(1) Audience: Lonely elderly people who are struggling to connect with people, especially youth, on a day to day basis and feel extremely isolated. We are also in this sense, targeting youth to actively engage with elderly people and build intergenerational relationships.
(2) Existing Situation: As with getting old, elderly people begin to lose their mobility and friends/partners due to old age and illnesses. This can see them becoming isolated and trapped within the same daily routine. Since the younger generation's daily life often doesn't cross paths with the elderly's daily life, the two generations often don't interact. Seeing as the elderly often rely on these interacts for their daily social contact outside of the rest home or their home, their mental health is easily impacted negatively by little social contact.
(3) Desired Action & Outcome: Getting elderly people re-engaged and re-established as valued members of our communities and provide them with opportunities to connect and engage with youth. Perhaps make them a bit more tech savvy so they are able to communicate with loved ones who are living in a different area.
(4) Current barrier or opportunity: There is a level of shame and embarrassment surrounded by expressing that you are lonely. Many feel it is either their own fault or a reflection of their families unwillingness, or inability, to care enough for them. This stigma creates a significant barrier that isolates the individual and develops a barrier to seeking help. The reasons people find themselves isolated are multi-faceted and therefore so too must be the solutions.
(5) “How Might We…”: Develop some type of exercise that encourages connecting elderly people with youth, this could be anything from a game, a cooking class…
(6) Client: Wellington City Mission & Rest Homes in the Wellington Region: Village at the Park (Newtown), Rita Angus (Kilbirne), Huntleigh (Karori) etc.
(7) Precedents: All ranges of age groups can be affected by loneliness, so perhaps a similar issue to explore could be loneliness in youth and the drastic suicide rates in New Zealand. In regards to elderly people, possible approaches to explore could be…
(8) ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’: Connect, Give, Take Notice, Be Active, Keep Learning. This project will develop an active engagement and connection, it will give both the elderly and the youth an opportunity to learn from each other. It encourages society to take notice of these issues and implement changes through community engagement.
