TV3 launches ‘6 Over 60’ series featuring older adults pursuing their hobbies

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – TV3 in Detroit Lakes began broadcasting and releasing their “6 Over 60” series this week, which features six Detroit Lakes community members doing inspiring things with free time.

Erika Gilsdorf, producer of the “6 Over 60” series, said the purpose of the videos are to inspire older adults to continue to be active and delve into their passions, which can lead to engagement with the community and connection with others.

“When people get older, a lot of times, we get lonlier, we get isolated, we maybe don’t feel as valuable not having our jobs, so we are showcasing six people … that are doing great things,” said Gilsdorf, during a recent Hodgepodge interview. “And the goal is to inspire people to stay active, stay social, and find things that make them happy.”

The series was presented by Arvig and Elevate OTC with other gold-level sponsors: Dancing Sky Area Agency on Aging, UCare and Humana.

Gilsdorf said the stories range from a man making guitars from scratch to a woman who took her flower garden to the next level during and following the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have Jen at Grand Flower Farm who, during COVID, saw that people were feeling really isolated,” she said. “And she had a little tiny flower garden and she just grew it, and now, it’s a venue where people can go and be together and pick flowers and make vases … we talked to Deb, the wonder woman of the lakes, and how exercise can keep you social. We talked to Fred about his history of Becker County and his family has been here for generations. And the last one was Patty, and she’s embraced her Norwegian culture and we got to see all this artwork … and it was just so much fun and feel inspired, and as we get older it’s a time to be active and have fun, and stay connected.”

She also said the one thing that stood out while she was making the video series was that hobbies and crafts can take a more prominent role in our lives as we age because we have more time for them. They also can keep the mind sharp and involved, while at the same time allowing people to remain connected to the community in some type of specialty or role.

“People can watch (6 Over 60) on TV3,” said Gilsdorf. “And if they don’t have TV3, or even if they do, they can catch the episodes on Lakes TV3 YouTube channel.”

The “6 Over 60” video series can be found TV3, or the Lakes Area TV3 website, Facebook page or YouTube channel.