We are at the home stretch of the quarter and the course load is building up for me! Hopefully I can make it through the end of the quarter with all the things on my plate! This week I decided I wanted to do my HAP in conjunction with Meena, Esthel, Rachel, and Susie. Our HAP (Healthy Aging Project) will be called Project Snail Mail: Intergenerational Pen Pals.
After doing some research, I learned that nearly 29% of the senior population (65 years and older) live alone. Adults who live alone are more prone to experience social isolation and loneliness because barriers of transportation and lack of resources are scarcely available for individuals to leave their homes. As a result, lack of social interaction negatively affects one’s wellbeing and life trajectory.
Our Healthy Aging Project is centered toward reducing the issues regarding social isolation among older adults who reside in senior centers in San Diego County. Snail Mail is centered toward creating an intergenerational pen pal in which a young and older adult will be able to exchange conversation with one another over the course of 7-8 weeks and will be followed by a “pen pal reveal” at the end of the Spring Quarter. While working on the proposal, I felt that this project is needed for our community. Not only does this project focus in on reducing social isolation among older adults, but it also promotes unity across generations and dismantles stigmas of intergenerational communication. I am excited to be beginning this project with my classmates and I look forward to the work we will be doing!
After doing some research, I learned that nearly 29% of the senior population (65 years and older) live alone. Adults who live alone are more prone to experience social isolation and loneliness because barriers of transportation and lack of resources are scarcely available for individuals to leave their homes. As a result, lack of social interaction negatively affects one’s wellbeing and life trajectory.
Our Healthy Aging Project is centered toward reducing the issues regarding social isolation among older adults who reside in senior centers in San Diego County. Snail Mail is centered toward creating an intergenerational pen pal in which a young and older adult will be able to exchange conversation with one another over the course of 7-8 weeks and will be followed by a “pen pal reveal” at the end of the Spring Quarter. While working on the proposal, I felt that this project is needed for our community. Not only does this project focus in on reducing social isolation among older adults, but it also promotes unity across generations and dismantles stigmas of intergenerational communication. I am excited to be beginning this project with my classmates and I look forward to the work we will be doing!