| By Gale Staff |
May is National Older Americans Month, a time to recognize, celebrate, and support the contributions and potential of adults aged 55 and older. Make your library the heart of celebration in your community by offering activities that promote health, wellness, creativity, and lifelong learning for older adults.
Gale Presents: GetSetUp makes it easier than ever for libraries to provide the resources adults aged 55+ need to stay active, connected, and inspired. Whether your patrons are looking to learn a new technology, boost their creativity, or eat healthier, this flexible, accessible platform offers a rotating catalog of thousands of live and on-demand classes, short videos, and articles for older adults to learn and engage with a community of like-minded peers.
Get inspiration below for how your library can build a monthlong celebration around relevant, healthy aging themes, one week at a time, for National Older Americans Month.
Week 1: Improve Balance & Live Better by Moving More
Falling is a leading health concern for older adults, but with a little movement, it’s often preventable. Encourage patrons to explore fitness classes that match their interests and get them moving. Gale Presents: GetSetUp includes classes on yoga, tai chi, and balance-boosting exercises from Guides who are 55+.
Library Programming Idea: Host a “Stretch & Learn” event with an intro video, then encourage patrons to sign up for a weekly movement class they can do at home or in the library.
Week 2: Unlock Inner Joy by Boosting Creativity
Creative expression keeps the brain active and the spirit lifted. Individuals at every age benefit from creating art, homemade goods, food, and more. With Gale Presents: GetSetUp, patrons have access to a variety of classes to boost creativity, including painting, photography, music, writing, and even classes on how to share creative work online.
Library Programming Idea: Create a “Creative Aging” corner in the library with prompts and supplies. If your library offers Gale Presents: GetSetUp, you can even include a QR code linking to relevant creative classes.
Week 3: Fuel Well-Being with Healthier Food Choices
Nutrition is a key component of living a healthier and longer life, and it’s never too late for patrons to learn how to follow a balanced diet. Connect patrons to resources that fuel good nutrition and benefit their overall health and wellness. From cooking demos to nutrition tips, Gale Presents: GetSetUp makes healthy eating approachable and fun for older adults.
Library Programming Idea: Partner with a local market or food pantry to offer a healthy recipe handout or sample, then direct patrons to resources like GetSetUp cooking classes for continued learning.
Week 4: Learn Something New to Exercise the Mind
Lifelong learning is one of the best ways to maintain cognitive health. From developing new workforce skills to pursuing a personal hobby, learning can take many forms to keep individuals of all ages engaged in new interests. Gale Presents: GetSetUp classes range from tech how-tos and financial literacy to travel and trivia games relevant to older adults. Community members can easily find a class that fits their goals or interests to learn anytime, anywhere.
Library Programming Idea: Host a “Lifelong Learning Challenge” to encourage patrons to learn something new on an ongoing basis. Patrons can take a class, try an activity, or read about a new topic and share what they’ve learned on a community board or in a casual meetup.
Why Celebrating Older Adults Matters
Celebrating Older Americans Month by encouraging lifelong learning, creativity, and health and wellness doesn’t just enrich individual lives, it also strengthens communities. When older adults are active, connected, and mentally engaged, everyone benefits.
With Gale Presents: GetSetUp, libraries can offer meaningful learning experiences and social connection for older adults, without the need to create new programs from scratch, add new staff members, or undergo extensive training. The platform is easy to access, fun to explore, and available anytime, whether your patrons are visiting the library or learning from home.
Get Started with GetSetUp Today
Is your library ready to empower older adults in your community for Older Americans Month and beyond? Learn more about how Gale Presents: GetSetUp can support your programming for patrons 55+ all year long. Connect with your rep for a closer look at GetSetUp today.
