“I miss the children. I hope they come back
soon.” Resident during a teacher’s strike that kept children out of classrooms
co-located in an assisted living facility in Oklahoma
It’s too early to know if
social isolation or the Coronavirus (COVID-19) will kill more older adults in
the long run. A heightened awareness of how a lack of social connection
negatively impacts individuals as they age and their networks diminish has
fueled a significant interest in intergenerational programming in recent years.
Not only is the Coronavirus
threatening our economy, institutions and way of life, it’s attacking the
pathways created to connect young and old.
Connections that strengthen our
community and individual lives.
Those who are older and/or have
compromised immune systems have been singled out as the two groups most at risk
of succumbing to the virus. Because of this, trusted health professionals have
rightly advised people 60 and older to practice “social distancing.”
Yet the impact of following
that advice without implementing alternative ways of connecting can have
damaging results that take months if not years to re-build once the danger has
subsided.
How can we maintain important
exchanges between generations that feed the souls of our young and old without
jeopardizing someone’s health?
We can learn from
long-established intergenerational best practices. These are alternate ways we
can support social connections:
· Share Facts Not
Fiction — it’s a frightening, uncertain time for people of all ages
and it’s easy to be vulnerable to misinformation. Check
the CDC website or contact your local public health office for current
information. For ideas on how to have intergenerational conversations about
living through major outbreaks, check out Generations United’s guide.
· Practice Excellent
Hygiene — intergenerational shared sites that serve and engage young
and old at the same location successfully are experts about personal hygiene
and facility cleanliness.
· Separate When Sick —
older and younger intergenerational participants are kept at home or away from
each other when they show signs of being sick or are at risk.
· Use New and Old
Technology — when separated by distance or disease, technology such as
the telephone, social media, Skyping, Face Time, email, texts and others are
effective ways to keep young and old who have access connected.
· Share Stories and
Pictures — all intergenerational program participants, especially
those in art and culture programs, can share pictures of their art or
activities and stories from their daily lives through the mail or by text or
phone.
· Teach Each Other a 20
Second Song — children are taught the correct length of time to wash
their hands, using hard to forget songs like Baby Shark and Happy
Birthday. Other generations have music too, whether it’s the beginning
of Blue Suede Shoes or Splish Splash I Was Taking a
Bath, sing together over the phone or through other technology.
· Check in on Each
Other — a simple phone call can go a long way when someone is feeling
alone.
· Keep a To-Share List —
it can be tough to get started again after a cold stop so write down feelings,
stories, jokes and other tidbits that can be shared between older and younger
people when they get the green light to re-connect.
Generations United wants to
hear from you. Tell us what you’re doing to keep generations together when they
aren’t able to be in the same place at the same time. Let’s share best
practices and keep this important work moving forward through difficult and
good times. Remember, we are stronger together…even when we need to stay at
least six feet apart.
Additional resources:
Article: For older people stuck at home, 7 ways to stay connected via
Gen2Gen
https://medium.com/@GensUnited/now-is-not-the-time-to-sever-the-ties-that-bind-generations-6507293e01b9
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