“Back in my day” is probably one of the most used lines among grandparents and older relatives. I don’t know about you guys but, whenever I heard this line from my elders I would feel slightly frustrated. I mean, the elderly are living in the 22nd century. That stuff doesn’t matter anymore. Right? Well, maybe we’re wrong.
It’s well known that Gen Z is extremely opinionated towards older generations. First, we had a problem with Baby Boomers, and then it was Millennials. And to be completely honest, plenty of my opinions are polar opposite from these older generations. It can be frustrating to hear their outdated views that are, sometimes, blatantly rude and offensive, so by no means am I saying this kind of behaviour should be excused. There are clear flaws in some views praised by older generations that need to be called out and addressed but we also need to look in the mirror and reflect on the flaws of our generation’s views.
From my experience, the most effective way to develop a new understanding of the problems we are enduring is to attain insight on the issue from a new perspective. I find understanding the perspective of a younger child is extremely helpful as they can often make a complex idea simple. As said by Albert Einstein, “A little simplification would be the first step toward rational living, I think.” Another extremely helpful perspective we can learn from is that of the elderly.
Despite what some may think, we can extract components within the elderly’s views to help reveal problems we were oblivious to. The same can go for assisting Gen-Z to find solutions to problems we may encounter, no matter how big or small the problems are. This is why I encourage you all to do your best to interact with the elderly.
Especially during COVID-19, it has become essential for us to direct our attention towards the elderly. When it comes to mental health, we tend to only recognize teenagers, while in the process forgetting its severe impact on older generations. This is especially true for those who live alone or don’t have close contact with much family.
Below, you’ll find a list of ways you can positively impact the elderly. Like I said before, doing this is benefiting not only them but you too!
- Volunteer at a Senior Citizen home!
- Volunteer to deliver groceries!
- Just talk to them! You can ask them questions about their experiences.
- Become a pen pal!
- Send videos or encouraging messages!
This post was a jumble of a few different ideas so I hope it was still insightful! Stay safe and get vaccinated!