Just stay home, already! People seem exasperated with their older relatives who have trouble staying home to avoid coronavirus exposure. The common belief is that older adults either don’t get it, or don’t appreciate all the social distancing being done to keep them safe.
 
Assuming this is true, why would so many older people ignore sensible social distancing guidance put in place to protect them, and disregard well-meaning requests from their children?
 
As a gerontologist educator, I say maybe we should ask them. 
 
Seeking Intergenerational Understanding
 
In order to better understand older adults’ response to coronavirus, I worked with three 20-somethings, my former

​I first met Joan as a student. She was the student. I was in my mid 40s and she was in her mid 70s. Joan participated generously in the courses I gave even though she could have taught many of the subjects herself.
 
Over the years, Joan became a colleague, mentor and friend. Our relationship got much closer when we created a class together on PTSD and dementia. We exchanged ideas in flurries of emails and multiple meetings.
 
Once the class was over we continued to meet for dinner and lectures, and Joan invited me to join the networking group she hosted.She was so proud of the fact that as of the month before she died, the group had been meeting for 17 years – without an agenda, officers, minutes, or even a pot of coffee.
 
Then, last year, Joan allowed her photo and a few facts about her life to be used for a program I designed to challenge age stereotypes. Nearly 200 people attended the event where they learned that at age 84, Joan took ballroom, ballet and Pilate’s classes every week. She couldn’t attend because she had just returned the day before from a trip to Alaska.
 
We set up a lunch date to catch up after her trip – but never met. Little did we know what that week in October would bring for her. 

Guest blog for AARP Connecticut by Donna Fedus, Gerontologist & Founder, Borrow My Glasses

states.aarp.org/time-reframe-senior-moments/

Guest blog for AARP Connecticut by Donna Fedus, Gerontologist & Founder, Borrow My Glasses

states.aarp.org/revolutionize-aging-students-aging/