[Music] [Laughter]
[Applause]
[Applause] there is something that every person and
there is something that every person and
there is something that every person and creature on this planet I think can
creature on this planet I think can
creature on this planet I think can relate to something as common as
relate to something as common as
relate to something as common as breathing and that each one of you is
breathing and that each one of you is
breathing and that each one of you is doing in your seats right now so any
doing in your seats right now so any
doing in your seats right now so any guesses aging i’m talking about aging so
guesses aging i’m talking about aging so
guesses aging i’m talking about aging so some of you in the audience are probably
some of you in the audience are probably
some of you in the audience are probably thinking why is this 20 17 year-old girl
thinking why is this 20 17 year-old girl
thinking why is this 20 17 year-old girl up on stage reminding me that I’m aging
up on stage reminding me that I’m aging
up on stage reminding me that I’m aging I mean shoot I’ve got wrinkles that are
I mean shoot I’ve got wrinkles that are
I mean shoot I’ve got wrinkles that are gonna do that please just stop but it’s
gonna do that please just stop but it’s
gonna do that please just stop but it’s true whether you want to admit it or not
true whether you want to admit it or not
true whether you want to admit it or not whether it’s a baby taking their first
whether it’s a baby taking their first
whether it’s a baby taking their first few breasts in the world
few breasts in the world
few breasts in the world or a person taking the very last every
or a person taking the very last every
or a person taking the very last every second we’re all getting just a little
second we’re all getting just a little
second we’re all getting just a little bit older now granted as I mentioned I’m
bit older now granted as I mentioned I’m
bit older now granted as I mentioned I’m in my 20s so hopefully I have a couple
in my 20s so hopefully I have a couple
in my 20s so hopefully I have a couple more years before I start seeing some
more years before I start seeing some
more years before I start seeing some gray hairs but considering the
gray hairs but considering the
gray hairs but considering the experience that I just saw my
experience that I just saw my
experience that I just saw my grandparents go through the nursing home
grandparents go through the nursing home
grandparents go through the nursing home it really got me thinking what that
it really got me thinking what that
it really got me thinking what that stage of life was going to look like for
stage of life was going to look like for
stage of life was going to look like for my parents and eventually myself and
my parents and eventually myself and
my parents and eventually myself and maybe some of you in the audience right
maybe some of you in the audience right
maybe some of you in the audience right now are thinking wow I really connect
now are thinking wow I really connect
now are thinking wow I really connect with that because I’m going through that
with that because I’m going through that
with that because I’m going through that with my mom or my dad right now or my
with my mom or my dad right now or my
with my mom or my dad right now or my grandpa and my grandma it’s just really
grandpa and my grandma it’s just really
grandpa and my grandma it’s just really hard for us so what are we doing to
hard for us so what are we doing to
hard for us so what are we doing to improve the system though when people
improve the system though when people
improve the system though when people find out that this is where I’m
find out that this is where I’m
find out that this is where I’m interested in going with my career I was
interested in going with my career I was
interested in going with my career I was get a lot of funny looks like why are
get a lot of funny looks like why are
get a lot of funny looks like why are you interested in this and how did you
you interested in this and how did you
you interested in this and how did you even start thinking about this I’m
even start thinking about this I’m
even start thinking about this I’m pretty sure you’re one of the few
pretty sure you’re one of the few
pretty sure you’re one of the few Millennials who has this on their radar
Millennials who has this on their radar
Millennials who has this on their radar and it’s true I do feel like that and it
and it’s true I do feel like that and it
and it’s true I do feel like that and it doesn’t sound like a very glamorous job
doesn’t sound like a very glamorous job
doesn’t sound like a very glamorous job but I really think it could be so if
but I really think it could be so if
but I really think it could be so if you’re wondering where my journey
you’re wondering where my journey
you’re wondering where my journey started and why I’m doing this it all
started and why I’m doing this it all
started and why I’m doing this it all started with an idea I had this summer
started with an idea I had this summer
started with an idea I had this summer that got me excited to think I could be
that got me excited to think I could be
that got me excited to think I could be a part of the solution this summer I was
a part of the solution this summer I was
a part of the solution this summer I was in Atlanta having dinner at an old Sears
in Atlanta having dinner at an old Sears
in Atlanta having dinner at an old Sears warehouse that had been completely
warehouse that had been completely
warehouse that had been completely restored good at out restored tour you
restored good at out restored tour you
restored good at out restored tour you could see the original structure except
could see the original structure except
could see the original structure except now it was this really cool trendy hip
now it was this really cool trendy hip
now it was this really cool trendy hip mixed-use space that was for coffee
mixed-use space that was for coffee
mixed-use space that was for coffee shops and restaurants and bars and
shops and restaurants and bars and
