To strengthen specialists’ skills in working with seniors and to promote healthy, active aging in the regions, an online seminar titled “From Theory to Practice: A Handbook for Specialists in Motivating Seniors” took place on December 10th. The event gathered more than 50 participants from Latvia and Lithuania, including representatives from social services, care personnel from long-term care institutions, municipal specialists, NGO representatives, and experts from the Ministry of Welfare.
The main goal of the seminar was to introduce attendees to the methodological material developed within the “Active Aging” project – the handbook “Active Aging and Storytelling”. It will serve as a practical toolkit for daily work, helping to plan and lead meaningful, inclusive activities for seniors.
Active Aging: A Five-Dimension Approach
In the first part of the seminar, experts presented the handbook’s section on active aging, emphasizing that it is not just about physical health but a complex process encompassing five essential dimensions:
- Self-Image and Motivation: Methods were reviewed on how to help seniors accept new social roles and strengthen self-worth (for example, the “Compliment Circle” method).
- Health: The emphasis was placed not only on physical activities but also on the importance of nutrition (demonstrating the “Healthy Plate Model”) and addressing sensitive issues that affect seniors’ quality of life.
- Social Inclusion: Tools were presented on how to reduce loneliness and foster a sense of belonging to the community.
- Economic Security: The importance of financial literacy was discussed, along with ways to protect seniors from fraud risks (for example, the “Budget Wheel” analysis).
- Learning: Lifelong learning as a resource for maintaining cognitive abilities.
Storytelling as a Therapeutic and Social Tool
Special attention during the seminar was dedicated to an innovative method for working with seniors: storytelling. Presentations explained that it is not merely recalling memories but an interactive art with a therapeutic effect. It was demonstrated how creating stories helps seniors structure their thinking, train memory, and, most importantly, realize the value of their lived life.
Participants were introduced to specific graphic organizers and methods, such as the “Life Line”, which allows seniors to visually represent their life journey, shifting the focus from losses to acquired experience and strength. The “Point of View” method was also discussed, which helps seniors express emotions and attitudes through various characters.
In conclusion, it was emphasized that the new handbook should not be read sequentially like a book but used as a “toolbox” – specialists can choose a specific theme and goal, and find ready-made lesson plans and worksheets for immediate use in the handbook.
This publication has been prepared with the financial support of the European Union. Zemgale Planning Region is fully responsible for the content of this publication, and it may not reflect the official position of the European Union.
Project No. LL-00059 “Promotion of Active and Healthy Aging” is implemented within the framework of the Interreg VI-A Latvia-Lithuania Cross-border Cooperation Programme 2021-2027. The total project budget is €619,503.60, including €495,602.88 co-financing from the European Regional Development Fund.
More about the project: https://www.zemgale.lv/lv/projekts/aktivas-un-veseligas-novecosanas-veicinasana, https://latlit.eu/theprojects/active-aging/
