Studies have found that intergenerational relationships can benefit both older and younger people in a variety of ways. From learning new skills to relieving loneliness, interaction between seniors and youth opens up a world of opportunities for new experiences.
At AlmaVia of San Francisco, intergenerational programming plays a significant role in providing our residents with opportunities for socialization, learning and fun. We believe that by spending time together, seniors and young people begin to form meaningful relationships that pay great dividends for both age groups.
Getting Generations Together at AlmaVia of San Francisco
A special group of 20 young people from The Brandeis School of San Francisco visited our community to spend time getting to know residents during the Tzedek Tefillah. Some of the students recently wrote about their visits in their blog, noting that they sit with residents and discuss their lives and the interesting experiences residents have had.
The students described how meeting some of the residents has inspired them. They enjoyed hearing about the interesting lives and impressive accomplishments of many residents, such as a woman who authored a number of books.
The group of young people found that they had much in common with residents and could find plenty of topics of conversation, from sports to their religious faiths. Noting that they love seeing residents on Mondays, the students wrote that they hope to visit more often.
Benefits for People of All Ages
As the students from Brandeis have learned through their visits with residents at AlmaVia of San Francisco, people of all ages can benefit from getting to know those outside their own age group.
Seniors benefit in many ways from spending time with children and teens. In many cases, they feel invigorated from being around young people who are so excited and exuberant about life, and they may learn about new technologies and other elements of kids’ modern lifestyles. Research also has found that seniors with dementia may experience better outcomes when they interact with people of other age groups.
By interacting with seniors, children and teens may do better in school. Research has shown that in schools where older adults spend a significant amount of time, children had higher scores in reading compared to children in other schools.
In addition, getting to know older individuals can help young people communicate better, use new strategies for solving problems, and develop more positive and realistic attitudes about aging and serving their communities.
AlmaVia of San Francisco is committed to offering opportunities for intergenerational programming that can benefit our residents, young people and the greater community.
