In Florida, I’ve noticed that there is an abundance of 55 and over communities, where the assumption is that older persons only want to live with other older persons. Maybe this is true for many of us; after all, our closest friends are usually close to our own age. The tendency towards age segregation seems to be increasing, but is this really such a good thing?
Organizations like Older Adults Technology Services and Dorot offer a wide range of intergenerational activities. (Dorot received the Eisner Prize for Intergenerational Excellence last year). It also helps demonstrate the diversity of older persons, and that their lives aren’t only focus on disease and/or dementia. It also helps reduce ageism as generations gain more comfort interacting with each other.
Age segregation wasn’t always the norm in American society. And despite the trend towards ‘senior’ living arrangements, there are other housing models that are gaining traction. Socializing with those of other ages gives us a perspective that we can’t always get from our contemporaries. This benefit extends as much as to the young as to the old.
Do you make an effort to develop and maintain relationships with those of all ages? If so, it could add much richness to your life – and to theirs.
