In the recent past, extended families often lived within the same home or very close to each other; however, this does not occur as frequently today. Even though people live healthier, longer lives, they expect to be self-sufficient. The trend in recent decades is for older Americans to live alone. As a result of this desire for independence, either by nuclear families or older adults, only one in eight single elderly adults now lives with extended family. The paradox is that although children today are more likely to have healthy, active grandparents, they are also less likely to know their grandparents well or visit with them frequently.
While it is not always possible for families to be in close proximity, it is important for both young people and seniors to connect with those of differing generations.
Benefits of Intergenerational Relationships
As future health professionals, it is important that we have an ability to connect with people from all generations. Developing connections with older adults can create a greater sense of fulfillment in both generations. Linking young adults with older adults can provide advantages for both groups. For example, such relationships can:
- Provide an opportunity for both to learn new skills
- Give a young person and the older adult a sense of purpose
- Help to alleviate fears young people may have of the elderly
- Help young people to understand and later accept their own aging
- Invigorate and energize older adults
- Help reduce the likelihood of depression in the elderly
- Reduce the isolation of older adults
- Fill a void for young people who do not have grandparents available to them
- Help keep family stories and history alive
- Aide in cognitive stimulation as well as broaden social circles should a youth introduce technology into the life a senior
The Grandfriends Booklet
The HOSA Grandfriends project was designed specifically as a HOSA-Future Health Professionals service project. We hope the HOSA members will initiate contact with someone from an older generation and develop a special and educational relationship.
The HOSA Grandfriends Booklet provides a series of questions to be asked. These questions are strategically ordered, helping the two participants build on a fruitful exchange of information.
Download the Grandfriends Booklet here.
