Easing Mental Poverty: Reconnecting Seniors and Youth After a Two Year Pandemic

The Cause

EASING MENTAL POVERTY; RECONNECTING SENIORS AND YOUTH AFTER A TWO YEAR PANDEMIC

Linking Generations (LG) is a charitable organization whose purpose is to bring two different generations together so they can share their knowledge and life experiences and to encourage volunteering and social responsibility in youth.
VISION STATEMENT: Where seniors and youth build relationships that enrich their lives and enhance communities.
MISSION STATEMENT: Linking Generations creates connections between seniors and youth by nurturing friendships built through volunteering and structured mentorship

Who Will it Benefit?

As the aging population continues to rise rapidly, age segregation and isolation are on the increase. Intergenerational connections are proven to enrich the lives of both youth and seniors in long-lasting and meaningful ways. In today's world, many young people are experiencing less interaction with seniors because of homogeneous neighborhoods, dispersed extended families, and increasing segregation of seniors living in care facilities. It is important for today's youth to find ways to engage and develop relationships with the elderly, as these experiences can build self-esteem, develop leadership skills, and educate as to the benefits of a lifelong commitment to volunteering. For seniors, intergenerational connections provide the opportunity to transfer knowledge and wisdom, acknowledge self worth, and continue to feel as they are contributing members of society.

The senior’s population in Strathcona County continues to grow. The increase in seniors in Strathcona County between 2018-2020 was 26 percent which is well above the provincial average. Due to COVID19, it has become even more evident that ever before that seniors are isolated, withdrawn, and lonely. Many are facing mental Poverty – that which Linking Generations defines as a poor state of mind. It has been reinforced how critical it is that our community seniors be connected to family and to friends.