senior citizen life essay

The Seven Habits That Lead to Happiness in Old Age

Your well-being is like a retirement account: The sooner you invest, the greater your returns will be.

“ How to Build a Life ” is a weekly column by Arthur Brooks, tackling questions of meaning and happiness. Click here to listen to his podcast series on all things happiness, How to Build a Happy Life .

I magine yourself 10 years from now. Will you be happier or less happy than you are today? I ask my graduate students—average age, late 20s—this question every year. The majority think they will be happier. But when I ask about their prediction for 50 years from now, it seems a lot less rosy. Being in their late 70s doesn’t sound so great to most of them.

They are shocked when I show them the data on what happens to most people: Happiness tends to decline throughout young adulthood and middle age, bottoming out at about age 50. After that, it heads back up again into one’s mid-60s. Then something strange happens. Older people split into two groups as they get old: those getting much happier, and those getting much unhappier.

Read: Three rules for middle-age happiness

Right around this same time of life, many people realize the importance of having made good financial decisions in their earlier decades. Those who planned ahead and saved up are more likely to be able to support themselves in comfort; many of those who didn’t, can’t. Something similar happens with happiness, as I show in my new book, From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life .

Each of us has something like a “Happiness 401(k)” that we invest in when we are young, and that we get to enjoy when we are old. And just as financial planners advise their clients to engage in specific behaviors—make your saving automatic; think twice before buying that boat—we can all teach ourselves to do some very specific things at any age to make our last decades much, much happier.

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I n 1938, researchers at Harvard Medical School lit upon a visionary idea : They would sign up a bunch of men then studying at Harvard and follow them from youth to adulthood. Every year or two, researchers asked the participants about their lifestyles, habits, relationships, work, and happiness. The study has since expanded to include people beyond men who went to Harvard, and its results have been updated regularly for more than 80 years. Those results are a treasure trove (and I’ve referenced them several times in this column): You look at how people lived, loved, and worked in their 20s and 30s, and then you can see how their life turned out over the following decades. And from this crystal ball of happiness, you can learn how to invest in your own future well-being.

As the participants in the Harvard Study of Adult Development have aged, researchers have categorized them with respect to happiness and health. There is a lot of variation in the population, but two distinct groups emerge at the extremes. The best off are the “happy-well,” who enjoy good physical health as well as good mental health and high life satisfaction. On the other end of the spectrum are the “sad-sick,” who are below average in physical health, mental health, and life satisfaction.

Read: Where age equals happiness

When they were young, the happy-well senior citizens tended to have accumulated certain resources and habits in their Happiness 401(k)s. Some of these are, like generational wealth, difficult for each of us to control: having a happy childhood, descending from long-lived ancestors, and avoiding clinical depression.

But some are, to varying degrees, under our control, and these can teach us a great deal about how to plan for late-life happy-wellness. Using data from the Harvard study, two researchers showed in 2001 that we can control seven big investment decisions pretty directly: smoking, drinking, body weight, exercise, emotional resilience, education, and relationships. Here’s what you can do about each of them today to make sure your accounts are as full as possible when you reach your later years:

• Don’t smoke—or if you already smoke, quit now. You might not succeed on your first try, but the earlier you start the quitting process, the more smoke-free years you can invest in your happiness account.
• Watch your drinking. Alcohol abuse is strongly correlated with smoking in the Harvard study, but plenty of other research shows that even by itself, it is one of the most powerful predictors of winding up sad-sick. If you have any indication of problem drinking in your life, get help now. If you have drinking problems in your family, do not take your chances: Keep that switch turned off. Although forgoing alcohol can be difficult, you’ll never be sorry you made this decision.
• Maintain a healthy body weight. Eat a diet with lots of fruits and vegetables and moderate serving sizes, but avoid yo-yo diets or intense restrictions that you can’t maintain over the long run.
• Prioritize movement in your life by scheduling time for it every day and sticking to it. Arguably the single best, time-tested way to do this is by walking daily .
• Practice your coping mechanisms now. The earlier you can find healthy ways to deal with life’s inevitable distresses, the more prepared you’ll be if ill luck strikes in your 80s. This means working consciously—perhaps with assistance from spiritual practices or even therapy—to avoid excessive rumination, unhealthy emotional reactions, or avoidance behavior.
• Keep learning. More education leads to a more active mind in old age, and that means a longer, happier life. That doesn’t mean that you need to go to Harvard; you simply need to engage in lifelong, purposive learning. For example, that can mean reading serious nonfiction as part of a routine to learn more about new subjects.
• Do the work to cultivate stable, long-term relationships now. For most people, this includes a steady marriage, but other relationships with family, friends, and partners can fit in this category as well. The point is to find people with whom you can grow, whom you can count on, no matter what comes your way.

