The Tale of the Teacher's Daughter
Celina Patterson on her father, fairy tales, and turning straw into gold.
Our Untapped Treasures: Children and Elders are Problem Solvers too
There are many reasons why people fail to invite children and elders to the table when it comes to solving problems: “They’re too young.” “They need to be protected from hearing about serious issues.” “I’m sure they care, but the world is a very different place now.” “They’re just going to talk about how things used to be.” “I wouldn’t want my child to be burdened with this reality.” “I don’t want to have to explain the issues repeatedly.”
The more serious the issue, the less likely it is that a child or elder will be helping to come up with a solution. We were all children once, and sometimes we had great solutions to problems that adults didn’t have. If we’re fortunate, we’ll all become elderly, and we will have a wealth of experience and accumulated wisdom to share. The goal of this conversation is to encourage people to approach problem solving in a more inclusive manner and ask elders or children to share their ideas.
Light Beam
A comic by Eleanor Klock about creative work, fulfillment, and despair
Conversation Project: Loneliness and Aging
Loneliness and isolation are common experiences for elderly people, especially for those who do not have nearby family members or who are not computer literate. What do you know about the elders in your life or in your neighborhood? Are they connected to their families in an enriching way? Do they belong to a caring community of some kind? This conversation is for elderly people and people who live near elders or have elderly people in their lives to explore questions, experiences, and obstacles to showing up for elderly people and to generate ideas for connection.
Conversation Project: Loneliness and Aging
Loneliness and isolation are common experiences for elderly people, especially for those who do not have nearby family members or who are not computer literate. What do you know about the elders in your life or in your neighborhood? Are they connected to their families in an enriching way? Do they belong to a caring community of some kind? This conversation is for elderly people and people who live near elders or have elderly people in their lives to explore questions, experiences, and obstacles to showing up for elderly people and to generate ideas for connection.
Conversation Project: Loneliness and Aging
Loneliness and isolation are common experiences for elderly people, especially for those who do not have nearby family members or who are not computer literate. What do you know about the elders in your life or in your neighborhood? Are they connected to their families in an enriching way? Do they belong to a caring community of some kind? This conversation is for elderly people and people who live near elders or have elderly people in their lives to explore questions, experiences, and obstacles to showing up for elderly people and to generate ideas for connection.
Rural Places
Stacey Rice talks to three older LGBTQ+ adults about living and building community in rural Oregon.
Our Untapped Treasures: Children and Elders are Problem Solvers too
There are many reasons why people fail to invite children and elders to the table when it comes to solving problems: “They’re too young.” “They need to be protected from hearing about serious issues.” “I’m sure they care, but the world is a very different place now.” “They’re just going to talk about how things used to be.” “I wouldn’t want my child to be burdened with this reality.” “I don’t want to have to explain the issues repeatedly.”
The more serious the issue, the less likely it is that a child or elder will be helping to come up with a solution. We were all children once, and sometimes we had great solutions to problems that adults didn’t have. If we’re fortunate, we’ll all become elderly, and we will have a wealth of experience and accumulated wisdom to share. The goal of this conversation is to encourage people to approach problem solving in a more inclusive manner and ask elders or children to share their ideas.
Consider This Discussion Group: Getting Older and Staying Connected
Oregon Humanities invites you to a discussion on the themes and ideas from our November 6 event Consider This on Getting Older and Staying Connected at AllCare Health in Grants Pass.
Oregon Humanities Program Manager Rozzell Medina will facilitate the group discussion in English through Zoom.
Loneliness and Aging: Making Space for Our Elders
Loneliness and isolation are common experiences for elderly people, especially for those who do not have nearby family members or who are not computer literate. What do you know about the elders in your life or in your neighborhood? Are they connected to their families in an enriching way? Do they belong to a caring community of some kind? This conversation is for elderly people and people who live near elders or have elderly people in their lives to explore questions, experiences, and obstacles to showing up for elderly people and to generate ideas for connection.
Loneliness and Aging: Making Space for Our Elders
Loneliness and isolation are common experiences for elderly people, especially for those who do not have nearby family members or who are not computer literate. What do you know about the elders in your life or in your neighborhood? Are they connected to their families in an enriching way? Do they belong to a caring community of some kind? This conversation is for elderly people and people who live near elders or have elderly people in their lives to explore questions, experiences, and obstacles to showing up for elderly people and to generate ideas for connection.
