“Will you still love me, will you still need me, when I’m 64?” (So says the Beetles song).
What about 74, 84, 94? And what about the other end of the scale? Do you (young parents) wish there was a gramma or a grampa nearby to connect with your kiddies (or maybe they are here, but scheduling regular time together is just not doable?)
I had the opportunity recently to meet Ann Brown, the “intergenerational connector” for a new program at the Comox Community Centre. The program is called a
As someone familiar with respite, I imagined a program where everyone does the same activity at the same time and wondered in advance how that might work with different ages of children, and how the connection between generations would work if it centred on group activity.
My expectations were completely mistaken. On entering the large, windowed, well-lit room on the second floor (yes, there is an elevator) of the community centre I saw tables set up for many hands-on activities like bead making, plasticene and painting. Later, two older boys arrived and within a couple of minutes, one was teaching an older lady how to play chess.
There is something for everyone, and a broad age range (of the young and the old). Two young moms arrived with babies under a year old. None of the parents dropped off their children, but stayed and visited. So, inter and truly multi-generational!
I have friends who have grandchildren who live nearby, who they would like to see more often. I have friends whose grandchildren live far away, and they don’t see them often enough, and I have friends who do not have grandchildren but wish they did. We seniors are hardwired to want to spend time with little ones. And, when I read the literature online, little ones seem to also be hardwired to need time with seniors.
All generations need to feel valued and part of the community. Programs connecting pre-school children with seniors in care homes have been very successful and valuable for both age groups. And there are also successful programs for seniors visiting classrooms. Our culture has tended (unintentionally, just as a result of lifestyles, job availability, etc.) to isolate the generations from each other but that is not the healthiest way to grow up or to grow old.
There is a lot of reliable information online about the benefits for ALL participants in intergenerational programs. It is a no-brainer that a program bringing these generations together would be fun, joy-filled and valuable (long-term) for all involved. And we are so fortunate to have such a great program just starting up in the Comox Valley.
Seeing the tiny babies was such a lovely bonus surprise for me. We all need the connection that is provided by enjoying time with people not our own age.
Jennifer Pass is the co-ordinator of CV Elders Take Action