shops and restaurants and bars and breweries and you know artisan
breweries and you know artisan
breweries and you know artisan crafts and stuff like that there was
crafts and stuff like that there was
crafts and stuff like that there was Mini Putt Putt on top four people and an
Mini Putt Putt on top four people and an
Mini Putt Putt on top four people and an indoor outdoor spaces for families to
indoor outdoor spaces for families to
indoor outdoor spaces for families to enjoy and so I’m as I’m taking all of
enjoy and so I’m as I’m taking all of
enjoy and so I’m as I’m taking all of this and I’m thinking wow this is just
this and I’m thinking wow this is just
this and I’m thinking wow this is just so cool there’s such a life and vibrancy
so cool there’s such a life and vibrancy
so cool there’s such a life and vibrancy here and then an idea hit me what if we
here and then an idea hit me what if we
here and then an idea hit me what if we took the concept of a mixed-use space
took the concept of a mixed-use space
took the concept of a mixed-use space and the life and vibrancy that comes
and the life and vibrancy that comes
and the life and vibrancy that comes from that and apply it to senior living
from that and apply it to senior living
from that and apply it to senior living and long-term care create the idea right
and long-term care create the idea right
and long-term care create the idea right so actually take the assisted living the
so actually take the assisted living the
so actually take the assisted living the independent living the nursing homes and
independent living the nursing homes and
independent living the nursing homes and place them above or next to all the
place them above or next to all the
place them above or next to all the actions that they too can enjoy it and
actions that they too can enjoy it and
actions that they too can enjoy it and we have opportunities for the whole
we have opportunities for the whole
we have opportunities for the whole family to come and enjoy the Botanical
family to come and enjoy the Botanical
family to come and enjoy the Botanical Gardens around but also there’s
Gardens around but also there’s
Gardens around but also there’s opportunities for residents to volunteer
opportunities for residents to volunteer
opportunities for residents to volunteer maybe there’s a coffee shop there where
maybe there’s a coffee shop there where
maybe there’s a coffee shop there where students like to go and study and hang
students like to go and study and hang
students like to go and study and hang out and it’s open to the public but now
out and it’s open to the public but now
out and it’s open to the public but now that coffee shop becomes a big part of
that coffee shop becomes a big part of
that coffee shop becomes a big part of an elders day who lives around the area
an elders day who lives around the area
an elders day who lives around the area who gets up in the morning and has a
who gets up in the morning and has a
who gets up in the morning and has a reason to go have coffee around other
reason to go have coffee around other
reason to go have coffee around other people maybe it isn’t a mixed-use space
people maybe it isn’t a mixed-use space
people maybe it isn’t a mixed-use space but just a neighborhood so just imagine
but just a neighborhood so just imagine
but just a neighborhood so just imagine a neighborhood here you have houses here
a neighborhood here you have houses here
a neighborhood here you have houses here in houses your house is here and you
in houses your house is here and you
in houses your house is here and you have parks and places and playgrounds
have parks and places and playgrounds
have parks and places and playgrounds for kids to play and you also have a
for kids to play and you also have a
for kids to play and you also have a community for seniors in the same
community for seniors in the same
community for seniors in the same neighborhood so it’s not a place for
neighborhood so it’s not a place for
neighborhood so it’s not a place for seniors but a place that just has seen
seniors but a place that just has seen
seniors but a place that just has seen it there we as a society are guilty of
it there we as a society are guilty of
it there we as a society are guilty of warehousing our greatest generation that
warehousing our greatest generation that
warehousing our greatest generation that has contributed so much to our own
has contributed so much to our own
has contributed so much to our own upbringing country we put them in places
upbringing country we put them in places
upbringing country we put them in places that literally accelerate their aging to
that literally accelerate their aging to
that literally accelerate their aging to where they can’t see their relevance in
where they can’t see their relevance in
where they can’t see their relevance in the world anymore they lose their sense
the world anymore they lose their sense
the world anymore they lose their sense of purpose their day’s monotonous the
of purpose their day’s monotonous the
of purpose their day’s monotonous the games are the same and in some cases
games are the same and in some cases
games are the same and in some cases feel a sense of elder abuse and neglect
feel a sense of elder abuse and neglect
feel a sense of elder abuse and neglect I know this because I saw my grandparent
I know this because I saw my grandparent
I know this because I saw my grandparent go through this the last four years of
go through this the last four years of
go through this the last four years of his life when he was home elder neglect
his life when he was home elder neglect
his life when he was home elder neglect is a serious issue in our community 60%
is a serious issue in our community 60%
is a serious issue in our community 60% of elders don’t in nursing homes don’t
of elders don’t in nursing homes don’t
of elders don’t in nursing homes don’t receive visitors and those that do
receive visitors and those that do
receive visitors and those that do receive visitors only get visited about
receive visitors only get visited about
receive visitors only get visited about once a year you just imagine that
