Older Adults & Academia
What happens if we shift our thinking and move from a health-based understanding of older adults to a strengths-based understanding?
his is the kind of question that Andrea Young (Research & Program Development Lead, Silvera for Seniors) is working on. Prior to joining Silvera, Andrea spent 12+ years working in the non-profit sector in various roles: research, evaluation, capacity building, financial management, and program design & delivery. In addition to being a dill pickle enthusiast, Andrea is passionate about research as a tool for meaningful change. Her work at Silvera is focused on supporting the team to stay on top of current trends, research, and residents’ preferences, and facilitating the application of research. She is driven by innovation, the need to move the needle, try new things and share knowledge with others. When she was a teenager, she spent a lot of time volunteering with seniors. She enjoyed listening to stories of what seniors have gone through in their lives, and knew she wanted to make a living in a role that supports seniors.
Andrea and the team at Silvera for Seniors are certainly moving the needle towards change with the Silvera Scholar program.
The Silvera Scholar program is in the early stages of development in partnership with academic institutions to engage older adults on campus. The program will actively engage Silvera residents in the community and in academia to enhance life-long learning, intergenerational learning, community and relationship building, encourage social inclusion, and increase visibility of older adults.
In our November Changemaker Conversation with Andrea, she asked a great question:
“How might we invite and engage older adults in academia and on campus?”
We touched on ideas like mentorship and respect for life experience, the diversity of older adults, living classrooms, bringing classes to the community, and more. We walked away with an important reminder from Andrea:
“Ageing is not lost youth, but a new stage of opportunity and strength.”
— Betty Friedan
As the Silvera Scholar Program continues to develop, we are still sitting with questions from the conversation:
What does an age friendly campus look like?
Where could older adults add value in a campus setting?
How do we connect older adults to opportunities in academia and campus life?
How could faculty and students leverage the knowledge and experiences of older adults in courses?
GET IN TOUCH
Reach out to Lee Tunstall for more information and to contribute to this remarkable changemaking initiative.