>>>Active Aging Days: Offered in partnership with Active Aging in Manitoba, Active Aging Days are run by Senior organizations to provide a variety of physical, social, and cognitive activities for older adults to try in a day or afternoon. Lunch is also typically provided.
>>>North Centennial Seniors Association (NCSA) of Winnipeg is a registered non-profit organization which provides, social, fun, fitness, and a healthy environment for our members. The NCSA is located within Sergeant Tommy Prince Place.
"The goal of an Active Aging Day is to get people active and introduce them to activities they have never done before."
Targeting Isolation asked Laura Isbister, North Centennial Senior Association (NCSA), about their Active Aging Days. Here is what Laura had to say…
Targeting Isolation in Manitoba (TIMA): Please introduce yourself and tell me about the Active Aging Days you plan for members of the North Centennial Seniors Association of Winnipeg (NCSA).
Laura Isbister (NCSA): My name is Laura Isbister, and, at the time when they we were planning the first Active Aging Day, I was the Treasurer and the Life Skills Coordinator at the North Centennial Seniors Association. I retired from the Board in 2023 after serving the members in these roles for approximately 10 years.
The first Active Aging Day was planned with Active Aging in Manitoba after the pandemic restrictions lifted in Manitoba. I was in contact with Linda Brown, Executive Director of Active Aging in Manitoba, about the 55+ Games and urban poling, which was getting big in the senior population. Linda offered to come out to our Centre to offer demonstrations on urban poling to our members and also to try some other activities.
TIMA: What exactly is an Active Aging Day?
Laura Isbister (NCSA): The goal of an Active Aging Day is to get people active and introduce them to activities they have never done before. We bring in games - corn hole toss, floor curling, floor shuffleboard, magnetic darts, bocce, carpet bowling, and urban poles. All of these activities can be done by individuals using a walker or in a wheel chair. In addition, we have a station with some “brain games”. This is an opportunity for people to sit and do some brain challenging activities.
People rotate through each activity and for many they have a chance to try activities they have never done before. It is also a great way to include new members into a Seniors organization, for example. It is great to see the socialization that happens as individuals participate in a fun competition with others they may not know very well. An Active Aging Day typically runs for 3 or 4 hours and includes lunch.
TIMA: How did you go about planning Active Aging Days for your members?
Laura Isbister (NCSA): This will be our 3rd year running this event for our members. Planning this day evolved over time. The first year we saw the need to get our members back being active after the pandemic, so we planned a day which included physical activity games, mind games and a free lunch. We ran the event at Sargeant Tommy Prince Place in North Winnipeg. Everyone had the opportunity to try lots of different activities and the event was free to our members. During the second year, we invited another senior centre to the Active Aging Day which provided us with the opportunity to broaden the reach of this program to others outside of our membership.
"I think the main benefit is the social part. Our members love the opportunity to have a conversation and have a coffee together.... Lastly, of course, main benefits include keeping our members active and providing them the opportunity to try new activities!"
TIMA: What was the overall impression/feedback you received from your members?
Laura Isbister (NCSA): After we ran the event for the first year we heard that everybody loved it! We provided a welcoming atmosphere, there was a strong social aspect to this day, we had everybody together, we had lunch, we had introductions to the activities…so it was just fun for everybody. Approximately 70% of the membership participated last year in the Active Aging Day.
TIMA: What do you believe are the benefits to offering this Active Aging Day to your members?
Laura Isbister (NCSA): I think the main benefit is the social part. Our members love the opportunity to have a conversation and have a coffee together. After the pandemic, lots of people didn’t get to see each other much. The first year after the pandemic was so important, people got to see people they hadn’t seen in a while and got out of their homes and tried some new activities. Also inviting the other seniors club last year was a great opportunity for our members to meet new people and form new relationships. Lastly, of course, main benefits include keeping our members active and providing them the opportunity to try new activities!
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