Read: The type of love that makes people happiest

The best way to maximize your chances of happiness in your 70s is to pursue all seven of these goals with fervor, sort of like balancing your 401(k). But if you can choose only one to pour your heart into, let it be the last. According to the Harvard study, the single most important trait of happy-well elders is healthy relationships. As Robert Waldinger, who currently directs the study, told me in an email, “Well-being can be built —and the best building blocks are good, warm relationships.”

The seven funds of happiness are all based on population averages, which means, as they say in the commercials, your results may differ. Maybe, for example, you just can’t quit smoking. You won’t necessarily be doomed to misery in your 70s, but you’ll be better off if you can bolster your happiness through one of your other investments—say, by finding meaning and community in your faith.

Read: The meaning of life is surprisingly simple

If you want to ascend to that upper branch of happiness, following the seven steps as best you can is the most reliable way to do so. Take an inventory of your habits and behaviors today, and see where you need to invest a little more time, energy, or money to start moving in the right direction.

Everyone loves a happy ending, especially in the story of their own life. Start writing that ending today.

This essay is adapted from Arthur C. Brooks’s new book, From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life .

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Growing Old – A View From the Inside

The experience of aging from the perspective of a senior citizen..

Posted August 20, 2021 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan

• The lived experience of aging can help explain distinctive and unexpected behaviors of older people.
• Aging brings about changes that can be both disruptive and delightfully surprising.
• Hearing and vision loss can sometimes be misinterpreted as cognitive impairment. But this loss of acuity also gives wisdom.
• An increase in life literacy helps one stay centered, especially while navigating the (overwhelming) complexity of contemporary culture.

This is not a review of the research literature on aging. It’s a report of one aging person about the experience of growing older. Often, elderly people don’t want to discuss the intimate details of what they’re going through or explain their behaviors, so this account from the inside may help clarify.

First, general categories of age provide a framework for the different lives elderly people lead, starting in their sixties and beyond. In the United States, age 65 traditionally marks the beginning of senior citizenship. After that, the age categories are the young-old, the middle-old, and the old-old. At 67, I am a senior citizen and in the young-old group, and it is from that perspective that I give the phenomenology of growing old.

Abrupt Physical Changes

Unexpected changes in one’s body happen more frequently as we grow older, and we never really know when they will occur. In July of last year, the hearing in my right ear suddenly became muffled, and it has stayed muffled to this day. The hearing loss did not develop suddenly, but I experienced it that way.

Older people are as surprised as anyone about the physical uncertainties of growing older. The experience of aging does not follow the smooth curves of calculus but the jagged lines of catastrophe theory. A phrase from Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises applies to how ailments begin: “Gradually, then suddenly.”

Importantly, these abrupt changes should not be ignored. We should see our doctors when they occur.

Considering the Lives of Younger People

One assumption is that older people know what it’s like to be young, whereas younger people don’t know what it’s like to be old. But most older people do not know about being young today. Many aspects of daily life have changed, of course, but there is also a forgetting of youth—unless focused efforts are made to remember it. Although we are able to access vivid memories of our original experiences, we mostly rely on integrated memories, which are shaped by our present perspective.

Because our present selves change a lot more than we think , our integrated memories also change a lot more than we think. The youth we remember now differs in predictable ways from the youth we experienced.

