Welcome to Golden Opportunities

Welcome to Southwest Opportunities Center's Senior's Program, "Golden Opportunities". As individuals needs and desires change, so does their focus in life. Golden Opportunities is designed to provide alternative services for those individuals whose interests and physical stamina to work is no longer a primary focus in their day. The program will provide an opportunity for individuals to stay active, involved, and connected to their community.

Program Objective

The primary purpose of the program is to provide individuals (55 years and older) with an alternative programming opportunity that will focus on fun/enjoyable enrichment activities offered in a casual, relaxed atmosphere. Activities will offer new experiences and old favorites that will be geared toward individual's interests and will offer community involvement. Variety, involvement in planning, and choice to participate in activities are important components to the program's success.

Eligibility

Individuals interested in receiving services in the Golden Opportunities program must meet the following criteria to be eligible to participate:

• Individuals 55 years or older.
• Individuals who show less of an interest or desire to work and earn a paycheck as their primary focus for the day, however, still want to be active and participate.
• Individuals independent with/or needing minimal assistance with their daily personal care and overall mobility.

Activities

Baking, cooking, and sharing: Household activities help develop feelings of usefulness and productivity.

Walking Down Memory Lane: Thinking and talking about the past can be comfortable and enjoyable, also validates personal history and value.

Fun favorites: cards, board games, Wii, computer games, puzzles, etc. Reinforces social skills and behaviors.

Arts and crafts: Taps into individual creativity, creating or helping to create is gratifying; helps maintains small motor skills and hand- eye coordination.

Music Enrichment: Music therapy activity, memory lane, dancing, sings along: Music can bring back joyful memories; musical rhythm stimulates timing processes in the brain.

Scrapbooking and stamping: Enjoyable way to recall and discuss enjoyable personal memories, creating gift cards, reinforcing communication.

Seasonal/Holiday projects: Creative ways to trigger memories of past experiences.

Exercise: Range of motion, walking, dancing: helps maintain healthy body and mind.

Community awareness: Interaction with others encourages and stimulates conversation.

Reading, library visits: Leisure and relaxing time interaction with/ through books, recorded books, magazines, computers, and DVDs.

Nature events: Physical exercise, fresh air, stimulation of senses, and relaxation time.

Outings: Keeps individuals involved in community and in-touch with the outside world, through awareness of social events.