Serving Our Seniors Magazine July - Sept 2023

Sociology is the study of social life, social change and the social causes and consequences of human behavior; as well as the structure of social groups/classes, organizations and societies; and how people interact within these settings. Gerontology , is the study of aging processes and includes the study of physical, mental and social changes in people as they age; and the changes in society resulting from the aging population. This spring, Serving Our Seniors’ Program Coordinator, Nancy Dellisanti, arranged for those age 60+ to come to Perkins High School’s Sociology class. PHS sociology students talked with guests, age 90 and older, to learn what it is like to be their age. On another day, the students talked with guests about what it was like to live through the civil rights movement and the last day they talked about the music each of the different generation enjoys. Finally, the guests taught the students dances from the 1960’s. They were having fun! Judy Williams, a Serving Our Seniors Board Member, recognizes the importance of understanding how our future leaders view people of older age. She took it upon herself to interview three young adults who live in the Vermilion area, to learn their perspective on aging. In this article, you will meet one of those teens and hear what he believes about older people. Hayden Valenti, 17, was interviewed, this winter, while a Senior and a star discus and shot put athlete at Vermilion High School. At that time, he said he plans to go to Ashland University to participate in their track program and study exercise science. When asked to describe older people using adjectives, Hayden said, “Wise; sometimes irritable; kind, most of the time; slower, stubborn and GREAT.” The people of older age, whom he referred to most often, were his grandparents. Hayden’s maternal grandparents live in West Virginia and he does not see them frequently. His dad’s parents live in Amherst, so he sees them more often. He said his grandfather can be outspoken! He can be irritable in a restaurant, when something isn’t right, or fast enough. “But”, Hayden went on, “everyone has their bad days.” He did notice that his grandfather is happy to see younger people. “My grandparents move slower and it takes them time to do certain things. They need help from younger people. Senior citizens were born at a different time. Hayden suggested they (senior citizens) should not be afraid to ask for help. Younger people need to be patient and respectful with senior citizens.” Perspectives on Aging By Judy Williams A Practical Experience in Social Gerontology Hayden Valenti and Judy Williams Rev. Herman Robinson Jennifer Ashburn dances with students Sue Garrett 18