..By Pamela B Smith Director, Aging and Independence Services
.....Youngsters may not be able to spell “intergenerational,” 
but they know what it means to have extra time and attention from an older adult who also values that interaction. The concept of intergenerational programs is simple: Bring youth and older adults together for their mutual benefit. Our society needs older adults to mentor the future generations, and youngsters can teach their grandparents’ generation a thing or two, particularly about technology.
Intergenerational used to be the way our families were. Many ages lived together, learning from one another, helping out. But that lifestyle is more uncommon now. Both ends of the age spectrum have become more segregated, isolated, marginalized.Our communities are losing valuable contributions from these citizens.
Jennifer Nickles wanted to get involved with kids. The 63-year-old retired accountant never had children and “I was missing that grandmother role,” she says.
She just finished conducting an eight-week session of CATCH Healthy Habits at the Boys and Girls Club in El Cajon. She joined three other older adult volunteers who met with first-graders after school once a week, had a healthy snack with them, talked about nutrition and joined them in exercises, such as jumping jacks.
They talked about “Go” foods, such as fruits and vegetables, and “Whoa” foods, such as cookies and pizza. “We explained that when you eat a Whoa food, you might need to do more jumping jacks,” says Jennifer. “I really enjoyed the program. It’s a win-win for both the kids and us.”
CATCH is an example of a simple intergenerational approach to a community problem. Jennifer liked that it wasn’t a major time commitment, yet she felt that her time was wellspent, that her interactions made her want to do more.
On June 15, our County’s Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) wants to challenge policymakers and neighborhoods to bring everyone back to the table.
CATCH Healthy Habits, coordinated by OASIS (and funded by the Anthem Blue Cross/WellPoint Foundation), battles obesity by bringing children and adults age 50+ together to learn good eating and physical activity habits.
We have many social issues, including health concerns, that impact us all. Solutions should involve us all. How can different generations work together to strengthen one another and our communities?Join us for the “Live Well, San Diego! Summit: Building a Healthy Community for All Ages.”
Participants at the Live Well, San Diego! Summit will explore using similar intergenerational approaches to solve our community problems and needs, particularly health issues.
HHSA is coordinating the Live Well, San Diego! Summit set for Friday, June 15, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration at 8 a.m.
The event will be held at the following locations:
•Town & Country Convention Center, 500 Hotel Circle North, San Diego 92108. This will be the main site. Speakers will be live here and webcast to the four other locations.
• Ronald Reagan Community Center, 195 E. Douglas, El Cajon 92020.
• California Center for the Arts - Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido 92025.
•Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa, 5480 Grand Pacific Dr., Carlsbad 92008.
• Chula Vista Middle School, 415 5th Ave., Chula Vista 91910.
Sponsors include HHSA/Behavioral Health, AARP and Kaiser Permanente.Registration is required. Call the AARP Registration Line at (877) 926-8300 or visit www.AISevents.org
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