’t be physically present). Stories are a terrific way to learn about and engage with others, whether you’re a group of friends, a neighborhood community, or an organization. Remember that everyone has various interests, technology access, and comfort levels as you plan. The finest activities for sharing are ones that make individuals feel encouraged and at ease.
Start with these suggestions:
Make arrangements for senior citizens to share or read stories. Call a community center or a group to see if they’d like elderly people to share their experiences in a workshop. Alternatively, investigate if a local school would like to sponsor a “Senior Day” where older persons speak to pupils, or call libraries to arrange for older adults to read to young children.
Arrange for local kids to conduct interviews with senior citizens in the neighborhood and create brief biographies. Plan a program where students read their stories aloud. Make an invitation to your local newspaper, weblog, or radio station.
Host a storytelling party using video chat technology. Give each individual five minutes to deliver a story based on a subject or question.
Select a theme or question and give each person five minutes to tell a story that relates to it. Check out this Great Questions list from StoryCorps for ideas.
Ask your social media followers to share their wisdom, tips, and stories online using a unique hashtag or by posting to a forum you manage. Be sure to provide guidance (e.g., length), what you’d most like to hear, and a contact person for questions.
Organize a selfie challenge on social media. Create a theme phrase (e.g., “Aging my way means…”) and use a related hashtag (e.g., #OlderAmericansMonth, #AgeMyWay). Ask community members to fill in the blank and take a photo holding a paper with the sentence, and then post on social media using your hashtag. You can even design a simple template with the phrase that can be printed out to make it easier to join in.
Events
A unique OAM event is a wonderful way to commemorate, share information, and engage with people of the community. This type of activity can be done in a variety of ways, many of which can be done electronically. For any event, always observe local health and safety regulations. Our event planning tips can help you think through the process no matter the size of your group or the style of your event.
Start with these suggestions:
Set up a game night. You can either plan ahead of time the games to play or have everyone bring their favorite to share with the group. Play games for people of all ages and abilities to create an inclusive environment. Prizes or prizes can add to the enjoyment of the event.
Organize a musical performance. Music has the ability to connect, heal, and bring joy to people. Hire a band and allow participants demonstrate their musical abilities, or simply play songs from an app and let everyone make requests. Consider employing a theme or genre to organize the event.
Organize a lesson, workshop, or presentation on issues of interest to senior citizens. For example, to develop balance and strength, you may hold a class.
Or, try teaching community members something new – how to find local resources, how to engage through technology, or how start a new career or hobby. If possible, have an older adult lead the workshop.
Host a fundraising event, like a community walk or bake off, to benefit local programs or centers that serve older adults. No matter the format, be sure to promote the work of individuals and organizations that support older adults in your area. This is not only nice for those recognized, but also creates awareness about available resources. For a fundraising event, raffles and contests work well to engage attendees.
Group Project
Organize a project where individuals can contribute separately before their effort is combined to make the final masterpiece to celebrate and engage with your community. This is a fantastic method to create something to display in person or online. Consider surveying your participants to determine where their abilities and interests lay before deciding on a project.
Start with these suggestions:
Create a physical or virtual bulletin board with photographs, jokes, quotes, and/or positive news. This project works well with the selfie challenge idea mentioned earlier (under Stories). Printouts can be put to the board whether they are completed online or in person.
Plant a flower or produce a communal garden. Alternatively, provide seeds and a pot for participants to plant at home. Collect all of the potted plants afterwards and exhibit them as a single giant container garden.
Create a mosaic art project, a painted rock garden, or a mural in which each participant may add their own personal touch. Don’t have access to a permanent changeable space? Instead, use canvases. Search “mini canvas collage” to spark your creativity.
Coordinate one or a series of community betterment activities. There are numerous options for activities, from picking up litter to collecting donations for those in need. Find more inspiration from Create the Good Project Ideas.
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