Celebrate seniors’ month at the library

OTTAWA – Ottawa Public Library (OPL) is inviting the Ottawa community to celebrate Senior’s Month in Ontario.

This year’s theme is Aging Strong: Respect and Protect Seniors, and throughout June, OPL will offer events and activities for older adults. Lifelong learning is key to successful aging and living; and it is at the heart of the Library’s purpose.

These programs are generously funded by the Ottawa Community Foundation and the City of Ottawa’s Older Adult Plan:

Seniors Fitness: Chair Yoga – Georgia Morissette of Georgia Yoga Inc. will lead participants in gentle chair yoga exercises designed for older adults.Yoga is a safe, effective way to enhance one’s physical health and overall wellness through stretching, breathing, and meditation practices. These events will take place on Fridays, June 12, 19 and 26 at 10 a.m.

MediaSmarts on how to tell what’s true online – A workshop that will teach everyone four quick, easy steps to spot misinformation and find out if something online is true or not. This is especially important as we are all following social media for the latest news during the COVID-19 pandemic. This event will take place on Tuesday, June 16 at 2 p.m.

Making a Plan for Future Living – Caroline Inman, principal advisor with Ottawa’s Solva Senior Living, will teach the importance of planning ahead for future accommodations; looking at options for senior living up to Long Term Care and how to remain in the driver’s seat with choices. This event will take place on Monday, June 22 at 2 p.m.

Forget-me-Not Series: Memory Cafés – This program is designed for persons with Alzheimer’s or other form of dementia and their care partners. We will share interactive games that promote mental stimulation and present items that may spark memories and conversations. We will share a short-story together and play some music to dance into the rest of our day. These events will take place on Thursdays, June 11, 18 and 25 at 2 p.m.

Dementia: using technology to facilitate aging in place – Dr. Knoefel talks about The Bruyère Memory Program and the potential of “smart” sensors to identify changes in how people move and think as they get older, to learn patterns and intervene, if needed. This event will take place Wednesday, June 24 at 5 p.m.

The Ottawa Public Library (OPL) is the largest bilingual (English/French) public library system in North America. The OPL extends public access to information and services through the library’s 34 branches, physical and virtual at www.BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca, as well as two mobile libraries and a vending machine-style lending library service. Serving close to one million Ottawa residents, OPL’s mission is to inspire learning, spark curiosity, and connect people.