A seniors mobility workshop held Jan. 17 in the Community Resource Center achieved the goals set for it, according to UNBC researcher Jessica Blewett.
“Not only were the goals accomplished, but Clearwater residents began a very important discussion about what they want their community to look like in the future, and this dialogue didn’t stop after the workshop was over,” she said. “Many participants left the workshop with mobility on their minds and further discussions of mobility in Clearwater could be heard on the way out the door right into the parking lot (and hopefully beyond).”
Blewett said the process began last September, when she and a group of older adults, seniors and volunteers participated in several field trips in three different areas of Clearwater.
Working together, they assessed mobility in those areas and noted the challenges. The field trips focused on summer mobility in shopping areas, service areas and local facilities.
“The seniors mobility workshop reviewed the findings from the three weeks of summer shopping, service and local facility area field trips from September, 2013,” the UNBC researcher said.
According to Blewett, there were three main goals surrounding the seniors mobility workshop: first, to verify the findings of the field trips with a larger group (over 30 people attended the workshop); second, to identify any challenges that weren’t noted in the field trips; and third, to begin to develop practical and realistic solutions to the most pertinent challenges.
“A great deal of awareness was raised on what mobility challenges are and why they are so important to consider when envisioning a future for a community,” Blewett said.
The recent gathering was the first of five workshops to be held over the next three years.
The field trips and workshop were part of a multi-year study called “From Front Door to Grocery Store: Getting Seniors Where They Want to be” that UNBC is carrying out in Clearwater.