“Everyone has a story to tell if you take the time to listen”

– Sky Bergman, Documentary Filmmaker

Why focus on connecting the generations? Building intergenerational connections in senior living communities is one way that our industry can help rebuild occupancy and social engagement. Fostering relationships between staff members, volunteers, families, and residents that include all different age groups can help build trust, promote meaningful engagement, and combat loneliness, helplessness, and boredom. This can be done through offering intergenerational programming and creating “shared spaces” for all ages which will help older and younger people gain a deeper understanding of one another so they can share their knowledge and wisdom with one another.

It is inspiring to see that there are already so many organizations doing this important work and the resources they provide can be invaluable when creating your own intergenerational strategy. These organizations include:

• Ebenezer is the largest senior living operator in Minnesota with 100 years of experience serving older adults. They have an Intergenerational Day Program that facilitates exchanges between children and residents of their senior living communities – referred to as “Grandfriends”
• Encore.org is working to change culture by elevating new ideas and diverse voices on the power of connection and collaboration across generational divides. They bring generations together to solve society’s greatest problems.
• Generations United is working to improve the lives of children, youth, and older people through intergenerational collaboration, public policies, and programs for the enduring benefit of all.
• Senior Planet provides courses and events that enable older adults and people of all ages to come together and find ways to learn, work, create, exercise, and thrive in today’s digital age.

Another important example is the intergenerational work being done by filmmaker, Sky Bergman. Her documentary film Lives Well Lived celebrates the incredible wit and wisdom of adults aged 75 to 100. Encompassing over 3000 years of experience, forty people reveal their secrets and insights to living a meaningful life. These men and women share their journey into old age through family histories, personal triumphs, and tragedies, loves and losses – seeing the best and worst of humanity along the way.

For the past four years Sky has been working with high schools, universities, senior living communities, and Senior Planet members (part of AARP) across the country using the Lives Well Lived film as a catalyst to connect generations. After viewing the film, students and older adults are paired up and given the questions used in the Lives Well Lived film as a starting point for a conversation, creating a bridge between students and older adults as they take turns interviewing each other to gain a deeper understanding and to share their knowledge and wisdom about life. This understanding and common ground have created lasting, authentic intergenerational relationships.

To date, these intergenerational projects have involved over 500 students and older adults: combating the stereotypes of ageism one story and one connection at a time. To learn more and bring the Lives Well Lived film and project to your community, you can visit the Lives Well Lived website here.

Leaders will be able to learn the power of intergenerational connections. In our society, older adults are often overlooked, and the organizations listed above are working every day to combat that by embracing the power and purpose of intergenerational connections.

Earn Free CEUs by attending the Linked Senior’s upcoming #ActivitiesStrong webinar. Sky will be the featured speaker for on Tuesday, May 24^th from 1-2pm EST, registration for the free live event is here. Webinar attendees will be given exclusive access to watch the Lives Well Lived film.