Summary of what people told us... |
- New Horizons Seniors Group - Cedar Hill Recreation Centre
Friday, June 24th, 2016
Time: 1:30-2:30pm
A group of approximately 30 seniors, aging in age from 65-100 years. Average age of group approximately 80+. They meet twice a week to play cards, bingo, carpet bowl, and have lunch or tea. A large part of the group left to play carpet bowling but returned at the end.
Facilitators: Julie Wallace, Brenda Weatherston, and Liz McCarter
Common Themes: - Social connections important and is the main reason for coming
- Parks/Trails: have a way that people with mobility challenges still be able to get out on the trails as suggested a golf cart…
- Need new members for this group so they could offer more, share the work but not everyone is welcoming.
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Question: What are the best recreational opportunities available to you? Including parks, trails, arts, centres - New Horizons seniors group has given me purpose in my day
- Cedar Hill New Horizons programs X 2
- Gentle Fit classes X 2
- Like Osteofit classes
- This facility – Cedar HIlll Recreation Centre
- Used to use the sports facilities years ago
- Walking around Cedar Hill Golf course X2
- The duck pond
- Trails and walks such as Cattle Point, Gyro Park
- Variety of fitness levels for disabilities and mobility
- Lawn bowling (can’t do it anymore)
- Golf course
- Flo who teaches fitness classes is great
- Gym
- Used to do out trips/tours (eg Chemainus) with pick up at Cordova Bay & CH
- In house physiotherapy
- Nice size of facility, not too big
- Great front desk staff at Cedar Hill
- Cards, bingo, carpet bowling with New Horizons group X 2
- Ballroom dancing was great (when I could do it) You learnt a skill and got exercise – best memories of my life
- Enjoy walking around Cedar Hill trail
- Reading
- Gardening
- I like to come for socializing
- We have some good instructors
- Galleries at Cedar Hill are lovely to have
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How can Saanich Parks & Recreation improve? Suggestions? - Offer chair yoga
- Offer incentives (free gym membership to seniors over 90)
- Seniors day at Cedar Hill
- Trails: For people with mobility issues, to be able to access trails or go on the trails have golf carts or scooters that could take people around so people with mobility challenges can get out on the trails – either have staff or volunteers drive the carts or public – seniors.
- Offering bowling in Saanich – like 5 pin
- Bingo
- Offer programs shorter in duration
- Giving help to move our bodies – getting out more
- Telephone check-in system in the mornings
- Offer Lectures
- Offer 1-1 computer tutoring programs
- Tea rooms in the rec centres
- Used to have Ukelele groups in the past
- Would like a telephone in Seniors Wing room
- Larger print in advertising
- Be more friendly
- Need more members X 4
- Used to do out trips
- Location is important, must be close by
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Challenges - Transportation – to and from; and at centre and on trails (as mentioned above – golf carts on trails)
- Vision Problems – needs magnification to read - signage in Centres bigger
- Active Living guide- small print – any way to increase font in guide?
- Need more transportation (better buses, Handidart service)
- With a walker it is hard to use chip trails
- Need more benches along park trails
- Better ramp access to Municipal Hall
- Some of members are not very welcoming to new people X 3
- Funding is a challenge for new things X 2
- Not enough manpower for activities, cleaning up, set up etc. X 2
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Many people from the group went off to carpet bowl – after their game came back to talk - They said – they would like to attract more people to join New Horizons…they have put out posters, put adds in community papers but don’t attract many new people
- Feel many seniors today are busy and involved with many activities
- We are a positive group of people at New Horizons
- They have connected with Kiwanis Village – many members are from Kiwanis Village formed a partnership
- When bingo closes in the summer it continues at Kiwanis many New Horizons members go to Kiwanis to play
- Many members are in their 90’s and have belonged to New Horizons for years
- Many of this group live in Kiwanis complex close by
- Saanich and Cedar Hill are doing marvelous things
- Monterey Centre does lots of good things too
- Attends some beginner classes in the centres - Saanich and Monterey but they're not truly beginners. Some participants are beyond beginner and the instructor wants to cater to everybody. Sometimes they have to drop out which is disappointing, would like classes truly for beginner X 2
- Like classes specifically for seniors, you start with a baseline that way - works better for her
- A more detailed "scale" would be good - based more on things like capacity, mobility, dexterity etc.
- Having things like seated options, chairs and wall bars for supports would be great
- Hearing can be a real challenge for some people in classes - creating spaces and equipment to help (eg microphones)
- Handidart a real barrier - comes for a program then waits often 2.5 hours for a ride back
- Used to enjoy singing
- Being active and connected has kept me from getting depressed
- Some of members are not very welcoming to new people X 3" - this was referring to New Horizons group
- Saanich and Cedar Hill are doing marvelous things
- like Monterey Centre they do lots of good things too
- like Osteofit classes
- Attends some beginner classes in the centres - Saanich and Monterey. They are not truly beginners because there's people that are beyond the level but the instructor wants to cater to everybody. Sometimes then we have to drop out which is disappointing. Stay truly to beginners for classes – less of a challenge for instructors to balance all the levels.
- Like classes specifically for seniors, you start with a baseline that way - works better for her
- We have some good instructors
- A more detailed "scale" would be good for classes - based more on things like capacity, mobility, dexterity etc.
- Having things like seated options, chairs and wall bars for supports would be great
- Hearing can be a real challenge for some people in classes - creating spaces and equipment to help (eg microphones)
- Handidart a real barrier - comes for a program then waits often 2.5 hours for a ride back - transportation
- Galleries at Cedar Hill are lovely to have
- Used to enjoy singing – idea to add singing to the program, monthly?
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Where do you look for information on programs and services? - Saanich News
- Sometimes on line
- Word of mouth
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