Open Space with seniors

[Phelim McDermott]

Hi there Catherine,

This last Friday and Saturday Improbable had a two day open space:" Honouring the elders: if theatre is a community who are it's Elders?" 

It was an amazing two days. The main thing we had to make sure was.. The space was warm and the acoustics weren't too bad. Although one person said maybe 1.5 hour sessions were too long i reminded them if they had been shorter all those reports wouldn't have been finished and people could take a nap any time they wanted. We agreed if there has been a nap area with comfy chairs they would have believed that was possible more. 

We agreed that maybe one definition of Elder could be "someone who does what they are are going to do" lots of reports thoroughly implemented. 

Sessions
Were ones like "death the last taboo", "hair dye" and " Aaah bless them! Sex and old people" 
Never seen people talk so deeply so fast and so much laughter in one open space! Two days was absolutely great and it was sustained bh different people coming in for just one of the two days all getting lot from it. Trust that older people are just as capable of taking responsibility as anyone else. Consessions can just be patronising. One of the sessions talked about treating old people like "old people" means they end up behaving and feeling like old people all very invigorating! Helps to mix sond youngsters in there too that's how the stories happen of their own accord.


Best 
Phelim 
Sent from my iPhone

On 21 Nov 2010, at 09:12 PM, Catherine Pfaehler <c.pfaehler at bluewin.ch> wrote:

> Dear friends
>  
> I have been asked by the Grey Panthers (a political organisation of seniors) to briefly present OST to them on Tuesday, Nov. 30th. Most of them are 55 years old or older. They want to have a one-day-event dealing with their future and their image. At the same time, my contact tells me that many of them like to tell stories from their earlier lives when they were still working, and most of them think that a whole day is too long for them. Some have also become a bit fatalist, not caring too much about the future anymore.
>  
> Please let me know what your experiences are when facilitating OST for seniors, and how to deal with the above contradictions, i.e. how to give enough time for storytelling when at the same time one entire day might be too long for them to attend.
>  
> I will be out of my office for a week now, but would be delighted to find some of your answers in OSLIST by then. Thank you already!!!
>  
> With gratitude, Catherine
>  
> Catherine Pfaehler
> lic.oec.HSG
> Open Space Begleitung
> Burckhardtstrasse 2
> CH - 3008 Bern
> Telefon +41-(0)31 - 536 05 31
> Mobile  +41-(0)76 - 488 15 46
> c.pfaehler at open-space-begleitung.ch
> www.open-space-begleitung.ch
>  
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