Serving the Elderly

Community Outreach Division

"Serving the Elderly in the Year 2000"

presented at the Indiana Library Federation Conference

April 9, 1999

SPEAKERS:

Linda Oldham, Johnson County Public Library
Nancy Stephenson, Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library
Scott Pointon, LaPorte County Public Library
Jeannie Dilger-Hill, Monroe County Public Library

Linda Oldham

Johnson County Public Library recently decentralized outreach services

Homebound Service

no longer mail except when absolutely necessary
visit a few houses
mostly focus on retirement centers and nursing homes
- individual deliveries
- rotating deposit collections monthly
  - use institution cards
  - approx. 100 books/month, especially large print

Senior Programs

held at nursing homes and retirement centers
book talks -- popular with residents
- by genre
- new books at library
- nonprint talks
puppet shows

Staff

importance of making all staff aware of needs
train them to be sensitive to needs:
- fear of computers
- hearing/eyesight problems

Nancy Stephenson

Library Express

use volunteers to deliver to homebound patrons
recruit, interview, and screen volunteers
screening:
- personal interview
- two positive references
- criminal history check (important because we are sending these people into patrons' homes; only one person has refused in four years)
emphasize: just delivering books, not groceries, medicine, etc.
no requirements for patrons
try not to duplicate state Talking Books program
most volunteers work full-time
ask for 3-6 hours per month commitment
match with only one patron
I contact patron every two months to check
serve people in nursing homes, former bookmobile patrons
after screening, give volunteer ADDRESS ONLY -- they drive through neighborhood to make sure they feel safe; THEN give patron name and phone # and ask them to wait 24 hours while we contact patron and tell volunteer name
volunteer gets a "card" authorizing them to check out for patron
volunteers do selection and delivery

Scott Pointon

formerly Head of Outreach Services at Tippecanoe County

homebound delivery
deposit collections
bookmobile -- refer to homebound when needed

now Head of Extension Services at LaPorte County

planning programs at nursing homes
nursing homes required by state to plan a certain number of programs; always looking for ideas

Theme Kits

Bi-Folkal has best kits
showed 15-minute video showing kits in use
handed out a newsletter with ordering information (800-568-5357)
can be costly ($300/kit) -- purchase with grant?
mini-kits with holiday themes ($125 - $160/kit)
Slideas: slides, a script, and ideas ($25)
great for use in assisted-living communities

Jeannie Dilger-Hill

Things Monroe County Public Library is doing now:

bookmobile visits to retirement homes
homebound visits to nursing homes & individuals (use of volunteers)

Things to Consider:
How many of us have YA librarian? programs? collection?
How many of us have children's departments/collections? programs? librarian?

Indiana Population Stats:



under 18	25.5%
18-44		41.0%
45-64		21.0%
65+		12.5%

These last 2 groups comprise over 33%. (By the year 2027, half of the population will be over 50 years old and eligible for membership in AARP.)

If we have children's librarians and YA collections for 25% of population, what about this 33%?

Shouldn't we consider:

Senior collections? -- senior center like college/career center
- section away from noise of kids and teens
- include retirement planning, health issues, travel
Programming for Seniors?
- book discussions for elderly
- Bi-Folkal and other portable kits
- computer/Internet courses for seniors (put programs on website)
- Target has sr. citizens day
Senior Librarians?
- Coordinate services like homebound, deposit collections
- Plan & implement programs
- Select materials for collection, incl. LP & BOC

Idea from a Colleague:

Large Print brochure in optometrists' offices: "Can You Read This? Check out large print books at your local public library...."
Donate a large print book (Chicken Soup for the Soul?) for their waiting room, with a bookplate that says "More large print books at the local library!"
Funding from the Friends of the Library

This page is based on notes I took while participating on the panel. I make no claims as to the accuracy of these statements.

Please send comments or questions to:

dilgerh@monroe.lib.in.us
Jeannie Dilger-Hill
Monroe County Public Library
(812)349-3050 ext. 2059