Older Adults & Seniors

Among the many diverse communities that libraries serve, older adults and seniors continue to be a growing population with unique needs. Libraries are adapting programming and outreach strategies, developing senior-friendly spaces, and implementing adaptive technologies for this community. In this section you will find lists of helpful suggestions, case studies of individual libraries, and other resources to help your library provide better services to older adults and seniors.
Self-paced courses and webinar recordings on this topic are freely available in the WebJunction Course Catalog.
Most Recently Added
Golden Hour with the Library
Publish Date: News / 14 February 2023
Forsyth County Public Library is taking programming on the road to meet some of their senior community members where they live. Golden Hour with the Library offers interactive activities based around a theme, such as travel, holiday traditions, or cr...
Practical Strategies for Engaging Veteran and Military-Affiliated Patrons at Your Library
Publish Date: Webinar / 11 January 2023
This webinar introduces practical and engaging library programming ideas for serving veteran and military communities.
Remember Your Patrons Living with Memory Loss
Publish Date: Webinar / 7 December 2022
Presenters share simple ways to create more dementia-friendly libraries and provide examples of literacy activities and programs.
Libraries & Veterans National Forum Toolkit
Publish Date: News / 25 October 2022
Veterans, military service members, and their families are among users of virtually every library across the country. Indeed, libraries play a significant role in supporting veterans and military-affiliated patrons by welcoming them to the community,...
OurStoryBridge: Creating Community Through Stories
Publish Date: Webinar / 17 August 2021
The OurStoryBridge project has released a free toolkit of resources for libraries to create online, three-to five- minute oral histories.
Partnerships as the Key to the Future of Rural Library Services to Older Adults
Publish Date: News / 3 August 2021
When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, public librarians grappled with the challenge of how to continue supporting the types of social connections they had, pre-pandemic, facilitated through engaging programming and inviting spaces. For many older adult...
Outreach Programming: Serving Hidden Patrons
Publish Date: News / 23 January 2020
Perry Memorial Library in Henderson, NC is a rural library serving Vance County where approximately two-thirds of the county's population is either under the age of 18 or over the age of 60. Yet mobility issues and lack of transportation meant these ...
Memory Kits Serve Community Members with Alzheimer’s
Publish Date: News / 25 April 2019
For people with Alzheimer's disease and their families, a remembered moment from the past is a gift. Memory loss and confusion are the hallmarks of dementia and Alzheimer's, as the diseases progressively damage brains cells, but photographs, music, a...
Seniors and Financial Scams: When Traditional Workshops Aren't Working
Publish Date: News / 10 January 2019
Consumers lost a total of $905 million to fraud in 2017, according to the Federal Trade Commission's 2017 Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book. The FTC fielded 1.1 million fraud reports last year, with fraudulent debt collection, identify theft, and i...
When I’m 64: Financial Literacy Resources for Those Nearing and in Retirement
Publish Date: Webinar / 26 July 2018
This webinar will explore free financial literacy resources for older adults, provided by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, and share library programming ideas for patrons related to financial planning and fraud protection.