once a year you just imagine that
once a year you just imagine that imagine getting visited once a year
to make matters worse this is only going
to make matters worse this is only going to get worse in our country our country
to get worse in our country our country
to get worse in our country our country is just one of many around the world
is just one of many around the world
is just one of many around the world that is going to see a brink in a huge
that is going to see a brink in a huge
that is going to see a brink in a huge surge in their senior population of
surge in their senior population of
surge in their senior population of people turning over the age of 65 with
people turning over the age of 65 with
people turning over the age of 65 with the baby boomer generation in our
the baby boomer generation in our
the baby boomer generation in our country turning over 65 our country’s
country turning over 65 our country’s
country turning over 65 our country’s population and aging is going to double
population and aging is going to double
population and aging is going to double so we’re gonna see it go from 43 point 1
so we’re gonna see it go from 43 point 1
so we’re gonna see it go from 43 point 1 million to an estimated eighty three
million to an estimated eighty three
million to an estimated eighty three point seven million by 2050 and by 2060
point seven million by 2050 and by 2060
point seven million by 2050 and by 2060 this is going to be 1/4 of our
this is going to be 1/4 of our
this is going to be 1/4 of our population crazy so what are we doing to
population crazy so what are we doing to
population crazy so what are we doing to improve the system I fixated in on this
improve the system I fixated in on this
improve the system I fixated in on this one solution and it’s intergenerational
one solution and it’s intergenerational
one solution and it’s intergenerational connected a connection intergenerational
connected a connection intergenerational
connected a connection intergenerational communities are defined as communities
communities are defined as communities
communities are defined as communities that promote interaction and cooperation
that promote interaction and cooperation
that promote interaction and cooperation between individuals of different ages
between individuals of different ages
between individuals of different ages and that focus on the needs of all
and that focus on the needs of all
and that focus on the needs of all residents so to give you an example of
residents so to give you an example of
residents so to give you an example of this there are nursing homes that are
this there are nursing homes that are
this there are nursing homes that are putting preschools in date or putting
putting preschools in date or putting
putting preschools in date or putting daycares and preschools in nursing homes
daycares and preschools in nursing homes
daycares and preschools in nursing homes now so that the residents in these
now so that the residents in these
now so that the residents in these places can volunteer with the kids and
places can volunteer with the kids and
places can volunteer with the kids and read to them and watch them play outside
read to them and watch them play outside
read to them and watch them play outside in the playground and it just brings a
in the playground and it just brings a
in the playground and it just brings a new cool interaction between them
new cool interaction between them
new cool interaction between them likewise there are some nice assisted
likewise there are some nice assisted
likewise there are some nice assisted living communities that have beautiful
living communities that have beautiful
living communities that have beautiful apartments that they’re opening up to
apartments that they’re opening up to
apartments that they’re opening up to college students for free or subsidised
college students for free or subsidised
college students for free or subsidised rent and in exchange their volunteer
rent and in exchange their volunteer
rent and in exchange their volunteer time to be a companion to an elder
time to be a companion to an elder
time to be a companion to an elder neighbor and help them with some
neighbor and help them with some
neighbor and help them with some groceries or help them maybe cook a meal
groceries or help them maybe cook a meal
groceries or help them maybe cook a meal or play a game or – one of my favorites
or play a game or – one of my favorites
or play a game or – one of my favorites is a university in Seattle that decided
is a university in Seattle that decided
is a university in Seattle that decided to start eating dormitories near long
to start eating dormitories near long
to start eating dormitories near long term care and then actually offer meal
term care and then actually offer meal
term care and then actually offer meal plans to college students to encourage
plans to college students to encourage
plans to college students to encourage them to eat in the same dining halls as
them to eat in the same dining halls as
them to eat in the same dining halls as their elders now I think these are all
their elders now I think these are all
their elders now I think these are all wonderful ideas but I believe we can do
wonderful ideas but I believe we can do
wonderful ideas but I believe we can do more of it and I believe we can do it
more of it and I believe we can do it
more of it and I believe we can do it better we have the opportunity to be on
better we have the opportunity to be on
better we have the opportunity to be on the brink of changing the status quo and
the brink of changing the status quo and
the brink of changing the status quo and how we break down age segregation now
how we break down age segregation now
how we break down age segregation now this is really important I don’t want
this is really important I don’t want
this is really important I don’t want you to get caught up in how we’re going
you to get caught up in how we’re going
you to get caught up in how we’re going to do this but rather why we should
to do this but rather why we should
to do this but rather why we should believe in it in the first place we
