World Senior Citizens Day takes place on 21 August. For activity providers, many of whom spend most of their working lives alongside older people, it is an obvious date to celebrate.
There is only one problem with celebratory events. They are often planned for people rather than with them.
A co-produced World Senior Citizens Day looks quite different. Older people help decide what the celebration is for, what should happen, who should be invited and how success will be judged. Staff, volunteers, relatives and community partners contribute too, but nobody assumes that professional experience matters more than lived experience.
This does not mean that every person must attend a committee or organise an event. Co-production can happen through conversations, picture choices, small planning groups, creative sessions, one-to-one visits and observations of how people communicate. The important point is that older people have real influence and can see what happened as a result of their ideas.
The celebration belongs to them as much as it belongs to the organisation.
Where the day came from
World Senior Citizens Day has its roots in the United States. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed 21 August as National Senior Citizens Day.
The proclamation recognised what older people had achieved and what they continued to contribute to families and communities. It also called for places in which people could grow older with dignity, independence, support and opportunities to participate.
The date later became more widely known as World Senior Citizens Day.
What co-production actually means
Co-production is sometimes mistaken for consultation.
Consultation usually means asking people what they think about an idea. This can be valuable, but the organisation still owns the idea and usually keeps control of the final decision.
Co-production goes further. People who use services work alongside staff and other partners from the beginning. They help identify what matters, develop ideas, make decisions, deliver the work and review the results.
The Social Care Institute for Excellence identifies four important principles: equality, diversity, accessibility and reciprocity.
Equality means recognising that everyone brings valuable knowledge and ability. Staff may understand budgets, safeguarding and practical arrangements. Older people understand their own interests, relationships, needs and daily experiences. Both forms of knowledge are needed.
Diversity means including different people and perspectives, not relying on the same two or three confident voices. An event will not be genuinely co-produced if only people who enjoy meetings are involved.
Accessibility means removing barriers to participation. Information, meetings, decision-making and activities must be designed so that people with different communication, sensory, cognitive and physical needs can contribute.
Reciprocity means that everyone should get something back from taking part. People should feel that their time, ideas and work have been valued. Depending on the situation, this could include payment, expenses, a thank-you gift, learning a skill, making connections or seeing a personal idea become reality.
These principles can guide every part of World Senior Citizens Day.
Begin with a blank page
Co-production needs to start before the event has been designed.
Instead of opening with, “We are holding an afternoon tea. What cakes would you like?”, begin with a broader conversation:
- “What would make 21 August worth celebrating?”
- “Is there something you would like other people to understand about growing older?”
- “Would you like a party, a project, a trip, a campaign or something completely different?”
- “What would you like to contribute?”
Some people may want music and dancing. Others might suggest an art exhibition, a community debate, a garden project, a sports event or a day devoted to learning new skills.
Several smaller activities may be more appropriate than one large event. Co-production does not require the group to agree on everything. It creates room for different choices.
Be honest about any limits. If the budget is £200, say so. If transport or staffing affects what is possible, explain that clearly. People can make meaningful decisions only when they have accurate information.
Avoid pretending that every option is available and then quietly choosing the easiest one. Trust grows when people understand what can be changed, what cannot be changed and why.
Make space for different voices
A planning meeting may work well for some people, but it should not be the only route into the conversation.
People who are confident speakers can easily dominate a group. Others may need more time, a smaller setting or a different way to express themselves. Some people communicate through gesture, facial expression, eye movement, objects, photographs, symbols or assistive technology.
An activity provider might hold a short group discussion, visit people individually, leave accessible suggestion cards, use photographs of possible activities or invite people to place tokens beside their preferred ideas.
For somebody living with dementia, abstract questions such as “What event would you like?” may be difficult. Showing two pieces of music, examples of decorations or photographs of possible activities can make the choice more concrete.
Observation can help too, especially when it is based on a good knowledge of the person. If someone consistently relaxes when listening to live piano music or becomes animated while discussing football, that information is relevant. It should lead to an opportunity, not an assumption. The person should still be supported to respond in their own way.
Make an extra effort to hear from people who are often left out. This might include people who remain in their rooms, people with advanced dementia, people who are Deaf or visually impaired, people who use little or no speech and those who do not usually attend organised activities.
Diversity also includes culture, faith, sexuality, gender, language and family background. The group described as “older people” may include several generations and many different life experiences.
