Older Americans Activity Ideas

Stories build community and connect us (even if we can’t be physically together). Whether you’re a group of friends, a neighborhood community, or an organization, stories are a great way to learn about and engage with others. As you plan, remember that everyone has different interests, access to technology, and comfort levels. The best sharing activities are those where people feel encouraged and at ease.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Arrange for older adults to share or read stories. Call a community center or group about a joint effort — perhaps they’d like older adults to share their experiences in a workshop. Alternatively, see if a local school would like to host a “Senior Day” where older adults speak to students, or contact libraries about older adults reading to young children.

Arrange for local school students to interview older adults in the community and write short biographies. Plan a program at which the students read aloud their stories. Invite your local newspaper, blogger, or radio station to attend.

Use video chat technology to host a storytelling party. Select a theme or question and give each person five minutes to tell a story that relates to it.

Ask your social media followers to share their wisdom, tips, and stories online using a unique hashtag or by posting to a forum you manage. Be sure to provide guidance (i.e. length), what you’d most like to hear, and a contact person for questions.

Organize a selfie challenge on social media. Create a phrase (i.e. “Powered by Connection means…”) and use a related hashtag (i.e. #OlderAmericansMonth). Ask community members to fill in the blank and take a photo holding a paper with the sentence, then post on social media using your hashtag. You can even design a simple template with the phrase that can be printed out to make it easier for them to join in.

A special OAM event is a great way to celebrate, share resources, and connect with community members. There are countless approaches to this kind of activity, many of which can be done virtually. Always follow local health and safety guidance for your event.

Here are some ideas for bringing members of your community together for a safe afternoon or evening of outdoor entertainment and socialization:

• Organize a game night. You can choose games in advance or have everyone bring their favorite to share with the group. Create an inclusive environment by playing games for people of all ages and abilities. Prizes or awards can make the event more fun.
• Coordinate a musical event. Music can help people to connect, heal, and much more. Hire a band, let participants show off their musical talents, or just play music from an app and let everyone make requests. Consider organizing the event using a theme or genre.
• Coordinate a class, workshop, or lecture on topics relevant to older adults. For example, you can host a class on balance and strength to encourage maintaining independence. You could also try teaching community members something new, such as how to find local resources, how to engage through technology, or how to start a new career or hobby. Tip: let an older adult lead the workshop.
• Host a fundraising event, like a community walk or bake-off, to benefit local programs or centers that serve older adults. No matter the format, be sure to promote the work of the individuals and organizations that support older adults in your area. This is not only nice for those recognized but also creates awareness about available resources.

Celebrate and engage with your community by organizing a project where members can contribute individually before their work is combined to create the final masterpiece. This is a great way to produce something to showcase, either in person or online. Before selecting a project, consider polling your participants to see where their talents and interests lie.

Here are some project ideas to get you started:

• Make a physical or virtual bulletin board with photos, jokes, quotes, or good news. This project is great in combination with the selfie challenge idea shared above. Whether online or in person, printouts can be posted to the board.
• Plant a community garden of flowers or vegetables. Alternatively, provide participants with seeds and a pot to plant them in at home. Later, collect all the potted plants and display them together as one large container garden.
• Design a mosaic art project, painted rock garden, or mural where each participant can take a turn to add their touch. Don’t have a space that can be permanently altered? Use canvases instead. Search for “mini canvas collage” on Pinterest or Google to spark your creativity.
• Coordinate one or a series of community betterment activities. There are numerous options for activities, from picking up litter to collecting donations for those in need.