About Smart Aging
Many seniors make significant life decisions in crisis moments. When this happens to you or your family, you often don’t have adequate tools, resources and information to make the best decisions for you, or your loved ones.
The Smart Aging Core Program is a series of eight weekly workshops covering key topics facing seniors today. Each workshop is designed to provide you with the information you need, before you need it, to make smart decisions at key transition points in your life.
The COA has developed five new stand-alone workshops as part of the Smart Aging Program. These new workshops can be taken independently from the Core Program. You do not need to have completed the 8-week series in order to participate.
Core Program Workshop Descriptions
The overall objective of the Smart Aging course is to better equip individuals to navigate life transitions in senior years. Each week, participants will take an active role in preparing for these transitions by assigning themselves homework on the topic presented. Weekly workshop outlines are below.
Workshop 1 – Understanding My Aging
Explore your thoughts about your life now and in the future and determine for yourself which topics need your attention regarding your own aging.
Workshop 2 – Staying Socially Connected
Assess your own connectedness, both social and other, look at ways to improve your connectedness and consider meaning and purpose in your life.
Workshop 3 – Taking Steps to a Healthier Lifestyle
Identify your concerns about your health as you age and consider your own expectations and motivational tendencies in approaching these concerns.
Workshop 4 – Preparing for a Health Crisis
Identify your concerns about your health as you age and consider your own expectations and motivational tendencies in approaching these concerns.
Week 5 - Getting Where You Need to Go
Learn effective methods to continue driving as safely as possible for as long as possible and be informed on the options available when driving is no longer possible.
Week 6 - Exploring Housing Options
Consider where you might want to live 2, 5 or 10 years from now, the numerous factors that may influence your preferences and decisions and what options are currently available in Ottawa.
Week 7 - Addressing Common Financial Concerns
Learn about the most common financial concerns of seniors, identify those of greatest concern to you, and what you can do to address or alleviate these concerns.
Week 8 - Engaging in My Aging
Recap the entire course, look at what you have accomplished, and consider actions still to be taken as you move forward. The final session will include a celebration lunch!
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