Session Title: (402) Bingo, Bathrooming and Boredom: The Bad B Words of Senior Centers

Session Type: Education Session Talk
Topic(s): Equity and Inclusion, Planning and Design , Programming
Older Adults

Day/Time: Wednesday - Block 3
10/11/2023 01:00 PM (Central Time (US & Canada)) - 10/11/2023 02:00 PM (Central Time (US & Canada))

Room: Room C145

Audience Experience Level: Any level
Audience Familiarity with DEI: Any Level
CEU: 0.1

Description:
Senior centers and programs are reinventing themselves and adjusting the language that is used to describe their activities, members and facilities. It's not that Bingo is bad, but rather it conjures images of passive old-timers sitting around in a negative way. Senior centers and recreation departments have begun prioritizing senior activities, the design of the buildings and outdoor spaces, and the words used to describe aging.

In this session we will discuss why design matters in creating a vibrant hub for older adults to gather and in creating that "wow, this is a senior center" look; programming and responding to the needs of active older adtuls (and the increased number of older adults); aligning with age-friendly and reframing aging initiatives to change the language, imagery, intent of your staff, programs and greater community.

We'll end with the "good words" of senior centers and programs.

Learning Objectives:
1. Attendees will consider reframing the language used when designing activity descriptions, newsletters and brochures for older adults.
2. Attendees will explore ways to make senior center/community center/community indoor and outdoor space to be modern and welcoming to older adults.
3. Attendees will address how the aging population of Americans will create a greater demand for programming for older adults in the recreation field.

Speaker(s):

Brinn Sullivan