OS with and for elderly, mental health consumers and others [long]

Sun Mar 9 17:44:41 PDT 2008

Hello, dear colleagues -

I have a client who is interested in hearing about the use of OS with and
for:

Elderly persons

Mental health consumers

People with different physical abilities and disabilities

Intergenerational work

..in conferences or in community, business or organizational meetings.

We are planning something together and he wishes a few stories in hand so he
can explain this to people who don't 'get it' like he does.  He TOTally gets
it and is excited for what we are about to do.  A bit of support on how OS
has been used in somewhat similar circumstances to his will be a great help
as he approaches his planning committee.

Thanks to everyone for sending a few words about OS events you have been
part of with participants such as this - feel free to send to me directly or
post on the list.

Below are stories I have already collected.  John, were you able to do that
OS you mention below?  And Michael P, I looked on
http://www.openspaceworldscape.org <http://www.openspaceworldscape.org/>   -
but the one listing I saw is an event you did, written up in German.  Alas,
I do not speak German. If you can share a few words about it that would be
great.  Perhaps some of you who have done similar work in Canada can also
share some of your stories, as Larry mentions below.

Thanks, everyone - here are more stories below...

Kerry Napuk, Scotland

We facilitated an event with 102 mental health users from all parts of
Scotland.  In two rounds of issues and actions on finding a collective voice
during day one, they convened 30 sessions with 90 actions.  On day two on
making their voice heard, service users created 14 project teams, including
plans to form a new national organisation.  The opening circle was pulsating
with energy and set the scene for a very memorable event. There were many
stories of personal courage, participants who came to Dundee having not left
their houses in more than two years and not having been away overnight or on
a train alone for more years than they could recall. Even though
participants were all users of mental health services and were coping with
various medical illnesses, they stuck into the work with great gusto and
humour.  It was a magnificent conference of individual learning and sharing,
as well as collective consciousness.

Larry Peterson, Canada

A number of us in Canada have facilitated OS events with "consumer/survivors
of the mental health system" - the term they have chosen here.  A variety of
very successful events over the past years sometimes with folks with some
difficult physical issues as well.  It is delightful experience such events.

John, USA and Haiti

I'm talking with leadership at an elderly care community. The president
really believes in the power of dialogue. They have about 1,500 people in
their community which include several hundred staff and care-givers and
nearly 1,000 elderly persons. Some of the elderly own their homes which are
part of the community and do not need daily care. Others live in a special
place where they have constant care. Leadership's challenge is to foster a
cultural change in their community from one of medical care to one of
overall social care. They want to engage everyone in conversations about
this and are considering organizing one or a couple of day-long open space
events during this summer.

Harrison Owen, USA

Never did anything with elder care communities -- but something pretty
close. About 8 years ago, the Northwest Regional Advisor Council for the
AARP (American Association of Retired People) decided they needed to focus
their mission, purpose, and program. Open Space was the chosen vehicle. The
council consisted of some 150 people with an average age of 70+ (actually
more on the plus side.) Space opened, and everything happened as usual, but
I was a little worried about the reports. We were using computers, and for
many of the people involved, a computer was a new and different thing. Most
could type, but a computer....???? Anyhow the reports started to come in,
and I passed by the Newsroom. There a wonderful lady, obviously in her early
80s, confronted the machine, surrounded by mounds of flip chart paper. Not
only was this her first time out, but she happened to have posted *THE*
issue, and many people had lots to say. I wondered, and passed on my way.
Sometime later I came back just to check. She was obviously making progress,
but in a way that pained me. Using a large magnifying glass to see the
screen, she punched in her report, one finger at a time.

I watched for a moment, and then did what I never would do ordinarily. I
came up to her and offered to help. She didn't quite hear me at first, but
when she did -- her response was surprising. She turned on me like a mother
guarding her children and said, "No young man. I will type my own report!" I
tipped my hat and went on my way. ... 

__________

Thanks, all,

Lisa

___________________________

L i s a   H e f t

Consultant, Facilitator, Educator

O p e n i n g  S p a c e

 <mailto:lisaheft at openingspace.net> lisaheft at openingspace.net

 <http://www.openingspace.net> www.openingspace.net 

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