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The
picture of aging in our community changes every
day. Technology brings us closer, giving us
new options for relationships. Opportunities
for expressing ourselves pop up in our own
neighborhoods. And those aging before and
around us offer new ways of looking at life
in our 60's, 70's, 80, 90's and beyond. Tired of
thinking about aging in the same old ways? We hope
this issue of Engage will give you new ideas and
inspire you to connect with each other, with
the ambitious, impatient and energetic young
people in your life, and with yourself. Enjoy, and
receive your life in a new way.
We hope you will
share Engage with your family and
friends.
Sincerely,
Institute
on Aging
Helping
Bay Area Seniors Live Independently
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Far From Lonely: the Next Online
Generation
"Like many older people,
Paula Rice of Island City, Ky., has grown isolated
in recent years. Her four grown children live in
other states, her two marriages ended in divorce,
and her friends are scattered. Most days, she does
not see another person.
But Ms. Rice, 73, is far
from lonely. Housebound after suffering a heart
attack two years ago, she began visiting the
social networking sites Eons.com, an online
community for aging baby boomers, and
PoliceLink.com (she is a former police
dispatcher). Now she spends up to 14 hours a day
in online conversations.
"I was dying of boredom,"
she said. "Eons, all by its lonesome, gave me a
reason to keep on going."
That more and more people
in Ms. Rice's generation are joining networks like
Eons, Facebook and MySpace is hardly news. Among
older people who went online last year, the number
visiting social networks grew almost twice as fast
as the overall rate of Internet use among that
group, according to the media measurement company
comScore. But now researchers who focus on aging
are studying the phenomenon to see whether the
networks can provide some of the benefits of a
group of friends, while being much easier to
assemble and maintain..." Read more...
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The Art of Cross-Generational
Learning: Patience, Optimism  &
Good
Health
Where would we be without
our elders? What would we become without our
youth? The two groups need each other deeply but
are often separated by their different
perspectives on life. Arts programs like IOA's
Center for Elders and Youth in the Arts, bring
their unique perspectives together, invigorating
and educating both. CEYA's professionally
taught classes keep older adults connected to
their community, offer a place
to contibute and provide opportunity for
them to share artistic inspiration with
young people. The classes also have
surprising health benefits: one study found
that people age 65 and up who participate in
creative pursuits for at least one hour per week
tend to have fewer health declines than those who
don't participate.
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For
more about the benefits of cross-generational
learning read Bill Moyer's interview with educator
and sociologist Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot. They
spoke recently about the changing reality of aging
in our society about her experience
patrnering with a young man to campaign for Barack
Obama.
BILL
MOYERS: Is it true, as I have heard, that
you went canvassing, knocking on doors, door by
door, last fall, in the Presidential campaign with
a 24-year-old?
SARA
LAWRENCE-LIGHTFOOT: Yes.
BILL
MOYERS: Tell me about that.
SARA
LAWRENCE-LIGHTFOOT: I did. Well one of
the things I talk about in this book, that's so
important, that we need to do, in terms of
projects for the future, in our society is really
engage in much more cross-generational encounters,
discourse, conversation, and movements.
BILL
MOYERS: But that's so hard to do, because
we are separated into our-
SARA
LAWRENCE-LIGHTFOOT: It is.
BILL
MOYERS: -into our different realities,
right?
SARA
LAWRENCE-LIGHTFOOT: I think that's
absolutely true. But I think that one example that
I found so exciting, of working with young people,
and young people working with old people in a
common project, was this Obama campaign. So, in
New Hampshire, three or four times, I went out
with a young kid, from Dartmouth who we were
paired together. And this was a really
interesting, I kept on wishing that I was a fly on
the wall, or an ethnographer, watching us navigate
our relationship.
BILL
MOYERS: How so?
SARA
LAWRENCE-LIGHTFOOT: And these encounters.
Because this was a kid who had, you know,
voluminous knowledge about the sort of politics
and the names, who was incredibly energetic, who
had great ideas. Who was completely urgent and
impatient and a terrible listener, right? And also
someone who's stereotyped all of New Hampshire. He
thought they were all kind of backwoods, rural,
country people. Republicans. Right? And that they
hadn't really thought deeply about these matters.
And that all he needed to do was feed them the
information. Right? And not expect them to change.
My approach, of course, was one of beginning by
listening to them. Not assuming that I knew who
they were, just because I knew where they lived.
Right? Not beginning with a stereotype, but with
trying to-with expecting that they had the
capacity to think deeply, as well. You know? And
so the negotiation of our relationship was one of
my helping him wait. Helping him listen. and for
me, it was really sort of experiencing and
catching his energy, his drive, his impatience,
and his optimism.