believe in it in the first place we
believe in it in the first place we should believe in intergenerational
should believe in intergenerational
should believe in intergenerational connection as this
connection as this
connection as this because we can all be a part of it and
because we can all be a part of it and
because we can all be a part of it and by doing so and by believing this we
by doing so and by believing this we
by doing so and by believing this we will naturally achieve how we’ll do it
will naturally achieve how we’ll do it
will naturally achieve how we’ll do it too now studies show the
too now studies show the
too now studies show the intergenerational connection benefit
intergenerational connection benefit
intergenerational connection benefit many groups in our communities our youth
many groups in our communities our youth
many groups in our communities our youth and our older adults just to give you an
and our older adults just to give you an
and our older adults just to give you an example civic engagement a sharing of
example civic engagement a sharing of
example civic engagement a sharing of stories and culture and attitude towards
stories and culture and attitude towards
stories and culture and attitude towards our older adults positively affects our
our older adults positively affects our
our older adults positively affects our community in our youth there’s academic
community in our youth there’s academic
community in our youth there’s academic growth
growth
growth there’s empathy there’s self esteem and
there’s empathy there’s self esteem and
there’s empathy there’s self esteem and better health and well-being with our
better health and well-being with our
better health and well-being with our elders as well as their cognitive
elders as well as their cognitive
elders as well as their cognitive functioning and improved quality of
functioning and improved quality of
functioning and improved quality of living so what I want you to do it
living so what I want you to do it
living so what I want you to do it there’s a lot of kids in this room who
there’s a lot of kids in this room who
there’s a lot of kids in this room who are going to college soon and I want you
are going to college soon and I want you
are going to college soon and I want you to look about this list of majors now I
to look about this list of majors now I
to look about this list of majors now I just told you about a huge market
just told you about a huge market
just told you about a huge market opportunity here in a group of people
opportunity here in a group of people
opportunity here in a group of people we’re gonna really need your help in an
we’re gonna really need your help in an
we’re gonna really need your help in an area where your skill set the talents
area where your skill set the talents
area where your skill set the talents are going to really be needed so what
are going to really be needed so what
are going to really be needed so what way to see those connection points then
way to see those connection points then
way to see those connection points then by actually going down this list of
by actually going down this list of
by actually going down this list of majors at a university and seeing where
majors at a university and seeing where
majors at a university and seeing where your interests apply so medical field is
your interests apply so medical field is
your interests apply so medical field is a given but what about business or legal
a given but what about business or legal
a given but what about business or legal or social work or hospitality or tech
or social work or hospitality or tech
or social work or hospitality or tech you want to build apps work in a cool
you want to build apps work in a cool
you want to build apps work in a cool startup community then great do that
startup community then great do that
startup community then great do that this is my 91 year old grandma playing
this is my 91 year old grandma playing
this is my 91 year old grandma playing on her iPad words with friends so maybe
on her iPad words with friends so maybe
on her iPad words with friends so maybe you’re working in the startup and you’re
you’re working in the startup and you’re
you’re working in the startup and you’re doing all that cool stuff with the apps
doing all that cool stuff with the apps
doing all that cool stuff with the apps but you’re thinking about her and how
but you’re thinking about her and how
but you’re thinking about her and how she can connect with other elders around
she can connect with other elders around
she can connect with other elders around the world there’s people who are
the world there’s people who are
the world there’s people who are bringing virtual reality technology into
bringing virtual reality technology into
bringing virtual reality technology into the nursing homes to where people who
the nursing homes to where people who
the nursing homes to where people who haven’t been able to leave homes for a
haven’t been able to leave homes for a
haven’t been able to leave homes for a while to now put on those glasses and
while to now put on those glasses and
while to now put on those glasses and actually feel like they’re walking down
actually feel like they’re walking down
actually feel like they’re walking down the streets of Italy pretty cool there’s
the streets of Italy pretty cool there’s
the streets of Italy pretty cool there’s actually hearing aids now too that are
actually hearing aids now too that are
actually hearing aids now too that are Bluetooth enabled so you can all operate
Bluetooth enabled so you can all operate
Bluetooth enabled so you can all operate it on your phone so what I want you to
it on your phone so what I want you to
it on your phone so what I want you to do then I want you to get caught up in
do then I want you to get caught up in
do then I want you to get caught up in in how we’re going to do this but why
in how we’re going to do this but why
in how we’re going to do this but why it’s going to be important then from
it’s going to be important then from
it’s going to be important then from there your ideas will start to think we
