"Across generations, there is as much to learn as there is to teach." This quote by Gloria Steinem reminds us of the importance of intergenerational friendships. When various ages come together, a productive cycle of teaching and learning happens. And, it's probably one of the healthiest ways for our society to move forward. Intergenerational camaraderie builds upon the strengths that different generations have to offer. It nurtures understanding and mutual respect for one other.
With this in mind, Resort Lifestyle Communities is excited about an upcoming celebration called Join Hands Day. If you haven't heard of this special occasion, it's an entire day that encourages generations (young and golden) to come together through volunteering. It's observed on the first Saturday in May, so there's plenty of time to plan something fun and meaningful.
For a bit of background, this annual event is sponsored by the American Fraternal Alliance. The first official Join Hands Day was celebrated in 2000 with the purpose of bringing people and nonprofit organizations together from all over the world for the betterment of society at large.
Today, Join Hands Day has become an intergenerational celebration that provides wonderful volunteer services to communities while offering a platform for different generations to come together to talk, work, and learn from one another.
For one, it's a way to cultivate unity. Through shared experiences and perspectives, we can usher in new and better ideas and eras. Join Hands Day is also a great motivator to volunteer, which has a wealth of benefits.
Nationalservice.gov reports volunteering keeps older adults healthier. Senior Corps volunteers, in particular, have self-rated their health as better than those who did not volunteer. They also reported significantly less depression and feelings of isolation.
Intergenerational volunteering impacts everyone involved. When young people have a chance to interact with seniors, they develop communication skills, positive attitudes about aging, problem-solving abilities, broader social networks, and a sense of purpose. Research shows that young people involved in intergenerational mentoring programs are 52% less likely to skip school, 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs, and 27% less likely to begin using alcohol. Those are great reasons for seniors to invest more time in our youth.
In addition to satisfying the social and psychological needs of participants, volunteering helps achieve the goals of nonprofits. It also benefits communities at large, helping them become a better place to live. From providing food, shelter, and clothes to those in need to teaching life skills for free, volunteering is a celebration and strengthening of our humanity.
If you love the idea of Join Hands Day, here are three ways you can roll up your sleeves and get involved:
Hopefully, you'll be so inspired by Join Hands Day that you'll give it a try, make a new friend, and decide to volunteer throughout the year together. We fully support volunteering and love helping our residents find opportunities in our communities where possible.
If you're interested in learning more about our programming or our independent, all-inclusive lifestyle, give us a call. You can visit our interactive map to find the location and phone number near you. We'd love to have you join us on Join Hands Day - and any day of the year!
Resort Lifestyle Communities (RLC) develops all-inclusive resort-style communities to provide a relaxing and worry-free retirement lifestyle for residents. The comfort, safety, and enjoyment of our residents are our top priorities. For this reason, every community is staffed with live-in managers, a 24/7 emergency alert system and concierge service, gourmet chefs, housekeepers, maintenance staff, a full-time lifestyle director, and more. For more information about RLC, visit RLCommunities.com.
