Strengthen links between young and elderly

The violent riots that occurred in August in London have revealed the deep rift between generations in the country. In order to bring positions closer together and correct antisocial behaviors, in the UK have developped many initiatives which promote coexistence and joint work between young and old with the goal of cohesion within communities.

"With increased geographic mobility within and beyond national borders creating growing distances between extended family members, many of us spend much of our lives within our own age groups with the result that young and old report limited contact with one another. The effect on family relationships and care arrangements leave many feeling isolated while in communities the gap between young and old can lead to misapprehension and even mistrust and fear," says Andrew Barnett, director of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, responsible for a transnational program that investigates and supports various examples of good practice intergenerational in the United Kingdom and Portugal.

The publication Intergenerational Think talks about the advantages of the implementation of shared initiatives between young and elderly: "For the elderly often leads to improved physical and mental health, while younger ones cited social skills and competencies labor ".

A special case is that of the LGBT community, many seniors have no family or social support for their sexual status, and many children can be subjected to bullying and discrimination. In England have launched a number of intergenerational projects on local history and art. After the experience, young people reported having found a role model in their fellow elders which has helped them cope with their problems and to trust their professional success, and the elderly have increased their personal safety when asking for support social services.

In France, the association Les Petits Frères des Pauvres have promoted voluntary work support and care for the elderly during more than sixty years. Among its programs, highlights the commitment of foreigner students of French during the summer, in which young visitors not only have the opportunity to learn the language, but also get knowledge of life. And, at the same time, the elders have companionship and get to understand people from other countries.

The association and its philosophy have spread to Morocco, the United States, Canada, Ireland, Mexico, Germany, Poland and Spain, specifically in Madrid, Valencia and Catalonia. Amigos de los mayores, Amics de la Gent Major y Amics de la Gent Gran. "Our mission is to combat loneliness and marginalization of older people through volunteer action and awareness of society", say the makers of the Catalan branch.

In our country there are several programs that encourage universitary student housing in elderly homes. The University of Valencia, through an agreement with Caja Cataluña and the City Hall offers its students the opportunity to live with older people in exchange for free accommodation during the academic year, plus a small allowance. "Through this program, apart from providing free lodging to the selected students, companionship is given to elderly people suffering from loneliness," explained from the university body.

Finally, from Go&Care, we encourage adolescents and youth to come to visit the elders in our nursing homes. Sure they'll go out from the meetings with the feeling of being valued and loved, and with a little patience, of listening to your elders can learn life lessons.

http://gulbenkian.org.uk/news/news/117-IntergenerationAll--New-Programme-Launched.html
http://www.4children.org.uk/uploads/information/Think_Intergenerational.pdf
http://www.ilcuk.org.uk/record.jsp?type=publication&ID=106
http://www.petitsfreres.asso.fr/