there your ideas will start to think we
there your ideas will start to think we are all relevant in this
are all relevant in this
are all relevant in this a Shinto maybe it’s the English majors
a Shinto maybe it’s the English majors
a Shinto maybe it’s the English majors here who can actually a class credit and
here who can actually a class credit and
here who can actually a class credit and partner with the universities to where
partner with the universities to where
partner with the universities to where they’re actually getting class credit to
they’re actually getting class credit to
they’re actually getting class credit to help write memoirs with our seniors and
help write memoirs with our seniors and
help write memoirs with our seniors and then also film and journalism students
then also film and journalism students
then also film and journalism students can get together and leave they’re
can get together and leave they’re
can get together and leave they’re filming these stories of our seniors and
filming these stories of our seniors and
filming these stories of our seniors and them preserving them for families in
them preserving them for families in
them preserving them for families in modern ways that they can be passed down
modern ways that they can be passed down
modern ways that they can be passed down to other generations I just want your
to other generations I just want your
to other generations I just want your mom wheels to get turning on how you are
mom wheels to get turning on how you are
mom wheels to get turning on how you are relevant in this and how you can apply
relevant in this and how you can apply
relevant in this and how you can apply your skillset to this group of people
your skillset to this group of people
your skillset to this group of people who are desperately going to need our
who are desperately going to need our
who are desperately going to need our help and how we can reintegrate this
help and how we can reintegrate this
help and how we can reintegrate this group into our society so what I want to
group into our society so what I want to
group into our society so what I want to cause off with is a problem an old
cause off with is a problem an old
cause off with is a problem an old African proverb that a friend of mine
African proverb that a friend of mine
African proverb that a friend of mine shared with me once it says when a man
shared with me once it says when a man
shared with me once it says when a man dies an entire library burns so I wanted
dies an entire library burns so I wanted
dies an entire library burns so I wanted to show you what this looked like to me
to show you what this looked like to me
to show you what this looked like to me to do that I took my grandpa’s timeline
to do that I took my grandpa’s timeline
to do that I took my grandpa’s timeline and put it up here he’s 91 years old
and put it up here he’s 91 years old
and put it up here he’s 91 years old today and he is doing great loving life
today and he is doing great loving life
today and he is doing great loving life living with his wife on their piece of
living with his wife on their piece of
living with his wife on their piece of land five acres with their two dogs and
land five acres with their two dogs and
land five acres with their two dogs and very happy but just to show you and get
very happy but just to show you and get
very happy but just to show you and get to Indian idea of what all these
to Indian idea of what all these
to Indian idea of what all these chapters in his life look like in the
chapters in his life look like in the
chapters in his life look like in the importance of preserving his stories and
importance of preserving his stories and
importance of preserving his stories and also interaction with our elders and
also interaction with our elders and
also interaction with our elders and appreciating them and integrating them
appreciating them and integrating them
appreciating them and integrating them back into societies that they’re not all
back into societies that they’re not all
back into societies that they’re not all placed somewhere else from serving our
placed somewhere else from serving our
placed somewhere else from serving our country in World War two to taking his
country in World War two to taking his
country in World War two to taking his RV down the coast of Central America he
RV down the coast of Central America he
RV down the coast of Central America he has so much wisdom and insights and life
has so much wisdom and insights and life
has so much wisdom and insights and life stories to offer play people like us and
stories to offer play people like us and
stories to offer play people like us and unfortunately my grandpa is just one
unfortunately my grandpa is just one
unfortunately my grandpa is just one example of someone who is still living
example of someone who is still living
example of someone who is still living on his life the way he wants but there
on his life the way he wants but there
on his life the way he wants but there are so many out there who still have
are so many out there who still have
are so many out there who still have minds sharp as attacked and stories to
minds sharp as attacked and stories to
minds sharp as attacked and stories to tell and yet can’t because their current
tell and yet can’t because their current
tell and yet can’t because their current care situation puts them somewhere else
so it’s time to break down those silos
so it’s time to break down those silos that segregate our community by age and
that segregate our community by age and
that segregate our community by age and it’s time to think how we can take our
it’s time to think how we can take our
it’s time to think how we can take our neighbors and community and integrate
neighbors and community and integrate
neighbors and community and integrate these people back into our society
these people back into our society
these people back into our society because by doing so we’ll become one
because by doing so we’ll become one
because by doing so we’ll become one generation thank you
”
Be First to Comment