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Towards an intergenerational society
The economic and social crisis encourages the emergence of new intergenerational relationships, creating in turn new types of relationships between young and old that were previously nonexistent.
It’s 10 o’clock in the morning and I arrive at the Girona metro stop (Barcelona), where Josep Anglada, a 19-year-old Menorcan, who for almost two years lives with María Teresa, a 96-year-old Barcelonian, is waiting for me.
It’s 10 o’clock in the morning and I arrive at the Girona metro stop (Barcelona), where Josep Anglada, a 19-year-old Menorcan, who for almost two years lives with María Teresa, a 96-year-old Barcelonian, is waiting for me.
The economic and social crisis encourages the emergence of new intergenerational relationships, creating in turn new types of relationships between young and old that were previously nonexistent.
María Teresa, 96 years old from Barcelona. For 4 years she has been participating in the live and coexist program, whose objective is to foster relationships between young and old and to promote new models of relationships that are beneficial for both parties.
Teresa tells me that she has been a language teacher all her life and proudly confesses that her grandchildren are able to speak without mistakes in English, French, Catalan, Spanish and a little German.
Josep Anglada, Menorcan 19 years old. He is studying the university degree of Nautical and Maritime Transport to leave pilot of the merchant marine and then he has thought to do the master to obtain the title of captain of the merchant marine.
Intergenerational solidarity not only consists in supporting the elderly but in providing the conditions so that they, in turn, can participate and contribute to the development and welfare of society.
Despite her 96 years, Teresa gets up every morning around 7:00 am because she goes to mass every day at 8:30. It is already the only route that makes on the street, except some weekends in which one of his children comes to pick her up to take her to lunch and to see her grandchildren.
Sometimes Teresa complains that her eyes hurt and that is when Josep goes into action to scold him affectionately because he reads too much and at those ages and in his view does not respond the same.
Josep combines his studies with a private security guardian course, since he has a relative with a company in this sector where he will be able to work during the summer months and get some savings.
The benefits derived from these programs are reciprocal, all the generations involved in the program obtain benefits.
“Right now I do not see myself living in another place that is not here, with Teresa”
“The best thing about living with Josep is that he is always laughing and he is infecting me with his joy”
Older people who participate in intergenerational programs feel happier than others of their same age and health conditions. Some research has shown that the increase in physical, cognitive and social activity obtained from intergenerational programs can help improve health for the aging population and improve learning in the youngest.
Intergenerational relationships provide something that can not be achieved anywhere else. These relationships connect each other with the past, with the future and with the flow of life.
Teresa likes to stay active and busy. When he returns from mass, breakfast is prepared to recover strength and start the morning. Among his morning routine is reading the press to be informed of what is happening, often walks around the house and when he gets tired he sits down for a while to watch TV.
“The human being is a social being by nature”. This idea, which was introduced by the philosopher Aristotle in ancient times is still very present today. Social relationships and the exchange of social support are a fundamental part of our day-to-day life when we live in society.