Friends and Family

As people age, they lose hair, strength, but more importantly, they lose friends. Repeated loss, their growing sense of mortality, and feeling out of place in a new society all chip away at self-confidence. Will they be left without a friend in the world?

Thankfully more communities are acknowledging the role of the elderly. They are building more centers where older people can come together as friends, and encouraging younger people to get involved with their older counterparts. This offers older people a chance to showcase their talents, and learn and teach new ways of doing things to their peers.

This gives them a chance to take pride in themselves, note and work toward making improvements and build on the self-confidence they had in the past.

Passing it On

Older people have forgotten more than many of us have had a chance to learn. Don’t let their docile appearances fool you. The man who lived across the hall from my grandmother in a quaint little retirement home in the Midwest turned out to be a famous jazz pianist who’d played France, New York and Vegas.

The stories he told could curl your hair, and would have been lost without someone to listen and write them down. Some of the elderly people you meet on the street have outlived their families, and all of their friends. They may feel different from their peers with children and grandchildren.

Thankfully more groups are recognizing the great potential our older generations have in helping to preserve our history and culture. Schools, historical preservation societies, and libraries may have more information.

By speaking with younger generations and being a part of community projects, our older generations can find a niche only they can fill. It gives them a chance to work toward a better community, and build self-confidence by making a difference.

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