Lifelong Learning Thursday

Nancy Merz Nordstrom, author of Learning Later, Living Greater: The Secret of Making the Most of Your After 50 Years will share the benefits of Lifelong Learning on Thursdays.

LEARNING LATER, LIVING GREATER:
The Secret for Making the Most of Your After-50 Years.

…a Health Club for Your Mind. Body and Spirit!

Even more Next Chapters opportunities…

Wisdom Works! MetroHealth System–Cleveland, Ohio–

MetroHealth’s Wisdom Works! program is designed to help retain mature, experienced nurses in paid and volunteer positions to maintain access to care for vulnerable members of the community. In addition to identifying nursing roles appropriate for older nurses, the program identifies workplace modifications needed to keep older nurses and share best practices in retaining an older nursing workforce. This project is being expanded through a grant from the Elder Engagement component of The Cleveland Foundation’s Successful Aging Initiative.

Allegheny County Library Association–Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania–

The Allegheny County Library Association has organized partnerships to expand the educational options for older adults. Through the Third Age Learning Community, the University of Pittsburgh brings non-credit university-level classes to local libraries. The Senior Center Library Connection works with fifteen Pittsburgh-area senior resource centers to offer book discussion groups held alternative months at the centers and libraries. One Book One Community, in which residents read and discuss the same book at the same time, has worked well to engage older adults in learning and libraries.

OASIS Without Walls–Parma, Ohio–

OASIS is a national education organization aimed at enriching the lives of adults 50 and over. It offers creative lifelong learning classes in arts and humanities, wellness, life coaching, technology and other subjects. Through support from The Cleveland Foundation’s Successful Aging Initiative, programming at its Parma Center in Cleveland has been expanded through OASIS Without Walls, which takes lifelong learning activities into the community – everywhere from community and recreation centers to churches and libraries.

Tempe Connections–Tempe, Arizona-

Tempe Connections is part of the Maricopa County Next Chapter Initiative. It was developed under the leadership of the City of Tempe’s Public Library and Social Services Division. It creates a new physical space within the library that houses a café and program space. The café, called Connections Café, acts as a focal point for Next Chapter activities. Connected to the café are meeting rooms reserved specifically for Tempe Connections participants. A concierge is available to assist with questions and information referral.

Boomerang, Chandler Public Library-Chandler, Arizona–

Chandler’s Boomerang project is part of the Maricopa County Next Chapter Initiative. It was developed under the leadership of the Chandler Public Library and is a community project, not a single physical center. It is implemented through multiple points of entry, including community forums, six centers based at libraries and community colleges and a web site. It’s web site is the primary information source and a resource navigation tool, with links to project partners, available programs and services, and other relevant information sources not only within the local community, but also on a regional, state and national level.

Lehigh Valley Alliance on Aging, United Way of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania-

The Lehigh Valley Alliance on Aging’s web site provides a comprehensive one-stop vehicle for information for the region’s older adults and the professionals who serve them. The web site incorporates Benefits Check-Up, a benefits-finder tool, life planning information and resources for financial planning, lifelong learning, volunteering and social connections, a directory of local services, rights and benefits; and resources and a list-serve for professionals serving older adults.

Mather Café Plus, Chicago, Illinois–

Mather Café Plus was conceived of as a Starbucks for seniors. It combines a restaurant, a gathering place, and an educational center under one roof. The three Chicago-area Mather Cafés primarily serve active, independent older adults in their neighborhoods. Programs and classes on exercise, computers, and art supplement the restaurant. Day trips, monthly parties, and community events encourage new relationships and social interaction. Social workers and health care professionals are available to provide individual consultations and referrals. Connections with other senior groups and health care providers ensure strong support networks for those involved. The Mather Cafés are operated by the nonprofit Mather Lifeways Foundation.

For more information on the far-reaching and innovative work of Civic Ventures be sure to visit their web site at http://www.civicventures.org/.

THURSDAY’S THOUGHT…

What could be better in our retirement years then finding a source of enriched learning experiences among satisfying friendships. This is the philosophy of the Next Chapter initiative.

For more information on Learning Later, Living Greater visit http://www.learninglater.com/ You can purchase Learning Later, Living Greater at http://www.amazon.com/

Till Next Time…

Monday's Munchies

There is no love sincerer than the love of food. ~ George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950), Man and Superman (1903) act 1.

Fine Food and Interesting Tales from Afar

"Food, like a loving touch or a glimpse of divine power, has that ability to comfort."~ Norman Kolpas

The Internet provides us with so many wonderful opportunities to connect with people all over the world. I am particularly interested in bloggers who are age 55 to 100. I'm in that age group and so are my students at the community college where I teach.

For some time, I have heard from a very special friend in Canada. Her comments about our blog have been encouraging to me and fun to read in class. It occured to me that I had not posted an address for her excellent blog before. And as I was prowling around her blog, I found two others that you don't want to miss!

