Transcript Our Senior Community

Serving Our Seniors
Stephanie Stowe & Melanie Taylor-Ridgway
Town of Pelham Public Library
General Trends
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Aging population
Baby Boomers reaching
retirement
Many over age 55
relocating geographically
Increased public service
demands from 55 & Better
population
How Pelham Got Started
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2006 survey conducted
Communicated clearly that we had to increase
our focus on seniors and their needs
Demographics revealed a community weighted
heavily in population over 50
Our municipality does not have a recreation
centre or run programs for seniors
 A nearby city had a very high
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quality Senior Centre heavily
attended by our seniors
Applied for Ontario Trillium
Foundation grant for senior
services/ volunteer
coordinator full time for 1 year
Hired a Seniors Services
Coordinator
Named Program “55 & Better”
Senior Services Coordinator’s
Role at the Library
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Develop & implement sustainable
programs for seniors
Develop and expand existing
volunteer activities (Volunteer
Handbook created)
Strengthen partnerships within our
community and the Niagara Region
(Talk given at Rotary Club)
Investigate need for Home Visiting
Library Service/Books on Wheels
(Survey conducted)
Pelham Public Library
Survey
Purpose: To conduct a survey with individuals aged 55+ to assess the
needs of retirees and seniors in the community with regards to library
services and programming.
1. What age group are you in?
55-64_____ 65-74_____ 75-84_____ 85 and over_____
2. a) Have you moved to the area in the last 5 years?
Yes_____ No_____
b) Do you live? In your own home_____ Apartment_____
Seniors housing _____
3. Do you currently use the Fonthill Branch or the Maple Acre
Branch of the Town of Pelham Public Library?
Yes_____ No_____
If Yes, a) what type of materials do you borrow?
____________________________________________________________
b) what kind of programs do you attend now?
______________________________________________________
4. What types of programs/events would you like to see offered?
_______________________________________________________
5. What time of day do you prefer to attend these programs?
Mornings___ Afternoons___ Evenings___ Weekends___
6. Would you use a home delivery service if the library offered it?
Yes_____ No_____
If Yes, why? Homebound_____ Disabled_____
Other?________________________________________________
*Surveys distributed in-library, to seniors apartments,
retirement homes, and pharmacies. Surveys placed as ad
in local newspapers.
Survey Results
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198 surveys returned
34% between age 55-64
31% between age 65-74
70% had not moved to
the area in the last five
years
27% that had moved here
recently were between
age 55-64
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72% still lived in their
own houses
Most borrowed books
and DVD’s
35 requested the
Visiting Library Service
Requested library
programs were guest
speakers, computer &
fitness classes, movies,
travelogues and book
clubs
Programs We Started With:
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Open House Seniors
Information Fair
55 & Better Book
Club
Fashion Show
Afternoon Movie
Seniors’ Social
Where We are Now
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55 & Better Programs
offered monthly
Developed volunteer job
descriptions & handbook
Developed a Seniors’
Information Centre with
brochures, etc.
Developed Seniors’
Newsletter with events &
programs
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55 & Better Book Club
Offering sessions on topics
such as: health & wellness,
finance and nutrition
Introduced recreation &
fitness programs: Yoga, Tai
Chi, Zumba, Bridge, Latin
Dance, etc.
Monthly Foot Care Clinic
Results
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Volunteer Management/Senior Services
Coordinator is now a Community Services
Coordinator Part-time position
3 ½ years of seniors’ programming
 Library considered source for seniors’
information and services
 Library delivers over 189 programs yearly
with over 2211 participants
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Assessing Your Seniors Needs
Demographic Reports-2006 Census,
Municipal/Regional Demographics
 Check Municipal/Regional reports on ageing
 FP Markets 2011-Provides estimates for a wide
variety of factors
 Do your community demographics
and profile reflect the need for more
and/or new Seniors’ programs?
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Yes, There’s a Need. Now What?
 Talk to patrons age 55+. Conduct
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patron surveys
Review community programs for
seniors in local senior centres,
residences and municipal
departments
Consider your physical spaces,
staffing, volunteers/board, costs
Determine funding sources
(Ontario Trillium Foundation & New
Horizons for Seniors Program)
Planning Your Programs
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Consider the 3 different age generations within
the senior population when planning programs
Investigate what community partners are
available
How will you promote new seniors programs
Think. What is it that your library can do
uniquely that no one else can?
Finding Resources for Programs
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Check out what other libraries are offering for their
seniors
Try Local 211 website for non-profit organizations
that can provide you with speakers on topics of
local interest
Speak to local businesses and self-employed
service providers (eg. fitness, art, crafts, chefs)
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Local adult education, retired specialists and
educators
Connect with friends and family, previous
employers, staff, and patrons for inspiration
Note: If running health seminars or fitness
classes, ensure your presenters have the proper
certification!
Special Initiatives
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Outreach in Senior
Residences with
volunteers
Books on Wheels/Visiting
Library Service Launched
Large Print Book Club
Collection for Loan to
other libraries and Seniors
Residences
Large Print Book Club Collection
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Difficulty obtaining multiple
copies of Large Print books
& audio through InterLibrary Loan
We applied for and
received a Niagara
Community Foundation
grant
Intent was to purchase sets
of large-print books &
audio for our 55 & Better
Book Club
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The grant allowed us to make these collections
available for loan to public libraries, seniors’
institutions & residences and to book clubs
To access the information on borrowing sets go
to www.pelhamlibrary.on.ca and click on Book
Club Sets
Issues That May Arise
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Presenters cancel or no
show
Risk management/ Liability
issues
Equipment that fails
Dietary considerations
Working in partnership
with other institutions e.g.,
transport of seniors to
library programs
Volunteer issues
Funding Programs
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We charge for most programs
whether they are for children
or adults
For some presenters, we offer
a 50/50 split of revenue
Pre-set fees eg. Non-resident
speaker
Pelham charges a nominal
fee for some seniors’
programs
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Sessions about health
and other crucial
information are free
from non-profit groups
Drop-in classes such
as bridge etc., by
donation
Partner with
community
groups/service clubs
for cost effectiveness
In Conclusion
Start slowly
 Offer programs unique to your library and
community
 Advertise in all ways possible
 Any effort to meet Seniors’ needs will be
greatly appreciated
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Resources To Help You Further
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Ontario Seniors Secretariat
http://www.culture.gov.on.ca/seniors/english/index
.shtml
Pelham Public Library
http://www.pelhamlibrary.on.ca/
Southern Ontario Library Service
http://www.sols.org/
Your local 211 or information centre
HRDC New Horizons for Seniors
http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/community_partnershi
ps/seniors/index.shtml
Thank You for Your Time!
Stephanie Stowe
[email protected]
Melanie Taylor-Ridgway
[email protected]