Aging to Perfection
What DOROT taught me about working with seniors
This photo (and more specifically the pin being worn in this photo) pretty much sums up how I feel about our Wire the Wise event last Sunday at DOROT. Not only was the event a success and one of the largest events DOROT has had before, but it was also an incredible learning experience for me in terms of how DOROT organizes an event from start to finish with the comfort and safety of their seniors in mind throughout every step of the process.
To get you up to speed, DOROT was founded in 1976 by a group of Columbia graduate students who voiced concerns regarding homebound seniors who were potentially trapped or “hidden” in their apartment buildings on the Upper West Side. These students started visiting with different seniors in the area and often delivered food to them, and as a result a bond was created between the two generations. DOROT has since become a non-profit organization and an innovative leader in the field of aging by providing intergenerational connections to seniors through a variety of programming and outreach.
For Wire the Wise, this was our first time partnering with another organization whose primary focus is taking great care of seniors, and I made sure to take note of every single detail. For starters, DOROT had name tags pre-made, printed, and ready to be handed out at the front desk for seniors who signed up in advance. There was easy access to the room we were in for the event, with seating and table placement designed for individuals with walkers.
Not only was I impressed with the intentional room layout, but I was also amazed by the amount of volunteers DOROT brought in to simply greet the seniors as they arrived. The volunteers and the administration approached each senior with such care and personal attention — some seniors didn’t have a technology device to bring, but the DOROT staff eagerly connected them with devices they had on hand and answered their follow up questions with patience and kindness. We actually had so many seniors and young professionals show up that we had to send some individuals into other rooms, which were also given the same amount of attention to detail in terms of seating and comfort.
Our event at DOROT was not only helpful when thinking of ways in which we can improve our own future events, but it also gave me further confidence that there is such a need for technology assistance for seniors. DOROT runs all kinds of incredible programs for their community, yet our partnership with them was one of the biggest events that they have had so far! While we still have a long way to go, this event was a clear indicator that our work is needed and valued by our community as we continue to grow.
Aside from the event, I also found out that DOROT just recently launched their own Legacy Project about 8 months ago that focuses on capturing important memories or stories from seniors. Moving forward, I plan to partner with DOROT by editing and producing content from seniors in the form of writing, art, audio and video. This is an incredible opportunity because it allows me to work with DOROT’s community while also highlighting some individuals from our own Wire the Wise community as well!
Last, but certainly not least, I am still in the creation process of my technology guide for seniors. Here’s a little bit of my thought process in cartoon form:
To learn more about DOROT, click here. And of course, you can learn more about Wire the Wise by clicking here.