Perceptual Decline

What looks like cognitive difficulty may actually be a decline in perceptual acuity. We don’t see as clearly or hear as precisely. Many people are aware of predictable physical changes—cataracts, increasingly rigid lenses in the eye that no longer accommodate near vision, hearing loss—but they can still be misinterpreted as an inability to understand. Sometimes we don't understand simply because we cannot see what we’re looking at or hear what people are saying.

In Wisdom and the Senses , Joan Erikson discusses how the loss of perceptual acuity contributes to a kind of wisdom. As our senses become less responsive, we learn humility, resilience, and interdependence.

Experience Matters

As we age, we gain life literacy . Our knowledge of concepts—semantic memory —continues to grow. In fact, our vocabulary can keep expanding throughout our lives.

We not only appreciate and apply expertise, we feel our knowledge. Our current 78-year-old president applies his life experiences to his political decisions—experiences with personal loss, with government, with family. Whether we agree with these decisions or not, the president is using his life literacy and feeling his knowledge.

Seemingly Eccentric Behaviors

Memories of individual events can strongly influence our specific attitudes and behaviors many years after the occurrence of these events. We accumulate lessons from these memories that then guide us in similar situations, so the older we get, the more of these memory-driven lessons we follow.

If we once ran out of gas many years ago, we may fill our tank every time it approaches half empty. One example that's closer to home: After a dinner gathering at my house, two friends helped clean up. I then witnessed one friend handing the other an heirloom crystal bowl and letting go before the recipient had a solid grasp. The bowl fell to the floor, smashing into little pieces. I now hold on to any dish a little longer than I need to when handing it to someone else.

Our Relationship to Popular Culture

I remain interested in movies, music, and fashion, but changes in popular culture seem to accelerate and subdivide with lightning speed. Consider music. In 1959, when I was 5 years old, the Grammy Awards began with 28 categories of music. Fifty years later, that number rose to 110 categories. The number of awards has now stabilized at 83 to 84, but that’s three times as many categories as when the awards began. (“Grammy” actually comes from "gramophone," a term that clearly dates its origins.) Keeping up with this increasing complexity often seems overwhelming to me.

Ease With Oneself

For many older people, life satisfaction increases even while ambition decreases. For me, the desire to distinguish myself has diminished, while my appreciation of the successes of friends and family has grown. Wendell Berry poetically describes this experience: “I am growing downward, smaller, one among the grasses.” We literally become shorter as we age, but we can also do so figuratively. Growing downward, smaller, among the grasses sounds comforting to me.

A Delightful Surprise

One of the lovely surprises of growing older is that older people truly look more attractive than ever. To us, aging creates more appealing versions of our younger selves. A news story trying to emphasize the agedness of a person with a phrase like “66-year-old grandmother” actually makes that person sound youthfully appealing to me.

Parting Words

Benefits from interactions between young and old flow in both directions . Younger people gain confidence and insight from good mentors, while mentors receive the gifts of enthusiasm, hopefulness, and an uplifting focus on the moment blended with plans for the future.

Robert N. Kraft, Ph.D. , is a professor of cognitive psychology at Otterbein University.

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Essay on Senior Citizen

Students are often asked to write an essay on Senior Citizen in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Senior Citizen

Who are senior citizens.

Senior citizens are individuals who are aged 60 or above. They are often retired and have spent a significant part of their lives contributing to society.

Importance of Senior Citizens

Senior citizens are important as they hold vast experience and wisdom. They have stories to tell and lessons to teach, which are invaluable.

Challenges Faced by Senior Citizens

Some senior citizens might face health issues, loneliness, and financial problems. It’s essential for us to help them overcome these challenges.

Respecting Senior Citizens

We should always respect senior citizens. Their contributions to our lives and society are immense. They deserve our love, care, and respect.

250 Words Essay on Senior Citizen

Understanding senior citizens.

Senior citizens, individuals aged 60 and above, represent a significant and growing demographic in our society. They are the custodians of tradition, wisdom, and experience. However, in the fast-paced world of technology and globalization, they often face unique challenges.

The Value of Senior Citizens

Senior citizens are the pillars of society, having contributed significantly to the development of the communities we live in today. Their lifetime of experience offers a wealth of knowledge and wisdom that can guide younger generations. They provide a link to our past and a perspective that enriches our understanding of history and culture.

