More Intergenerational bonding ideas

 For youth who do not have seniors in their life, there are still ways to engage in intergenerational bonding activities. Here are some ideas:

Volunteer at a senior center because many senior centers offer volunteer opportunities for youth, such as helping with meal programs or organizing activities. This can be a great way to meet seniors and get involved in intergenerational activities.

Engage in community events by looking for community events that bring together people of all ages, such as festivals or parades. This can be a great way to meet and interact with seniors.

Attend a senior-friendly exercise class: Many senior centers offer exercise classes that are open to people of all ages. Joining a class can be a great way to meet seniors and improve your health at the same time.

Take part in intergenerational programs that are open to youth and seniors, such as pen-pal programs or mentorship programs. These programs can be a great way to build connections across generations.

Connect using social media and online platforms with seniors who may not meet in person. Encourage youth to reach out to seniors in online forums or through social media platforms.

Remember, the key is to be open-minded and willing to engage in activities that bring people of different ages together. By participating in intergenerational activities, youth can gain valuable insights and perspectives from seniors, and develop a greater sense of empathy and understanding for people of all ages. If we create a comfortable and inclusive environment that encourages open communication and mutual respect, intergenerational activities will be successful.

Intergenerational bonding ideas

 At the senior center, I am president of we are working on building some bonding between seniors and youth under the age of 19. We believe this can be a great way to foster mutual respect, understanding, and appreciation among different generations. Here are some ideas that we are thinking about doing that we think will help promote this bonding (If you have other ideas, please let me know, thanks):

We are considering reaching out to other organizations where both seniors and youth can volunteer together in something that will help the community. This can be a great way to work towards a common goal while also getting to know each other.

One of our Board suggested we encourage seniors to share their life stories with youth. They thought this would be a great way to learn about history, culture, and personal experiences. I thought we could have youth share their own stories to create a sense of connection between the generations.

We thought we could plan an afternoon (when school was out) of board games or card games that both seniors and youth enjoy. This would be a fun and casual way to get to know each other while also engaging in a shared activity.

Building on the idea of shared activity, we thought we could create classes or workshops that both seniors and youth would be interested in, such as cooking, art, or music. We could learn something new together and create a shared experience.

Our seniors have bus excursions, so we thought we could plan a day trip to a local museum, zoo, or park that both seniors and youth could enjoy. This would be a shared adventure.

Another idea put forward was that our youth would teach seniors about technology, social media, or online games and our seniors could mentor youth in areas such as cooking, gardening, and knitting. This would be a great way to build skills and knowledge while also creating a strong bond among the generations.

We have a community garden and we thought we could create a legacy project: that would encourage seniors and youth to work together on a project that leaves a positive impact on their community. This would be a meaningful way to build a sense of purpose and accomplishment while also connecting across generations.

You can make anything happen

You can make anything happen, raise your voice

For you hold the power to manifest your choice.

Just like the one who put stars in the sky,

You too can make your dreams come to life.

The birds that soar high up in the air,

Were taught to fly with utmost care.

But just like them, you too can spread your wings,

And achieve all your heart's longings.

And who do you think of when you say "I"?

It's the person who can reach for the sky,

The one who has the power to make things right,

And turn darkness into the brightest light.

So go ahead, and make your mark,

For you are the one who can light up the dark.

With the power that lies within you,

You can make anything happen, that's true.

Is retirement for most out of reach?

Retirement is becoming more and more of a pipe dream for workers all over the world. A troubled global economy paired with longer life expectancies is forcing many to continue to work far past the age they imagined because of a lack of sufficient savings. Governments have resorted to increasing the age at that citizens can receive money from social security plans in an effort to minimize the number of people in the system

Governments are struggling to address this issue, often resorting to increasing the retirement age or reducing benefits in order to keep social security plans financially viable. Still, retirement is becoming increasingly difficult for many people around the world, particularly as economic pressures and longer lifespans make it harder to save enough money to live comfortably during retirement. As a result, many individuals are forced to continue working long past the age at which they had hoped to retire, sometimes well into their 70s or beyond.

Unfortunately, these measures currently being taken by Governments can make it even more difficult for people to retire, particularly those who work physically demanding jobs or have health issues that make it hard to continue working as they age. Since 2001 the average age of retirement in the USA has gone from 61 to 65 in 2022. In Canada, we have had the same age of retirement 64.5 since 2001.

For what it is worth here are several creative solutions that governments, employers, and individuals can consider to address the lack of retirement security:

Government solutions:

• Introduce or expand public pension programs that provide retirement income to those who may not have access to employer-sponsored retirement plans.
• Create tax incentives or matching contributions for individuals who contribute to retirement savings plans.
• Provide financial education programs to help individuals better understand retirement planning and saving.

Employer solutions:

• Offer retirement benefits, such as 401(k) plans or pension plans, to all employees regardless of their position or length of service.
• Provide financial education and counselling to employees to help them make informed retirement planning decisions.
• Create phased retirement programs that allow older workers to gradually reduce their hours or responsibilities over time.

Individual solutions:

• Start saving for retirement as early as possible, even if it means starting small.
• Consider working longer or part-time during retirement to supplement retirement income.
• Explore options for downsizing or relocating to a more affordable area to reduce expenses during retirement.

Overall, it will require a combination of government, employer, and individual efforts to address the retirement security crisis and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to retire with financial security and dignity.