We’re excited to announce our project: Remote Reminiscence – Getting Elders Online
*Update January 2022* We are pleased to have launched a set of free video resources for the Remote Reminiscence project. You can access all 20 of these on our new YouTube channel here.
Starting in summer 2021, we are creating a multi-platform resource aimed at engaging older people in reminiscence in a way that makes it easy for them to access memories, share experiences, encourage lifelong learning and have both digital and practical resources as a way to develop a sense of community and reduce isolation at this challenging time.
We will do so through recorded video activity sessions, online reminiscence groups and written downloadable resources which can be used distinctly or in conjunction with the sessions.
This is a way to encourage older people to find new ways to engage with peers, supporting and enabling those 65+ to become part of the new online developments taking place as a result of Covid, to support those finding this difficult, and to explore new ways to meet for company and conversation in this digital sphere.
Our new free online reminiscence sessions and resources are aimed at both the over 65s and also those who work in the care sector, heritage and the arts.
We work regularly with older people and want to support them to participate in new technological ways of engagement. People age 65+ in East Sussex will benefit. Over a year, we will develop resources, create activities, promote and run 25 sessions with five groups of older people.
We will aim to engage participants through our website, mailing list, social media and through our networks of groups.
From this we will be better able to develop our remote reminiscence reach to older people, their families, carers and care homes too which will enable our organisation to become robust whilst also offering services that we previously did in person. We also hope it will feed into our potential new online reminiscence training for staff, volunteers and organisations. This is an entirely new project for us.
This project means we will change, adapt and respond to new and future challenges by building strong relationships in and across communities.
We will do this by creating:
- 20 recorded video reminiscence activities (utilising physical resources and materials) on a variety of themes: childhood, working life, courtship, going out and food etc. Situated on our YouTube channel for participants (with a passcode), these can be accessed at any time
- 5 x 5 group zoom sessions – participants can drop in/sign up for all or some, joining in each week for five weeks
- Accompanying activity support packs created and saved as a PDF resource and hosted on our website to download. These will be designed to be used in conjunction with and to support the online sessions, encouraging those unsure or concerned about computers to engage more easily
- Project signposting to ensure continuity of service
About Strike a Light – Arts & Heritage’s work:
Strike a Light – Arts & Heritage has been working with older people since its inception in 2010. Prior to that our directors have extensive experience and engagement with older people and groups too.
Throughout this current period, we have been engaging with, talking to and discussing with individual older people, third age services and their users via email, Zoom and phone about how best to support engagement without physically being able to deliver our existing activities and services.