Despite their value, senior citizens often face a variety of challenges. These include health issues, loneliness, and the struggle to keep up with technological advancements. Additionally, they may encounter ageism, a form of discrimination that can lead to marginalization and isolation.

Our Responsibility Towards Senior Citizens

As a society, we have a responsibility to ensure the well-being of our senior citizens. This includes providing them with access to healthcare, social security, and opportunities for active engagement in societal activities. At the same time, we should promote intergenerational learning, fostering respect and understanding between different age groups.

In conclusion, senior citizens play a vital role in our society. Recognizing their value and addressing their unique needs is not only a social responsibility but also a step towards a more inclusive and empathetic society. Let us cherish their wisdom and experience, and work towards a world where they continue to thrive.

500 Words Essay on Senior Citizen

Introduction.

Senior citizens, individuals who are 60 years and above, constitute an essential segment of our society. They carry a wealth of experience and wisdom, having lived through various phases of life, and thus play a significant role in shaping societal values and norms. However, the aging process brings with it a unique set of challenges that need to be addressed.

Senior citizens are a repository of knowledge and wisdom. Their experiences, accumulated over decades, offer invaluable lessons for younger generations. They provide a historical perspective, giving context and depth to current events and societal changes. Moreover, they often serve as the backbone of families, imparting moral values and cultural traditions to the younger generation.

Despite their significant contributions, senior citizens often face numerous challenges. Physical health issues, mental health problems like loneliness and depression, and financial constraints are common. The inability to adapt to rapidly changing technology can also lead to feelings of isolation and inadequacy.

Role of Society and Government

Society and government play a pivotal role in ensuring the well-being of senior citizens. Social initiatives like community centers and clubs can provide seniors with opportunities for social interaction, reducing feelings of loneliness. Governments can implement policies to safeguard the financial security of seniors, ensuring they receive adequate pensions and healthcare benefits.

Technological Solutions for Senior Citizens

Technology can play a key role in enhancing the quality of life for senior citizens. Assistive technologies can help them maintain independence, while digital platforms can offer avenues for social connection. However, it is crucial to ensure that these technologies are user-friendly and accessible to seniors, who may not be as tech-savvy as the younger generation.

Senior citizens are a valuable asset to society, contributing significantly to our cultural, moral, and intellectual wealth. However, we must address the unique challenges they face, from health and financial issues to feelings of isolation. By leveraging societal initiatives, government policies, and technological innovations, we can ensure that senior citizens continue to lead fulfilling, dignified lives. Their well-being is not just a societal obligation, but a testament to our values and humanity.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

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The Importance Of Senior Citizens Essay Example

The increase in the life span that has been possible due to upgradation brought about in medical science, has created a new problem. It is that now we have so many senior citizens everywhere and their number is increasing day by day. It is estimated that by 2010, we shall be having about 11 per cent of our population in the category of senior citizens. This had arisen an issue whether senior citizen is an asset or either a liability. Many people would perceive them as old, incapable and sickly thus becoming liability to society. However, as humanity still being part of the moral fabric in our society, we wouldn’t abandon them, instead cherish and tried to bring them last bit of joy in the rest of their life.

First and foremost, senior citizens have experience, time, talent and the resources to give back to society. For example, they could act as chaperones on field trips or even serve as academic tutors to share their vast knowledge. Other than that, senior citizens also have the opportunity to volunteer as they have a lot of time to share ideas as well as learning something form volunteering activity. As a matter of facts, volunteering helps to bolster nation’s economy as senior citizens help organizations to save millions as they are working not to have something in return and solely from their pure heart in contributing. Hence, senior citizens clearly helped society by utilizing their free time to a better cause. In others context, senior citizen in the workforce have a wealth of skills and practical experience to share with younger worker in achieving company’s goals . They already had vast experience in coping with their work as well as wisdom at an advanced age to generate profit-making ideas. They can impart tried and tested work practices and good work ethics to younger workers thus exposing younger workers to patience, job integrity and boosting their self-esteem. Therefore, senior citizens vast knowledge in their workforce would tremendously help younger generation to survive in the company.

