Bridging The Gap Between Youths And The Elderly Is Essential For Community Well-being

Jerald McNair When I was young, I couldn’t wait for the grass to grow so I could take my lawn mower out and cut some of my neighbors’ yards. The days it sn...

Jerald McNairWhen I was young, I couldn’t wait for the grass to grow so I could take my lawn mower out and cut some of my neighbors’ yards. The days it snowed were great opportunities for me to get out my shovel, walk around the neighborhood and seek out members in the community who wanted their snow removed. A few of my friends, on occasion, and I would easily make $25 to $30 a day after school. What I realized was that it wasn’t just the money that really benefited me; it also was the relationships I developed with my neighbors, many of whom were either middle-aged or elderly.Nowadays, in far too many communities, summers and winters come and go, and we rarely see our youth canvassing the neighborhoods, asking to cut grass, rake leaves or remove snow. Unfortunately, in many cases, these are lost opportunities for our youths and senior citizens to get acquainted. These unrealized moments affect far too many communities and may speak to why crime is so rampant in some places.What is causing this estrangement? Is it fear? Or is it a lack of understanding? Data from Statista Research shows that people between the ages of 20 to 24 are more likely to commit a violent crime, such as homicide, than any other age group. Those 17 to 19 represent the third largest group committing these acts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded its highest number of gun-related deaths in 2020.We read about acts of violence being committed by youths that we never thought possible. People are now more guarded and worried about their safety. If a young person shows up at the front door and offers to cut the grass or shovel the snow, it’s conceivable that the young person will receive a resounding “no.”The pandemic exacerbated this schism as people had to stay in their homes for the sake of safety. If the elderly and the young are not communicating and having those shared experiences, how do we bridge the gap? How do we bring the generations together? How do we build trust between Generation Z and the baby boomers?The death toll of COVID-19 is staggering. But one thing that is getting overlooked is the pandemic’s social and psychological impact on the elderly. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 20% of U.S. adults live with a mental illness. Social isolation makes this issue worse, especially for the elderly.When race is considered, Black and Hispanic people are overrepresented when it comes to mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.These conditions make it more challenging for generations to connect and communicate, even among family members, let alone others who are not a part of a family. To bring calm to communities that are dealing with high rates of crime, a concerted effort must be made to bring the generations together to combat fear, mistrust and miscommunication.Community leaders, community members and families need to recognize that shared experiences between our youths and the elderly result in the development of better relationships. So much is made about hiring more police officers and finding social programs that work. But some of the answers can come from within the community. Residents know who lives in isolation; they know the young people who would like to do odd jobs; they know what the needs are in the community. They can help bridge the gap better than others.The need is greater now than ever before. AARP data shows that the number of older Black adults will nearly triple, and the number of older Hispanic adults will quintuple over the next few decades. That means many communities will have older residents living alone and often in isolation. If efforts are not made to mitigate the fear that many feel, the mistrust will worsen.Poor relationships among residents opens the door for more crime. Too many of our senior citizens are becoming invisible to the young. They are being overlooked and devalued in far too many communities. Yet what they have to contribute is priceless.Communities should bring the generations together. Youths bring life while the elderly bring wisdom. When they work together, they can achieve harmony. Coretta Scott King once said: “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” When there is caring and understanding among citizens, crime does not have place to roam. (Jerald McNair is a school administrator at South Holland School District 151, in suburban Chicago.)