By the time November rolled around, things felt a little more settled. After the last event, I got feedback from the people who work at the senior center, and it was honestly super helpful. They pointed out that while the kit building activity created great energy, it might be more practical if the kits were prepared ahead of time rather than having everyone build them on the spot. I also noticed that some seniors took extra, and since there were so many people around, I could not regulate that efficiently.
For the November event, I built the kits beforehand and handed them out directly. It was a small change, but an important one. The energy was still there, but the process was smoother and less hectic. People could come up, receive a kit, chat briefly, and head back to their seats without feeling rushed or crowded. It felt more accessible.
Before handing anything out, I went up on stage again to explain what was coming next. At this point, speaking in front of everyone felt more natural than it had during the first event. I talked through my plan for the next month, which would focus on building emergency cards together. These cards would include basic but critical information, things like emergency contacts, allergies, medications, and important medical details that first responders or doctors might need quickly.
The idea behind the emergency cards was simple. In stressful situations, it is hard to remember everything, and having information written down in one place can make a real difference. I explained that I would guide everyone step by step through the process and help them create something clear, and easy to keep on hand.
I also introduced a larger idea that I have been thinking about for a while, a medical binder. This part felt especially important to talk through carefully. Many seniors rely on their children to schedule appointments, and as a result, they sometimes walk into a doctor’s office without fully knowing what the appointment is for. On top of that, different specialists often do not have access to the same information, which often leads to missing context and unnecessary confusion.
The binder would solve that problem by keeping everything in one place. Medical history, medications, recent test results, questions for doctors, notes from previous visits, and anything else relevant could all be organized together. The goal is to give seniors more clarity and control during their appointments while also making things easier for doctors and caregivers.
I explained that this was not just an idea I wanted to keep within the center. I plan on reaching out to doctors directly and talking to them about what information they find most helpful, so the binder is actually useful in real medical settings and not just well intentioned.
Now, the focus is turning toward tools that have a lasting impact. I don’t want to events to just be about momentary happiness or liveliness, I want to create something that will leave a positive impact on the seniors’ lives. And honestly, that feels like the right direction to be heading in.