Lastly, the last point to highlight is senior citizens that already retired could focusing on keeping their family together for instance helping with raising their grandchildren when most of the parents engulfed in their works. Furthermore, these senior citizens could instil their family younger generation with moral values as well as preserving religious and cultural values in helping their grandchildren growth. They can pass on family history and societal norms which would be impossible for parents that are working full-time. Hence, senior citizens will help instil sense of pride and self-belonging to younger generation as well as ensuring that they are not lacking in parental love in this urban style living. 

In conclusion, senior citizens is indeed a valuable asset and an inspiration to the public, the workplace and at home. They will bring positive impact to those who are willing to share and reap their experience. As young fellow Malaysian, embarking senior citizen to stay ahead of their prime day despite being old is the most significant matters to progress the nation as a whole. I certainly believe that senior citizens experience and vast knowledge could be utilise and eventually gauged as a valuable asset to our country.

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How can older people play a bigger role in society?

The main points from our discussion on how to make the best use of older people’s skills, knowledge and experience Read the discussion in full

What do people worry about as they grow older?

Anna McEwen, director of support and development, Shared Lives Plus : Older people have different expectations these days, and that will continue to change. What might have been good enough for previous generations will not cut it in the future, and what we have is not sustainable anyway. I certainly don’t want to end up in a care home, nor do I want to have to make the decision for my parents to go into one. I have worked with many older people who have just wanted to stay in their own homes. It’s about choice, having the services in place to support people to make choices about how they want to live, and be supported when necessary in later life.

Gemma Heath, PA Consulting Group : I think broadly the things people worry about are the same throughout life – finances, wellbeing, loneliness etc – but as people get older their feeling of being able to control these things changes.

Roger Newman, older person and LGBT activist: My concerns are the usual things like health, mortality, money, etc, but having a feeling of significance is also important.

Are there stereotypes of older people?

McEwen: Yes there are. Intergenerational work is a great way to break down barriers between groups of people. For young people to appreciate the experiences and skills of older people and vice versa so that we foster greater understanding between groups of people.

Helen Creighton and George Holley-Moore, International Longevity Centre : There are certainly stereotypes surrounding the baby boomers – well off retirees who maybe took early retirement, own a couple of properties and take frequent holidays. While we have made significant strides in reducing pensioner poverty in the last 20 years (previously to be old meant most likely you would be poor), there is still a significant number of older people living in poverty today. And with wealth inequality comes health inequality, as the Marmot report of 2010 pointed out.

Gillian Connor, head of external affairs, Hanover : I think that older age is still seen as a shorthand for ill-health, inactivity and decline and therefore that stereotype can prevail. There is also an unhelpful stereotype of older people as being anti-youth. There is such brilliant diversity in older age now – you really can’t generalise about a group who may range from 50 to 100+.

What role do older people play in society at the moment?

McEwen: Older people have a wealth of skills and experiences, they have lived through situations others cannot even imagine, and yet we continue to dismiss these lifetimes of experiences when they begin to need care and support and instead people become a list of care needs.

Heath: Older people contribute on a macro level to the workplace and financially and at a local level to their communities and individual networks in terms of experience. They have also contributed for many decades which is something which is often forgotten.

Creighton and Moore: Recent research by the ILC estimated that workers over the age of 50 contribute €2.5tr to the Eurozone economy every year, and many older people also contribute to the economy informally – by caring for their grandchildren or other family members. Figures from the Family and Childcare trust report that 2.3 million grandparents say that they look after their grandchildren in order to enable the children’s parents to go to work.

How is the environment geared towards (or against) older people taking part in their communities?

Simon Bottery, director of policy and external relations, Independent Age : There are so many simple things that could be improved. For example, most people over 65 walk more slowly than the 1.2 metres per second that is assumed at pedestrian crossings. The result is older people rushing to get across a road as the lights turn to green and the traffic begins to move.

Newman: In Singapore the elderly have smart cards that they can swipe at road crossings and thus slow down the speed that traffic lights change.

