Whether we are young or old, the pandemic has made us realize how much the ties that unite us constitute a precious treasure in our lives… A treasure that we took for granted. The past two years have allowed us to measure the importance of showing solidarity with our neighbors and helping each other.
Posted yesterday at 12:00 p.m.
And this solidarity goes far beyond the family sphere. I am talking here about a facet of our society that deserves to be better known and recognized…
Did you know that in Quebec, thousands of intergenerational activities take place in neighborhoods with the aim of bringing generations together and supporting social solidarity?
It is high time to recognize the extraordinary scope of the intergenerational initiatives carried out by all community organizations and other fields of action and, above all, to better support them by providing them with the financial resources necessary to continue and extend their beneficial actions. An exceptional contribution to our collective well-being, often made at arm’s length and, increasingly, out of breath…
Throughout Quebec, passionate and dedicated workers and volunteers do an incredible job of organizing and leading activities to bring young people and seniors together in various fields, such as education, arts, culture , leisure, health and so on.
Too little is said about these meaningful activities that take place everywhere: in schools, daycares, libraries, recreation centers, community organizations, seniors’ residences, hospitals, parks and many others. public spaces. Through these contacts between young people and elders, significant relationships are forged for each other.
Each learns to know the other better, his experience, his story, his experiences. These activities of intergenerational sharing and rapprochement mutually enrich those who experience them.
Intergenerational activities are proving to be an unsuspected source of health and well-being for seniors!
When we ask seniors about the reasons why they engage in intergenerational activities, they often answer that the fact of exchanging with young people and helping them gives them a strong sense of personal accomplishment. For example, seniors support children in learning to read or help with homework. Others share their knowledge and know-how (carpentry project, cuisine of yesteryear, history lessons). Some get involved with young people in projects that are recreational (intergenerational theatre) or have a social objective (raising funds for a community project, such as an intergenerational garden). Finally, for other seniors, engaging in intergenerational activities is quite simply an opportunity to discuss and share with young people.
As a researcher in the field of aging, I can attest to the positive effects of intergenerational activities. The vast majority of research in the field supports the benefits of intergenerational activities on several levels. Among seniors, benefits have been reported mainly on the psychological level (e.g., less anxiety and psychological distress, better self-esteem, satisfaction with life), as well as on the physical level ( better physical shape, better perceived health). Intergenerational activities can also be an opportunity to learn new things (learning to use new communication technologies or surf the Internet with the help of young people). Among young people, studies also report benefits on self-esteem, the development of social skills, academic performance and reading and writing skills.
Beyond these benefits for each other, intergenerational activities contribute to building a more inclusive and united society.
Many studies show that intergenerational activities reduce prejudices and develop positive attitudes towards each other.
These activities are therefore powerful strategies for combating ageism. Thus, both young and old seem to benefit from this rapprochement.
All the community organizations and other fields of action involved in the intergenerational cause deserve our collective support and the backing of our governments. The people who work in these environments, often in the shadows, deserve our full recognition.
This is precisely what Intergenerations Quebec does1 within the framework of a forum organized annually during Quebec Intergenerational Week (May 22 to 28). This action network working for intergenerational rapprochement highlights in particular the successes of the action groups that have been carried out throughout Quebec during the past year.
It is high time to take care of these places of action and people who take care of others. Let’s be in solidarity with them. Because in the end, engaging in intergenerational activities is one of the best ways to live old, to live better!
* Full professor at the School of Rehabilitation of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Montreal