Share decisions, not just tasks
As ideas develop, older people should remain involved in the decisions.
It is not co-production if staff make all the choices and then ask participants to help put up decorations. Helping with practical tasks can be enjoyable, but it is not the same as sharing power.
Create a small planning group if people are interested. It could include older participants, activity staff, care colleagues, relatives, volunteers and community representatives. Older people should not be heavily outnumbered.
Agree together:
- What the day is trying to achieve
- Which ideas should be taken forward
- How the available money will be spent
- Who will be invited
- What support people may need
- How responsibilities will be shared
- How feedback will be collected
- What should happen after the event
Keep a simple record of decisions and make it available in accessible formats. At the next meeting, explain what has happened since the previous conversation.
If an idea cannot go ahead, return to the person or group and explain why. Then explore alternatives together. Do not allow suggestions to disappear into a notebook without a response.
A useful phrase is: “You said, we agreed, this is what happened.”
Build on people’s strengths
Older people are often described in terms of need. Care plans quite rightly record health conditions, risks and support requirements, but they can tell only part of the story.
Co-production begins with what people bring.
Someone may have experience of catering, teaching, gardening, accountancy, engineering, organising events or welcoming customers. Another person may know the local community, have an excellent eye for design or be skilled at making nervous people feel comfortable.
Ask what role each person would like.
One participant might compare quotes from entertainers. Someone else could design invitations, choose music, plan a menu, contact a local organisation or welcome visitors on the day.
A person does not need a professional background to have something valuable to offer. Good humour, enthusiasm, curiosity and an ability to bring people together are all assets.
Support should make contribution possible without taking it over. If someone dictates an invitation while a staff member types, it is still their invitation. If a participant chooses the photographs while another person attaches them to the display, the creative decisions remain with the participant.
Make participation accessible
Accessibility is part of co-production from the beginning. It should not be added after the main decisions have been made.
Check the physical space. Are entrances and toilets accessible? Is there room for wheelchairs and walking frames? Are tables at a usable height? Is seating comfortable and available in different areas?
Consider lighting, acoustics and temperature. Background music can make conversation difficult for people with hearing loss. Bright or flickering lights may be uncomfortable. A hot, crowded room can quickly turn celebration into exhaustion.
Provide information in suitable formats. This may include large print, easy-read wording, photographs, symbols, audio, translated information or spoken explanations.
Allow plenty of time for responses. Do not rush to fill silences or assume that a person has nothing to say.
Plan for different energy levels. Some people may wish to join for ten minutes, rest and return later. Others may take part from their room or home. A small mobile version of the event can be co-produced with people who cannot reach the main space.
Accessibility also means making decisions at times and places that suit participants. Holding every planning meeting at 9am because it is convenient for staff is not shared working if participants prefer afternoons.
Be careful not to place unrealistic demands on willing participants. The same helpful people are often asked to do everything. Share opportunities and check that involvement remains enjoyable.
Value people’s time
If older people are helping to create and run the event, recognise that contribution properly.
At the very least, cover any agreed expenses and make sure taking part does not leave somebody out of pocket. Where organisational arrangements allow, consider payment or vouchers for substantial contributions.
Recognition does not always need to be financial. A person might value a written thank-you, a new experience, a certificate, a photograph of the finished project or the chance to develop a skill.
Ask what feels appropriate rather than deciding on people’s behalf.
Ten co-produced ideas for the day
These ideas are starting points, not a ready-made programme. Each one should be discussed and reshaped with the people who may take part.
1. Our day, our programme
Give participants control of the programme and an agreed budget.
People can propose activities, compare costs and choose what goes ahead. Roles might include booking a performer, preparing the venue, welcoming guests, choosing refreshments or introducing an activity.
Staff provide practical support and explain any safety or financial limits, but the group makes the decisions.
2. “This Is Us” exhibition
Create an exhibition showing how participants want to be represented.
Each person could contribute an object, photograph, song, piece of art, audio recording or written statement. Some may share memories, while others focus on current interests or future plans.
Participants decide the title, layout, guest list and what information can be made public. Nobody’s personal story or photograph should be included without clear consent.
3. A community challenge
Ask older people what they would like to improve locally.
The group might focus on public seating, transport, road crossings, accessible toilets or social opportunities. Participants can gather views, take photographs, write letters or invite a local representative to a discussion.
