We’re connected, now what? In addition to community arts programming, more older adults are seeking digital training, creative digital enrichment, meaningful community engagement and digital arts playtime. At present, our facilitators, associates and volunteers are working from home and learning new digital skills while exploring new ways to adapt existing technologies for creative self expression and online community connections. Our next online training sessions will offer communication skills training for online facilitation.
For the past 10 years, our network members and volunteers have assisted municipalities, cultural organizations, arts councils, service-providers and caregivers in Southwestern Ontario secure resources for community-based research and life enrichment programs for aging populations.
We utilize and share our creative resources (developed by older adults for older adults) as powerful interventions to reduce social isolation and strengthen healthy community connections. We help empower older adults to build creative communities within existing communities. Using cross-sector strategies, we help facilitate enduring multi-sector community partnerships in urban and rural areas.
As we proceed through this phase of the global pandemic, our focus and priorities are shifting as we respond to changing needs and interests. We’ll be designing, developing and delivering both online and community arts programs for the next few years. As a response to public health restrictions, we have developed a more integrated approach to programming.
The United Nations World Health Organization has declared 2020 to 2030. as the Decade of Healthy Aging. It is an opportunity to bring together governments, civil society, international agencies, professionals, academia, the media, and the private sector for ten years of concerted, catalytic and collaborative action to improve the lives of older people, their families, and the communities in which they live.