Consider This on Getting Older and Staying Connected
Aging is a life-long experience that is both universal and different for everyone. Some people join new communities and friendships in old age, while others experience profound isolation. Generational divides, both real and perceived, can add to a sense of not belonging. Join Andrea Cano and Fred Grewe for a conversation about aging and belonging: What are our fears around aging? How can we collaborate across generational divides? What can we do to ensure people are fully included in our communities as they age?
Loneliness and Aging: Making Space for Our Elders
Loneliness and isolation are common experiences for elderly people, especially for those who do not have nearby family members or who are not computer literate. What do you know about the elders in your life or in your neighborhood? Are they connected to their families in an enriching way? Do they belong to a caring community of some kind? This conversation is for elderly people and people who live near elders or have elderly people in their lives to explore questions, experiences, and obstacles to showing up for elderly people and to generate ideas for connection.
The Pains and Joys of Aging
An illustrated essay by Leanne Grabel
Loneliness and Aging: Making Space for Our Elders
Loneliness and isolation are common experiences for elderly people, especially for those who do not have nearby family members or who are not computer literate. What do you know about the elders in your life or in your neighborhood? Are they connected to their families in an enriching way? Do they belong to a caring community of some kind? This conversation is for elderly people and people who live near elders or have elderly people in their lives to explore questions, experiences, and obstacles to showing up for elderly people and to generate ideas for connection.
Loneliness & Aging During COVID-19: Making Space for Our Elders
Most people are finding ways to remain connected to their loved ones during COVID-19. Some are even reaching new levels of intimacy in relationships. But for isolated elderly people who are not computer literate, loneliness has only become more intense over the past year. What beliefs do we hold about loneliness and aging? If we have elderly neighbors and loved ones, what might they need at this time? This conversation, led by Pamela Slaughter, is for people who live near elders or have elderly people in their lives to explore questions, experiences, and obstacles to showing up for elderly people and to generate ideas for connection during this time of heightened isolation.
The Rebirth of Wonder
Tricia Gates Brown on poetry, mortality, and the love you don't see coming
Loneliness and Aging During COVID-19
Most people are finding ways to remain connected to their loved ones during COVID-19. Some are even reaching new levels of intimacy in relationships. But for isolated elderly people who are not computer literate, loneliness has only become more intense over the past year. What beliefs do we hold about loneliness and aging? If we have elderly neighbors and loved ones, what might they need at this time?
Loneliness and Aging During COVID-19
Most people are finding ways to remain connected to their loved ones during COVID-19. Some are even reaching new levels of intimacy in relationships. But for isolated elderly people who are not computer literate, loneliness has only become more intense over the past year. What beliefs do we hold about loneliness and aging? If we have elderly neighbors and loved ones, what might they need at this time?
Connect in Place: Growing Old in a Time of Uncertainty
No matter our age, we all hear and tell stories about growing older that reflect our own ideals and fears and the ideals and fears of our communities. This conversation is for people interested in exploring experiences of and obstacles to aging well in this present time. What are the revisions in our stories as we live in this time of uncertainty? What new roles are we creating? What practical information can we share with one another? How does the power of these stories affect us and those around us? Join facilitator Melissa Madenski as we look at the power of story in a conversation that will ask you to share your own experiences and ideas and listen to the perspectives of others in your community.
Growing Old in a Time of Uncertainty
No matter our age, we all hear and tell stories about growing older that reflect our own ideals and fears and the ideals and fears of our communities. As we live in this time of uncertainty, what stories of aging are we revising? Are there new roles we are creating? How does the power of these stories affect us and communities during this time?
Talking about Retirement
A conversation with Jason Arias on the importance of talking more about retirement in our communities.
Senior Dance Night
Josephine Cooper writes about finding her way back to the dance floor later in life.
Cover Songs of Myself
Jason Arias on "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and the different versions of ourselves.
Waiting
Renee Soasey writes about reckoning with her father's life and approaching death.
Posts
Readers write about Harm
My Brother's Keeper: "Unlisted: A Story of Schizophrenia"
This fall, Four Rivers Cultural Center in Ontario will present "My Brother's Keeper," a series of eight documentary film screenings exploring the lives of marginalized peoples and issues such as mental health, addiction, and mass incarceration. Each screening will be followed by a presentation and Q&A session by a local nonprofit or government agency.
Conversation Project: Just a Number
Aging and Intergenerational Friendship