Engaging older adults during a pandemic
Summary
There are 200 thousand older adults in Krakow (26% of the whole city population). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and emergency measures such as sheltering in place have left many older adults feeling lonely, isolated and disconnected with the World. In Krakow there are many centres dedicated to serving older adults within the city (41 places serving 4 thousand older adults), which are temporarily closed.
In response to the emergency measures in place, these centres have been adapting programming to allow for digital participation, including offerings such as online lectures, meetings, dance and gymnastics classes, discussion clubs and art and craft lessons. IT classes were also offered to ensure that digital literacy did not limit inclusion, during these classes older adults learnt how to work with Zoom, Skype, Facetime, Microsoft Teams, Cisco and Webex. Both for the seniors and lecturers, this is a completely new experience.
Additionally, these centres provide information important for older adults e. g. accessing basic needs
Website: https://dlaseniora.krakow.pl/
Key facts
Main target group: Older people in general
Sector(s): Education, Health, Other
Desired outcome for older people:
Meet their basic needs
- Healthy behaviours (e.g. physical activity)
- Intergenerational activities
- Inclusion
- Participation
- Technologies
Contact details
Name: Okonska-Walkowicz, Anna
Email address: anna.okonska-walkowicz@umk.krakow.pl
Preferred language(s): English