Serving Our Seniors Magazine: Jan - March 2023

PREVENTING SENIOR Learn how to help protect yourself and your aging loved ones with our free Civista Learning Vault Financial Caregiving Course. FINANCIAL FRAUD Scan QR Code Seniors are increasingly becoming targets of financial fraud and abuse. Visit https://bit.ly/civista-financial-caregiving civista .bank | 8 .6 . 68 Focused on You Closing the Social Distance Between Young & Old There is a term in the field of sociology called “Social Distance.” It has nothing to do with Covid. It means “The degree of acceptance or rejection of social interaction between individuals and especially those belonging to different social groups.” (merriam-webster.com/dictionary ). In our society, older adults and teenagers don’t interact as social groups. This means there is significant social distance between these two generations. As part of a week-long study of older Americans, Perkins High School sociology students talked and interacted with a variety of guests, age 60+. It was a positive experience for everyone! Research shows that providing opportunities for young people to get to know older people are effective ways of debunking negative stereotypes about aging. If you don’t believe it, ask PHS student, Hailey Kubitz (class of 2025): I think this exercise was really important, and I wish everyone got to experience it (not only the sociology class) because it really sets you into perspective of how hard the generations before us had it and how much we should appreciate our society today. It relates a lot to what we are learning about - stereotypes, racism, ageism, etc Dan discusses being age 90 Kathy teaches the board game Sorry Doing the Electric Slide Joe Ann Teaches Marbles 24