ASRT Topic: Senior Resources, Tools and Services
November 16, 2023

Attendees:
Shannon, Hoover
Lynn, West End
Bridget, Homewood
Liz, Five Pts West
Leslie, Avondale
Samm, Hoover
Caroline, Gardendale
Deidre, Bessemer
Holley, O'Neal
Gelenda, Southside
Ellen, Avondale
Lora, Vestavia Hills
Nicole, Tarrant
Fontaine, Books by Mail
Laura,
TWest

This topic is near and dear to our hearts as seniors comprise a bulk of our recurring patrons. What materials we provide, services we offer, programs we plan and outreach we do, all have a huge impact. 

Dee from Bessemer started us off by describing her Health Fair at Bessemer Library. From the sounds of it, this needs to be a regular part of every library's plans. With Medicare and insurance open enrollment, there is a lot of confusion about available governmental services. There is also Social Security to consider.  By having representatives of these agencies, a health fair can aid seniors. Someone will also be there to help with wills, advanced directives and the like. There is also a JeffCo Agency on Aging and reps from Arthritis, Alzheimers and Dementia associations. The fair is to be held on 12/7 - we know it will be a huge success! 

Fontaine Alison, from BPL's Book By Mail program told us more about the services they provide, sending both large print and audiobooks to those that qualify for the service. By the way, librarians are qualified to deem a patron eligible for books by mail services, unlike the state service for the blind and disabled which requires a medical professional (which in and of itself is not a hard thing to obtain.) Patrons often ask for Playaways as they are easy to use but as we know, they are not reliable or durable or inexpensive. Technology makes it possible for a large number of disabled patrons to use electronic devices but this poses a problem for blind patrons. Devices from the state allow for the easy loading of about 8 books but do not save your place (!) Patrons are asking more for devices to play CDs. Which also poses a problem as books on CD decline in availability, rise in costs, and their circulation declines. We engaged in a conversation on libraries predicament with books on CD.

Fontaine would be glad to make herself available to any library or senior group that is interested in this service. You can reach her at Fontaine.Alison@cobpl.com. Thanks for all you do, Fontaine!!

For more information about services provided by the state agency, APLS, check out this website https://aplsws2.apls.state.al.us/library-for-the-blind/ They are a very helpful bunch and can open up the world for those in need.

Leslie from Avondale was talking about something she heard about called "Memory Cafe" where there are cognitive activities for seniors - according the internet "Memory Cafés are a comfortable, social gathering that allow people experiencing memory loss and a loved one to connect, socialize, and build new support networks. Cafés are free to attend and welcome to all." This sounds like an intriguing concept! Some libraries circulate cognitive care kits that could include puzzles, crosswords, word searches and the like to keep a mind active. I've also heard of kits that are topic-based and are meant to recreate memories, like old ads and old newspapers from a certain time to trigger memories that might have faded. (I wish JCLC could come up with a list of libraries with these types of resources, or are they searchable in the catalog?)

One great annual service libraries provide, if they can, is the AARP Tax Service. At Hoover, those services have been expanded by adding days they are available. One thing that is requested over and over again is help in filling out forms online. Because EVERYTHING is now online, seniors require help when usually they would make a phone call. We even heard from Liz that Vets are required by places like Home Depot to go online and essentially prove they are vets and require uploading of IDs to get a 10% discount rather than just showing their IDs at the door!! If things progress like this, there will be no end to what patrons will need to do online: jobs, unemployment, SSI, school enrollment, etc. We must employ patience and provide help where we can. Other solutions might be scheduling times for seniors to be helped out on an individual basis. Ellen from Avondale mentioned a Teen Tech program that pairs seniors with teens to help them with things like iPhones, etc. Perhaps that could be adapted to this purpose?

Deidre brought up a good resource that we probably overlook: the "Dummie" books are helpful in that they provide step-by-step instructions on almost everything. These might be helpful in instruction for seniors as a way to give them some tangible help.

Several libraries have onsite blood pressure devices and some have them to circulate. There might be other medical devices that could be helpful in addition. Any ideas?

A lot of libraries already provide passive programs that can be offered with seniors. Arts & crafts, puzzles, large coloring sheets, take and makes for adults, again -- anything to occupy the mind and body. Chair yoga is also a great suggestion (Frannie James does chair yoga in Birmingham.) Other senior focused programming includes genealogy (call BPL experts downtown), Samford String Orchestra, Seasoned Performers, Niki Sepsis - local historian, September Reed - crafts, "Historic Hometown Theatre", Swedish death cleaning, the list goes on. There are so many programming options that could be done in library or at senior facilities.

Tamara at Irondale wasn't able to attend but added what she is doing:

"The director of our senior center asked me to offer a class there about smart phones. I suggested doing two classes (one for iPhones, one for Android). I guess the seniors must have liked the programs at least somewhat, because some came to both classes, but I'll do it differently next time. The plan was to gather questions or topics of interest from the seniors in advance, but I didn't receive any in advance. I prepared for topics that I thought might interest them, but most of the questions ended up being very specific (how to start a new email in Gmail, how to use an app their self-defense instructor mentioned, etc.). In the future, I plan to do a narrower focus with the classes. I plan to do one on Gmail, one on Libby and hoopla, etc. I also went to the senior center recently as a guest speaker to kick off their new book club. I won't regularly be a part of the club, which is a shame because it sounds like it will be a blast!

A senior living facility near us recently requested outreach programs. Since most of their residents aren't able to visit the library or senior center in person, this is a great opportunity to recycle programs I'm already doing. This month, we'll be doing an envelope craft that was previously a library program. After the holidays, they would like me to do the same smartphone topics I'll be doing at the senior center. I'm excited about this partnership as an opportunity to reach a new audience with programs I'm already doing." 

If you have more ideas, please share them on the blog site or on the ASRT Facebook group.

Our next meeting will be Thursday, January 18, 2023 at 10 am via Zoom. Our focus will be on JustServe (connecting nonprofits with volunteers) and how they can be of use to libraries and their patrons. Also, we will try to have a representative from the Alabama Historical Society's Speakers Bureau.