I recently met with Maria Perretta, executive director of the Ridge Meadows Seniors Society, and through our discussions, I found out that I am classified as a ‘senior in training.’
That is someone who, by age, falls into the traditional definition of a senior, but struggles to accept it, as we cling to the image of a senior being that of our parents, but not us.
Which might explain why I recently went down a 20-foot slide at a kids’ fun centre with my grandson and just about dislocated every bone in my body.
Apparently, being three months away from 60, I, along with many others, are refusing to be classified as seniors, unless, of course, there is a price discount involved.
And it is this attitude that is proving to be challenging for seniors’ centres that are trying to remain relevant to their target population, which is ages 55 and up.
Right now the Ridge Meadows Seniors Society, a non-profit organization governed by a volunteer board of directors, oversees the Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows activity centres, which collectively serve 2,000 members.
The cities provide about a third of their funding, but all other funds must come through fees and fundraising. A one-year membership costs $25, allowing members to take advantage of over 100 programs, activities and services between the two centres.
Drop-in activities range from $1-$2 and, as Maria proudly challenges: “Where can you take a flamenco dance class for a buck?”
However, due to the aforementioned issue of ‘senior denial,’ to get the younger senior through the doors, such centres are having to change their lingo, replacing “senior” with “older adult.” They have to become creative with their programming and the timing of that so the new generation of “older adults” quits looking at these activity centres as places our parents go to, as opposed to the vibrant, energetic centres that are emerging today.
To achieve this, our local centres are offering the traditional knitting, snooker and bingo sessions, which are all still popular, along with fitness programs such as Zumba, yoga and pilates and classes, teaching technology, theatre, painting, music and dance classes.
They are also having to look at scheduling, since more and more older adults are helping their kids with daycare, or taking on part-time employment after retirement, making them unavailable for the traditional daytime programming.
Another important role that has emerged for these activity centres, outside of providing recreational opportunities, is responding to calls from older adults, their family members, or caregivers looking for resources and assistance concerning older adults’ issues.
Questions often relate to health challenges, loneliness, housing and many other social issues that this population may face, such as the troubling phenomenon of elder abuse, accessing medical appointments when an adult can no longer drive, or even simple meal preparation for someone living alone on a fixed income.
During the past year, staff and volunteers logged the number and nature of inquiries for older adults needing this kind of assistance and it was identified that many of the calls would be best addressed by a peer, as many of the callers from this demographic were more comfortable speaking with someone their own age. This information prompted the Society to create a project called the “Peer Support Program,” which they are presently trying to raise the required $9,000 for.
The main objective of this project is to engage older adult volunteers through the mentoring of others while assisting older adults to remain independent through self-help.
The program will utilize “peer buddies” who have been given an opportunity to learn how to help others effectively within a systematic training program, while using their own life experiences, rather than staff or untrained volunteers.
The bulk of the $9,000 would go towards the creation and implementation of the training program.
Bev Schmahmann, the society’s seniors outreach coordinator, will oversee this project and she already knows that there will be a huge rate of return for this small amount of funding.
She knows this, because she presently tries to respond to the need by herself and sees the immediate benefit an older adult gets by being able to connect with a peer who understands their circumstances and can direct them to resources.
However, the response need is greater than what she alone can provide.
Bev is very clear, though, that the program is not a duplication of services, as she works closely with social service staff in the community and has designed the program to complement that work by acting as a conduit to redirect the older adult to the resources that are in the community, as well as reminding the callers that the activity centres are also ready and waiting for them if they want to recreate and socialize with people their own age.
Another great initiative that the Maple Ridge Activity Centre is hosting for both communities on Nov. 18, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“Intensify Your Laugh Lines” is an education day providing inspiring speakers and vendors from the local community who will be showcasing supports for life’s later journey in a fun and interactive environment.
This event is also made possible via the society’s fundraising efforts and in-kind support, so if you want to attend, or contribute funding to this event and the Peer Support Program, make sure you contact Maria or Bev by going to the website (http://rmssseniors.org/ )
In the meantime, if you identify as an older adult, don’t be afraid to check out everything that is being offered through the Ridge Meadows Seniors Society, as they are actively working to ensure you will always have an affordable, fun and supportive place to connect with people your own age.
And, if you don’t go forgetting your age completely and insist on going down kid’s slides, you might just hang around long enough to get free membership, which is given to anyone over the age of 90.
Cheryl Ashlie is a former Maple Ridge school trustee, city councillor, constituency assistant and former citizen of the year.