Oasis Institute

TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF MATURE ADULTS THROUGH LIFELONG LEARNING AND SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES.

HEALTH - INDIANAPOLIS OASIS FOCUSES ON INCREASING AWARENESS, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS OF OLDER ADULTS TO ADDRESS THEIR INDIVIDUAL HEALTH NEEDS. THE CLASSES EMPHASIZE PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES AND EXERCISE, NUTRITION AND COOKING. CLASSES SUCH AS THE HIGHLY RECOGNIZED MATTER OF BALANCE EVIDENCE-BASED 8-SESSION HEALTH PROGRAM TAUGHT BY TRAINED OLDER ADULT VOLUNTEERS ALSO ADDRESS HEALTH ISSUES FACING OLDER ADULTS. IN 2019, INDIANAPOLIS OASIS BEGAN OFFERING THE AGING MASTERY PROGRAM (AMP), A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO INFORM, ENCOURAGE, AND SUPPORT OLDER ADULTS AS THEY TAKE STEPS TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES AND ENGAGE WITH THEIR COMMUNITIES.(CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O)(CONTINUED FROM FORM 990, PART III) AMP IS ALL ABOUT FEELING BETTER TODAY AND STAYING HEALTHY FOR THE FUTURE BY UTILIZING VOLUNTEERS TO WORK WITH OLDER ADULTS IN COMMUNITY SETTINGS TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE BEHAVIORS ACROSS MANY DIMENSIONS THAT LEAD TO IMPROVED HEALTH, STRONGER ECONOMIC SECURITY, ENHANCED WELL-BEING AND INCREASED SOCIAL PARTICIPATION. PEER-LED DISCUSSIONS GIVE TRAINED VOLUNTEERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP OLDER ADULTS DEVELOP NEW NORMS AND PATHWAYS IN RETIREMENT. THE 10 CORE CLASSES COMBINE A PEER-SUPPORTED CLASSROOM-LIKE STRUCTURE WITH SOCIAL REWARDS. THROUGHOUT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, CLASSES WERE OFFERED VIRTUALLY.

EDUCATION - INDIANAPOLIS OASIS DESIGNS AND OFFERS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN THE AREAS OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES FOR A DIVERSE AUDIENCE OF LIFELONG LEARNERS. TOPICS RANGE FROM CURRENT EVENTS, HISTORY, TO VARIOUS TOPICS ON THE ARTS, TO CREATIVE WRITING. THROUGHOUT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, CLASSES WERE OFFERED VIRTUALLY.

VOLUNTEER SERVICE - INDIANAPOLIS OASIS OFFERS A VARIETY OF WAYS FOR OLDER ADULTS TO ENRICH THEIR LIVES THROUGH VOLUNTEER SERVICE. THE OASIS INTERGENERATIONAL TUTORING PROGRAM TRAINS VOLUNTEER TUTORS AND MATCHES THEM WITH AT-RISK PRIMARY GRADE CHILDREN TO BUILD READING AND LANGUAGE SKILLS. THE PROGRAM ALSO HELPS BUILD THE STUDENTS' CONFIDENCE AND POSITIVE ATTITUDES TOWARDS LEARNING. THE OASIS INTERGENERATIONAL TUTORING PROGRAM IS CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF SERVICE TO AREA ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. BEFORE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, 250 TRAINED OLDER ADULTS WORKED ONE-ON-ONE WITH OVER 280 CHILDREN IN GRADES K-3 IN 50 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ACROSS THE GREATER INDIANAPOLIS COMMUNITY. (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O)(CONTINUED FROM FORM 990, PART III) PEER-LED DISCUSSIONS GIVE TRAINED VOLUNTEERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP OLDER ADULTS COMBAT LONELINESS AND ISOLATION BY OFFERING MONTHLY DISCUSSION GROUPS WITH CURRICULUM ON TOPICS OF INTEREST TO ADULTS AS THEY AGE. OPPORTUNITIES ARE ALSO PROVIDED TO VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST IN RUNNING THE CENTER, SERVING AS INSTRUCTORS, REGISTERING PARTICIPANTS FOR CLASSES, PERFORMING DATABASE ENTRY AND ANSWERING PHONES. VOLUNTEERS CAN ALSO PARTICIPATE IN COMMITTEES RELATING TO CLASS SELECTIONS, MARKETING, AND FUNDRAISING.

TECHNOLOGY LITERACY - INDIANAPOLIS OASIS PROVIDES A VARIETY OF COMPUTER CLASSES FOR ITS PARTICIPANTS TO ASSIST OLDER ADULTS IMPROVE THEIR TECHNOLOGY LITERACY. THIS EVIDENCE-BASED CONNECTIONS CURRICULUM, DEVELOPED AND UPDATED ON AN ON-GOING BASIS BY THE OASIS INSTITUTE, INCLUDES TOPICS SUCH AS CYBER-CRIMEFIGHTERS WHICH PROVIDES INFORMATION ON SCAMS, PHISHING, AND PASSWORD PROTECTION.