Heath: I would extend the “environment” to include people’s homes. How are we ensuring that people’s homes are adequate for them to remain independent and happy in? Local authorities should review their funding policies to ensure home solutions such as telecare and assistive technology are free to all with substantial need. This supports a reduction in demand on other healthcare services for example A&E departments when issues arise.

Connor: Small things, like well-placed benches for people to rest if they can’t walk so well, public toilet provision and thoughtful use of lighting and colour to aid those with dementia can be the difference between being active and housebound.

Creighton and Moore: Making active transport (walking, cycling) more accessible for older people is important. In the UK, cycling remains a disproportionately young (and male) mode of transport. In the Netherlands and Germany, for example, it is far more common for older people to cycle. Improving cycle routes to make them safer is a start. In Scandinavia, planning laws encourage mixed-use development, making journeys from the home to shops and services a lot shorter, and more accessible for older people. This has obvious health benefits, but also can reduce isolation in our older population.

Anthea Tinker, professor of social gerontology, King’s College London : The Age Friendly City research in London showed that there were some excellent features such as the freedom pass and better accessibility on buses and tubes but some way to go with such things as overcrowding, antisocial behaviour, lack of handrails and not enough time to cross roads at traffic lights.

What employment opportunities are there for older people?

Newman: I chair a local medical centre patient participation group and we have a number of older members who are using their skills in the workplace. However, working in later life needs to acknowledge our need for flexibility especially when our staying power might be reduced. Job sharing and part-time work can be ideal for us.

Jonathan Morgan, senior service manager, Red Cross independent living services in London: There are a number of opportunities to increase work opportunities for older people, someone mentioned previously that the third sector has notoriously low numbers of older people as employees despite having the most experience of advocating for them as a group. It’s a cultural shift that’s needed so that young people growing up are understanding the value of older people and the many benefits they can bring to the workplace.

Tinker: There is evidence of age discrimination in the workplace as the recent government report A new vision for older workers: retain, retrain recruit shows. Interestingly more older people are becoming self employed.

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10 Life Lessons You Can Learn From the Smartest Older People

I’ve posted before about research into the most important life lessons we can learn from older people , taken from Karl Pillemer ‘s excellent book, 30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans .

Here’s another take on the same subject:

Before the 50th reunion of Harvard Business School’s class of 1963 they asked them what lessons they would pass on to younger people .

This isn’t firm scientific research — but we ignore it at our peril. We can learn much about life from those who have seen it to the end.

The site has a lot of content but I’ve gone through and curated the bits that I felt were most useful and insightful. Hat tip to my friend Nick for the pointer.

ANONYMOUS: I would have been a better leader if I had been less cocky in my early career, and more confident in my middle career.

ROBERT K. BOWMAN: A successful leader: Knows as much as he can about his organization’s mission Believes in the mission Communicates the mission clearly Points the way Gets out of the way

RON LESLIE: Steps to find fulfilling work: Take the initiative to investigate the places you think are of interest. Ask good questions. Go with the self-assurance of having written on an index card each of your past accomplishments (including where you simply helped other people do their thing) in three forms: A simple phrase; e.g., “top salesman in New York office for three years” A three-sentence statement of the problem, your solution, and the result A one-page explanation or anecdote to share if asked to give details Use those cards deftly to encourage people to talk to you — showing you listen on their level and understand whatever they tell you. Remember: The more they talk, the smarter they’ll think you are.  

MARRIAGE & FAMILY

RALPH LINSALATA: Tell your spouse and children that you love them every day, no matter how you feel. Do not bring your problems home with you. Realize the joy that comes from helping your spouse and children excel in their fields of interest and enjoy themselves. Develop within your family a sense of obligation to help others. Spending quality time with your family — not just time — is critical. Choose a spouse who will understand and support you, and one for whom you will do the same. Life is much better if you can help each other grow and expand your knowledge, experiences, friends, and capabilities.   RON LESLIE: The sweetest words in the English language are, “Granddad, would you like to …?”

DONALD P. NIELSEN: Not all decisions turn out well. Be prepared to deal with problems over which you have no control. Almost everything will require more money and more time than you think. Never settle for “good enough.” Always strive for excellence. Set high expectations for yourself and those with whom you work. Move quickly to deal with people issues. Hiring smart, driven people is a ticket to your own success.  

