Learning isn’t just for kids or young adults. It’s important for people of all ages – notably older adults – to continue learning, even if it isn’t in school. Numerous studies emphasize the mental and physical health of lifelong learning and taking up new skills for older adults, which also improves their overall sense of security and well-being.

But living alone as an older individual in Metro Vancouver can sometimes be an isolating experience. There can be many physical and financial barriers to accessing different types of education, whether it’s language learning or technological literacy. However, neighbourhood houses across Vancouver are breaking down these access barriers, offering a plethora of education programs tailored for seniors – often, if not always, at no cost.

“It connects neighbours,” says Jenn Mason, the seniors program coordinator at Gordon Neighbourhood House in Vancouver’s West End. “They’re building relationships through coming to Gordon House.”

A place for connection across the city

Neighbourhood houses are charitable organizations that plan social gatherings, recreational events and educational programming for individuals in their local neighbourhood. It’s a safe space to meet fellow neighbours over a meal or take up a new hobby. They also offer dozens of programs for youth, newcomers and seniors.

“We have programs running five days a week,” says Mason. “So often people come and attend these workshops, and then they might join our community lunch, and then they’re meeting their neighbours.”

They also offer free clinics for seniors that might otherwise cost money, like tax clinics or hearing clinics. Most of these workshops or programs rely on volunteers. But many of the classes aren’t just about picking up a new hobby but teach seniors valuable skills, like Gordon House’s ‘Tech Tips n’ Tricks.’

“We started doing one-on-one tech support with volunteers at least three years ago, sort of just at the tail end of the pandemic,” says Mason.

With a new kind of isolation during COVID-19, many seniors weren’t familiar with using communication technology, like Zoom. So, they could book one-on-one sessions once a week and be paired with a volunteer to help them through whatever they wanted to learn – whether that’s working with Zoom, setting up a Facebook profile or using email for the first time.

“Simple things like that are easy for us who grew up with technology, but for seniors [are] completely foreign,” she says.

Gordon House also received funding a few years ago for a tablet loaner program, and one-on-one volunteers also help the seniors familiarise themselves with the technology.

“We actually distributed 20 tablets out into the community for low-income seniors,” she says. “We continue to get some funding so that we can actually pay for the data for the tablets. So that gives them internet access at home where, again, they likely don’t have a computer at home; and even if they do, they may not have internet.”

Gordon House doesn’t just offer how-tos. The organization also ensures seniors know – through workshops which cover cyber fraud and how to spot online scams – how to use this new skill safely. Mason says these are crimes that seniors are particularly targeted for, especially as more and more join social media.

“There’s still a huge need to educate seniors, so that program is not going anywhere,” says Mason.

More than just a workshop

Gordon House is always open to new workshop ideas or classes to add to their current programming. The challenge, says Mason, is being able to fund these free activities or lessons.

“If anybody, any organization, reaches out in terms of wanting to come in and do presentations or educational workshops, we welcome it,” she says. “Wherever we can, obviously we try and find funding for programs. But when there are hard costs in terms of resources or supplies needed, that can sometimes be a barrier in terms of being able to present it.”

Gordon House, like other neighbourhood houses, receives various government grants or funding from organizations like the United Way. Despite the funding constraints on possible new programming, Mason says the work is rewarding. She’s always open to feedback or suggestions, and to help those wanting to run a particular workshop find a funding partner to make it happen.

“I live here in the West End, so these are my neighbours,” she says. “I use my role to connect with the community, to see what the needs are, and just work with them.”

On the front lines of these workshops or classes are the volunteers who run them and work directly with the seniors – which Mason says are hugely impactful to not only the success of the programs, but to the community itself.

“I even said to our volunteer, ‘You don’t even realize how much you’re changing lives.’ By educating these seniors, [it] just gives them access to the world. So, I just said to him, ‘Don’t underestimate what you’re doing here. This is huge,’ ” she says.

It’s not just the access, but also the socialization that makes these programs all the more important she says, adding that it builds a stronger community.

“Places like the neighbourhood houses, I think, become a second home,” says Mason.

Gordon House is just one of eight neighbourhood houses under the Association of Neighbourhood Houses of BC (ANHBC), where the association has a total of 50 sites and hosts over 300 programs across Metro Vancouver.