Intergenerate Proves Age is No Barrier
by Alecia Sirk
WVU senior Alicia
Shaffer will earn a degree this year in child development and
family studies with a certificate in gerontology, but she learned
one of her most important lessons outside the classroom.
"Never underestimate the power of anybody," she says.
Shaffer formulated this philosophy through her participation
in Intergenerate, a WVU organization that pairs students with
senior citizens one afternoon a month for social and educational
activities.
"Senior citizens are out there and they are going and they have so much energy and enthusiasm," says Shaffer, who served as president of Intergenerate during the 1998-99 school year. "People who say things like, 'Older people can't do that,' are wrong. [Senior citizens] are absolutely amazing."
Intergenerate was founded in 1994 by Enid Portnoy, a WVU communications studies associate professor. In 1997, Intergenerate received the Governor's Service Award for excellence in volunteerism.
Since Dr. Portnoy's retirement in 1998, Sharon Brinkman-Windle has been the advisor with assistance from the Intergenerate Advisory Board and student officers. Brinkman-Windle is a program specia for the Community Service and Outreach Unit of the WVU Center on Aging. Intergenerate is sponsored by the WVU Center on Aging and reflects the University's commitment to programs for the elderly, as well as multi-generational experiences. These are a central focus in 1999, which was deemed the Year of Older Persons by the United Nations.
"Intergenerate is a way to keep students and seniors actively involved in positive experiences that not only benefit the individuals, but the community as well," she says. "I see it as a way to combat stereotypes of the young, the not-so-young, and older persons."
Brinkman-Windle said she believes strongly in intergenerational
interdependence.
"We often discount or disregard the contributions that people
make in families," she said. "Even outside of the family
unit, we can and do depend on each other to keep us involved
in life around us, so we don't become isolated or self-absorbed.
It adds to our quality of life."
Some of last year's popular Intergenerate events included intergenerational clogging and swing dancing. Participants also learned the dulcimer and some computer programs.
"It was great to see seniors clogging and swing dancing
with college students," Shaffer says. "Clogging was
probably my favorite."
Most of the events are held on the WVU campus, but the organization
is starting to branch out into the Morgantown community. Last
year, Intergenerate held programs at the Madison Rehabilitation
Hospital in conjunction with WVU's freshman orientation program,
and each year at Christmas members decorate all 10 floors of
Unity Manor, Morgantown's high-rise for seniors.
Programs for the fall semester of 1999 include instruction on how to make web pages, tai chi, and a talk on antiques. Members also took part in the third annual World Health Organization Intergenerational Walk, held on October 2 in conjunction with the WVU vs. Navy football game.
Brinkman-Windle says that Intergenerate benefits WVU students and the seniors equally, and that members often become close friends. "The two groups find they have more in common than they do in conflict," she says.
"Students considering careers that will focus on our
aging population get the opportunity to know seniors in a non-clinical,
non-threatening environment," she explains. "Students
who are away from home the first time also get the opportunity
to make a mature friend in the community."
For more information, call Brinkman-Windle at (304) 293-6610
or 1-888-WV-AGING.
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