Ypsi library launches new senior program promoting fitness and social connection
The Ypsilanti District Library recently launched a program called Moving Together, which is meant to keep Ypsilanti-area seniors active and fight social isolation.
On the Ground Ypsilanti is an “embedded journalism” program covering the city and township of Ypsilanti. It is supported by Ann Arbor SPARK, the Center for Health and Research Transformation, Destination Ann Arbor, Eastern Michigan University, Engage @ EMU, Washtenaw Community College, Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission, and Washtenaw ISD.
The Ypsilanti District Library (YDL) recently launched a program called Moving Together, which is meant to keep Ypsilanti-area seniors active and fight social isolation.
Susana Adamé, senior adult outreach paraprofessional at YDL, says the three-month program is funded by a $5,000 grant from Molina Health. For three months, each week will feature one of four activities: cornhole, bingo, art, and fitness. Bingo and cornhole rely on being in person, but much of the art and fitness programming will be available virtually.
If seniors come to a library branch and tell staff they’re participating in the program, they can receive an activity log sheet. They’ll get a prize just for requesting the sheet, and an additional prize if they complete 10 activities in three months.
Adamé says that when libraries are on a tight budget, senior programming is often cut severely. She notes that many of the programs that do survive relate to health and aging, rather than connection and fun.
“Senior programming gets limited to bare-bone essentials like how you can sign up for Medicare. That’s a huge need, and we want to address that, but that means more fun things get put to the side,” Adamé says.
She says the YDL’s senior advisory board helped shape the program. Its members were all in favor of the theme of fighting social isolation and making connections with other seniors.
“They told us, ‘You can only say hello to your cat so many times,'” Adamé says with a laugh.
She says 11 people participated in the first Moving Together bingo event, and staff are hoping that participation will increase over the course of the summer.
“There’s plenty of room for more,” Adamé says.
Click here for more information and to see a sample activity sheet.
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