The project should lead to a clear next step so that people can see their contribution was taken seriously.
4. The skills exchange
Invite participants to list something they could share and something they would like to learn.
A person might offer gardening knowledge and request help with video calling. Another may demonstrate a recipe and want to learn smartphone photography.
Older people, staff, relatives and community guests all become learners and contributors. This avoids the assumption that knowledge travels in only one direction.
5. The playlist with a story
Build a playlist from individual choices instead of selecting “music for older people”.
Participants can help set the theme, choose tracks, decide the running order and introduce their selections. Include different decades, cultures and styles.
Make space for people who prefer quiet or who experience music in other ways, such as rhythm, vibration or signed performance.
6. Try something we have never done
Set aside part of the budget for an experience chosen by participants.
Possibilities include podcasting, accessible cycling, virtual reality, drumming, printmaking, photography, creative writing or a visit to a local event.
Research the options together. People can contact providers, identify access requirements and decide whether the activity should become part of the regular programme.
7. A celebration meal
Co-produce the entire meal, not just the menu.
Participants might suggest dishes, share recipes, choose music, fold napkins, design place cards or host tables. Include different cultures, faiths, dietary needs and preferences.
People who do not want a formal meal could help create a café, picnic or tasting session instead.
8. A living library
Invite willing participants to become “living books” by sharing knowledge or experience in short conversations.
Older people decide their own subject, what they are comfortable discussing and how the session will work. Some may prefer to be interviewed, record a video or create an audio story.
Nobody should be pressured to discuss personal, painful or private experiences.
9. Planting for the future
Design a garden, accessible planter or indoor growing area together.
Participants choose what to grow, decide where it should go and work out how it will be maintained. Roles can include researching plants, creating labels, planting, photographing progress or organising a watering schedule.
The project provides an ongoing reminder that the celebration is about the future as well as the past.
10. The next chapter board
Invite people to contribute something they would like to do after World Senior Citizens Day.
It might be attending a match, visiting the coast, learning a skill, joining a community group or reconnecting with someone.
Participants decide which ideas can become shared projects. Staff then report back on progress. A board filled with ambitions is not co-production unless somebody helps turn those ambitions into action.
Consent and the right to step back
People should choose how much they contribute.
A person may enjoy planning but not want to attend the final event. Someone else may have no interest in meetings but be keen to perform on the day. Both choices are valid.
People should be free to change their minds. Involvement must not become an obligation simply because somebody volunteered at the beginning.
The same principle applies to photographs and personal stories. Explain how they will be used, where they will be stored and who may see them. Permission for a private display does not automatically include social media or publicity.
Ask again at the relevant time. Consent is an ongoing conversation, not a form completed once and forgotten.
Co-producing the evaluation
Do not wait until the event is over to decide what success means.
During planning, ask participants what they hope will happen. Success might mean meeting new people, trying something different, feeling listened to, influencing the community or starting a project that continues.
These outcomes can then shape the evaluation.
Feedback does not have to rely on a written questionnaire. People might take part in a relaxed discussion, choose photographs representing how the event felt, use simple rating symbols, record an audio comment or speak privately with someone they trust.
Ask more useful questions than “Did you enjoy it?”
Try:
“What worked well for you?”
“Did you feel that your ideas influenced the event?”
“Was anything difficult to access?”
“What worked well for you?”
“Did you feel that your ideas influenced the event?”
“Was anything difficult to access?”
Record individual views, including disagreement. A group does not have one shared opinion.
Report back and keep going
Co-production ends badly when people give their time and hear nothing afterwards.
Share the feedback in an accessible way. Explain what went well, what was learned and what will change. Thank people for specific contributions rather than offering a vague group thank-you.
Most importantly, follow through.
If participants asked for a regular music evening, say whether it can happen. If the community conversation identified an access problem, explain who has been contacted. If someone proposed a future trip, provide an update.
World Senior Citizens Day should leave something behind. It might be a new group, a change to the activity programme, a stronger community relationship or a better way of involving people in decisions.
More than a seat at the table
World Senior Citizens Day is a natural celebration for activity providers, but co-production gives it a deeper purpose.
It changes older people’s role from guest to partner. It recognises that lived experience is expertise and that people who use a service should influence what happens within it.
The process will not always be tidy. People will disagree. Plans will change. Some ideas will be impractical and will need honest discussion. Co-production takes time, patience and a willingness to share control.