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Community
Events
Memories Are
Made Of This
A poetry
presentation by CEYA participants at On Lok
Lifeways at the Fillmore center. Join us for
a free community event celebrating the culmination
of a year of writing with CEYA instructors Tom
Centolella and Silvi Alcivar.
When: Tuesday, July
14
Time: 11:00 -
12:00PM
Where: 1426 Fillmore
St., Suite 302
San Francisco, CA
The Ma Squad Talent
Show
You are cordially invited to
the first Ma Squad Talent Show, presenting various
musical, theatric, and athletic performances from
Assemblywoman Fiona Ma's staff and interns. Fiona
Ma will also be featured in a special
performance. We look forward to seeing you
there. Open to everyone & wheelchair
accessible.
When: July 17,
2009
Time: 3-5
PM
Where: Hiram W. Johnson
State Building- Auditorium
455 Golden Gate
Ave., (between Polk &
Larkin)
Info: Bobbie or Eddy
at (415) 557-2312
Explorations
in MarkmakingAn exhibition of work by
CEYA participants at On Lok Lifeways. This exhibit
celebrates the culmination of a year of work by
members of On Lok Lifeways at Geary working under
the direction of CEYA artist Michael Namkung. Also
on display will be works by students from the
Richmond Village Beacon who have been working with
artist Augusta Talbot. When:
Wednesday, July 22nd Time:
4:00 - 6:00PM Location: 2700
Geary Blvd. (at Emmerson) San Francisco,
CA
Funds for Friends Benefit Concert
Benefit concert to support IOA's
Friendship Line, an emotional support hotline
serving the Bay Area's senior community. With an
advance ticket purchase, you will automatically be
entered in our prize raffle to win a spa package,
yoga classes, gift certificates and much
more!
When: Saturday, August
29th
Time: 5:00PM
Where: Il Pirata Bar &
Restaurant
2007 16th Street, Potrero Hill, San
Francisco
Cost: $20 presale |
$25 at the door
$15 senior (59+)
Info: For
more information & to buy tickets visit:
www.fundsforfriends.orgGrief
& Growing: A Healing Weekend for Bereaved
Individuals and FamiliesThe Bay Area
Jewish Healing Center hosts a weekend
designed to help indivuduals and families attend
to their losses and identify tools to help them in
their mourning . When:
September 11-13, 2009
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ENCOURAGE
Dear
Encourage,
I am 85 years of age so I may be
considered "old" by some, but I certainly don't
feel that way. I think what has kept me feeling
young all these years is being around younger
people. They are a great source of energy and
inspiration.
Over the past few years,
I find myself spending less time with younger
folks and more time with people my own age. Are
there any programs out there that bring together
the young and the young-at-heart so that we may do
some activities together and enjoy each other's
company?
Dear
Young-at-Heart,
What you are speaking
about are the mutually beneficial relationships
which result from intergenerational
programs-planned projects and activities that
bring different generations together to share
experiences and knowledge designed to encourage
healthy interactions. You have touched upon a
wonderful concept which helps to dispel the myths
and pessimistic attitudes associated with the
union of youth and the aged. We need to be
creative and find ways to develop programs that
help transmit knowledge and values not only from
old to young but also from young to old. I think
what you are also saying is that being around
younger people energizes you. Connecting with
younger individuals may also expand your world
views as well as provide opportunities for younger
people to express themselves.
I would
suggest you read through this issue of EngAGE as
there is information about intergenerational
programs within Institute on Aging. In addition, a
search on the worldwide web for "intergenerational
programs in San Francisco Bay Area" will provide
you with information to get you
started.
Do you have a
question about engaging with life as a
senior? Send it our way. Please note, questions
may be printed but will be kept strictly
anonymous. Click here to email
us.
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Every month we highlight a family
tradition, such as a recipe, a craft, or a cultural
holiday. Please suggest a tradition from
your family!
This month's family
tradition:
National Ice Cream
Month & Day In 1984, President Ronald
Reagan proclaimed July National Ice Cream Month &
the 3rd Sunday of July as National Ice Cream Day. So on
July 19th, treat yourself & the kids in your
life to a double dip. Or for an
extra special treat try the editor's family
favorite, a tin roof sundae: vanilla ice cream
topped with Spanish peanuts and chocolate sauce.
Enjoy!
We'd like to feature part of your heritage.
Share a recipe, tradition or family story. We'd love to
print it! Click here
to email
us. | |
