Auckland Council spotlights active recreation support for senior citizens

Auckland Council recognises the significant contribution made by older people to communities, with ageing being something that should be celebrated.

However getting older can be challenging for people physically, mentally and socially. The International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) on 1st October and New Zealand Grandparents Day on 6th October offer Auckland opportunities to acknowledge its senior citizens’ value in society and highlight their unique needs.

In 2022, Auckland joined the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities, a network of communities worldwide united by the common goal of making their regions great places to grow old.

Auckland Council is committed to improving the wellbeing of older New Zealanders through the Tāmaki Makaurau Tauawhi Kaumātua / Age-friendly Auckland Framework. This framework recognises that Auckland’s ageing population is diverse and that the needs of senior citizens across the region are varied. The Seniors Advisory Panel was created to identify the issues facing the region’s older citizens and provide advice on improving wellbeing.

Auckland Council supports many programmes and activities in Tāmaki Makaurau that are designed with seniors’ needs in mind, including exercise classes and initiatives to help older people navigate technology.

Staying connected
Research conducted by the University of Otago showed that approximately 10% of people over 65 are lonely all or most of the time. The rates of loneliness rise to 50% amongst those over 80, and it’s estimated that a quarter of people who experience loneliness also died prematurely. To combat issues of social isolation, Auckland Libraries offer a range of services to help older people stay connected and included in the community.

Chloe Pope, Programme & Events Manager at Mt Albert Library noted “Auckland Libraries offer lots of programmes for seniors because we recognise libraries are often the backbone of our communities. A lot of the patrons of our libraries have been coming here for decades, and that means a lot to staff like me, who enjoy seeing people using our facilities.”

One way in which older people can feel disconnected and isolated is through technology, whether it’s a phone, tablet or computer. The Auckland Libraries team can help seniors struggling with technology to connect to the digital world through various services.

Pope adds “libraries have always been places to share knowledge. We have programmes designed to help older people, such as the Digital Drop-in Sessions held at Mt Albert Library and many other libraries. Digital literacy is a form of literacy, and we are here to help in the same way we help with reading and writing.”

In the sessions, seniors can pull up a chair to get assistance with their device or software. Librarians can help with a range of activities, including paying bills online, sharing photos with family, using the Auckland Transport app, or using messaging services such as WhatsApp.

The Book a Librarian service also allows seniors and other members of the community to book one-on-one time with a librarian to help with basic computer skills, such as writing in a document using Microsoft Word, doing family history research, and accessing council records.

Mind and body

Auckland Council also supports many services to help seniors stay active. To keep mobile and help with heart and lung health, it’s recommended that seniors are active for at least 150 minutes a week spread over five sessions. Several times a week, Mt Albert Library becomes an exercise hub for seniors, and the popular Steady As You Go class run by Age Concern New Zealand is often booked out. The programme, designed by physiotherapists using exercises from the Otago Exercise Programme, offers gentle fitness activities to help keep seniors agile and prevent falls.

“I like the class as the exercises are not too strenuous for us oldies,” says Steady As You Go attendee Caroline adding “the improvement in my balance has been very good, and the library is convenient.”

Another class participant, Jee, has a more personal reason for attending the class and shares “I come because I think of my mum who passed away following multiple falls… She inspired me to go for the class. It’s important for the elderly to motivate them to exercise. It’s good for their wellbeing, especially those who are lonely. The library setting is fun, and I have made friends.”

There are many other exercise classes across Auckland that are especially tailored for older people, such as Seniors Yoga, aqua fitness and Pickleball.

Diverse older communities
Social isolation is a particular challenge in Auckland for seniors for whom English is their second language. Epsom Chinese Association was launched in 2007 by a group of older Chinese Aucklanders who came together to practice tai chi. Since then, the organisation has grown to more than 300 members and is supported by Albert-Eden Local Board. On Monday mornings, the Mt Albert Library is transformed into a zen tai chi haven, with many older Chinese community members coming together to practice the ancient martial art. Likened to ‘meditation in motion’, tai chi is intended to bring harmony between the body, mind and spirit.

Susan Li Kwan, chairperson of the Epsom Chinese Association advised “the movements in tai chi are quite slow, and it’s good for seniors to help them to keep stable.

“Tai chi has no age limits. We love coming to the library to share our culture, and we love having other people in the community join us and become our friends. Most of our members are seniors, and some have come to New Zealand to live with their children and look after their grandchildren, but they have a language barrier with other people outside their family. The class is a good way to meet new people and also sometimes practice English too.”

Images. Credit: Auckland Council