First, try Rita's charmer: http://sagecuisine.blogspot.com/

She says on her blog, "Food is my passion and instead of a novel I much prefer reading a cook book, recipe book anything to do with food. I post once a week about things that make me Happy. I am a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and a friend to a few special people.

Family, memories, food, recipes, gadgets, chefs, cooking, restaurants, herbs, markets, travel etc. will be my focus. Rita"

"If the divine creator has taken pains to give us delicious and exquisite things to eat, the least we can do is prepare them well and serve them with ceremony."~ Fernand Point

Followed by this marvelous blog http://allourfingersinthepie.blogspot.com/

Sarah Galvin from Swift Current, SK, Canada, says, "By education, I am a home economist and by interest, I am an avid cook."

The header for her blog says, "For the love of food...the love of creating...the love of eating...with friends"

And cook great things up she does! Today's feature is fresh peas and homemade linguini. The images are as delicious as the food!

"Food, like a loving touch or a glimpse of divine power, has that ability to comfort."~ Norman Kolpas

And last but surely not least http://canyouallhearmeattheback.blogspot.com/

Angie lives not far from Lincoln : North Lincolnshire : United Kingdom. Her interests are cooking, cake decorating, sugarcraft and making sugar flowers, reading and daytime telly.

She also writes a fascinating blog that you will enjoy about life and cooking "across the pond".


"Cookery is not chemistry. It is an art. It requires instinct and taste rather than exact measurements."~ Marcel Boulestin

What a fabulous job these women do! Applause, applause!

Nancy Merz Nordstrom, author of Learning Later, Living Greater: The Secret of Making the Most of Your After 50 Years will share the benefits of Lifelong Learning on Thursdays.

LEARNING LATER, LIVING GREATER:
The Secret for Making the Most of Your After-50 Years.

…a Health Club for Your Mind. Body and Spirit!

Continuing our discussion of Next Chapters opportunities…

In more than 20 communities throughout America, this concept is being turned into tangible programs. Here are some examples.

Chicago Life Opportunities Initiative, Council for the Jewish Elderly – Chicago, Illinois –

As part of the Chicago Life Opportunities Initiative, the Council for Jewish Elderly in conjunction with Loyola University School of Social Work, created an assessment tool called “Mapping Your Future Your Way.” The tool can be used online or in a printed version. Mapping Your Future helps people understand the need for planning and begin to explore their interests in five areas–health, work and leisure, finances, housing and relationships. For each topic, the tool provides a framework of issues to think about and the online version links to other web sites with related information.

Pathways to Vital Living: A Curriculum for Midlife and Beyond, Senior Resources Alliance-Winter Park, Florida -

The Pathways to Vital Living curriculum was developed by the Senior Resource Alliance, the Area Agency on Aging of Central Florida, in collaboration with the Winter Park Health Foundation. It provides a planning and program kit for conducting twelve workshops on varied topics such as: relationship transitions, intentional recreation, meaningful service, mental vitality, and spiritual development. It uses interactive, experiential learning to help older adults assess and explore nine key areas to help them make important life choices.

What’s Next!, Fairhill Center for Aging – Cleveland, Ohio–

As part of the Cleveland Foundation’s Successful Aging Initiative, the What’s Next! Program at Fairhill Center for Aging offers a seminar series where older adults meet in two-hour, weekly sessions to dream, discover, share, and plan for the years ahead, and to develop a lifelong learning plan that encompasses wellness, creativity, values, and spirituality. Facilitators assist with taking stock of personal resources and guidance to a vast array of course offerings and learning opportunities.

Cleveland Metroparks Emerald Neckland O.W.L.S.-Cleveland, Ohio–

The Emerald Necklace O.W.L.S. (Older Workers Leading Success) offers intergenerational opportunities and increased participation of adults 50 years and older as employees, volunteers and participants in public park programs and facilities. It includes three components: 1) older adult volunteer mentors and tutors working with students as part of a park intern program; 2) a volunteer corps to monitor trails; and 3) older adult employment, including recruitment and job-sharing. This project is supported through the Elder Engagement component of The Cleveland Foundation’s Successful Aging Initiative.

Retired Social Workers – An Untapped Resource, National Association of Social Workers Illinois Chapter–Chicago, Illinois-

The Retired Social Workers is sponsored by the National Association of Social Workers and encourage retired social workers to return to social work to serve older adults as paid professionals. The program includes two key components: 1) professional development to re-orient retired social workers to current conditions, agency changes, and present senior issues and attitudes; and 2) placement into positions – as part-time, intermittent or full-time workers – to provide services and support for older adults. As one of its many programs, the Retired Social Workers received a grant from the Chicago Community Trust to place and pay retired social workers for the Chicago Life Opportunities Initiative.

THURSDAY’S THOUGHT…

I believe strongly that our members find personal growth from the social aspects of our program as well as from the academic, says one lifelong learner. The programs discussed here are perfect examples of what she says.

For more information on Learning Later, Living Greater visit http://www.learninglater.com/ You can purchase Learning Later, Living Greater at http://www.amazon.com/

Till Next Time…