WARREN BATTS: I was born in 1932 and grew up during the Depression. In the beginning, poverty was the level to which I aspired. When I reached it, my next goal was to get out of debt. That took several years. Then my goal was to become financially independent. After reaching independence, more money was not a great motivator for me. My interest became trying to make a difference — making the company I worked for successful, and working for my church and other volunteer organizations.

GROWING OLDER

ANONYMOUS: Retire to something — not from something. Stay engaged. Be physically active and intellectually curious.

CHARITY & SPIRITUALITY

J. LAWRENCE WILSON: If one is devoted solely to promoting the welfare of himself, his family, and his friends, life can be barren. Charity, faith, and spirituality enrich one’s life. Faith or the belief in a power greater than oneself seems to be important for humans, for spirituality is a part of every culture. If this spirituality fosters concern for the welfare of others, it is of great benefit to society. No matter what a person’s professed faith, I admire him if he is charitable.

HAPPINESS & SUCCESS

HENRY A. GILBERT: Success and wealth are being a lover and being loved. Success is using your tools and powers to enhance the lives and success of others. Success is capitalizing on economic opportunities yet treating others with over-reaching kindness.

J. LAWRENCE WILSON: When I think back over my career, I am struck that my fondest memories are of people rather than experiences, places, or accomplishments.

TURNING POINTS

RALPH LINSALATA: What did I learn from the turning points in my life? Look for great colleagues, role models, and teachers. Be certain to understand the opportunities relative to the risks, and how the risks can be avoided. Recognize your strengths and weaknesses, and act accordingly. Play to your strengths while you work, but work on your weaknesses.

GERALD (JERRY) WOLIN: Many things that happened in my career were the result of random acts. The important thing is to keep your eyes open to recognize the right moves.

LIFE’S LESSONS

JOSE M. FAUSTINO: I switched fields twice in my academic career — I believed the entire experience was part of growing up. The lesson here for young people: Do not hesitate to switch interests, majors, or fields of concentration. Find your preference or your passion, then focus on it to your heart’s content. Success is a journey – not a race. Prepare well, retain good practices, and make a habit of effective strategies: Do not be content to be average. Mediocrity breeds boredom, poor opportunity, and an unsatisfactory lifestyle. Instead, decide to excel in everything you do, and be distinctive, if not unique, in your approach. Take well-analyzed risks, particularly when there is everything to gain and little to lose. Do not be afraid of rejection when you have competently and ethically tried to succeed. Be skilled in political strategy. Interpersonal, leadership, and motivational skills are all important for success, but few consider political strategy. In my mind, there is organizational politics in any group with more than three people.

JOHN A. MOELLER: An important lesson in life is learning whom you can rely on, depend on, and trust, and whom you cannot. Only experience and “gut feel” can teach this. Human nature and values — whether of business owners, top management, associates, or staff — vary all over the place. Steering your life, family, career, time, investments, and loyalty toward those you can trust and rely upon is a priority. Never forget where you came from, and always remember what you are here for. Be true to your values and faith. We are here for a purpose. Enjoy the ride.

Here are more life lessons from the wise .

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Related posts:

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What 10 things should you do every day to improve your life?

This piece originally appeared on Barking Up the Wrong Tree .

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A Better Life for Older Adults Essay

Introduction, reflections, summary of the reflection, works cited.

At this time, when the global community is puzzled by the uncertainty of what is going to follow the pandemic, support and unity have never been as important. The aging population has been subjected to particular challenges related to the implementation of social isolation policies that prevent the gatherings of people. This means that many elderly individuals have been living in loneliness for prolonged periods as exposing them to the outside world is risky because of their vulnerable health status. The risk for death with COVID-19 is significantly more considerable in older people because of the reduced strength of the immune system and the presence of an accompanying condition that exasperate the impact of the virus on the organism. The good news is that modern technologies have presented a way of relieving the burden of social isolation and connecting people to facilitate communication and help them overcome the anxiety of being alone without any support.

During the current project, the focus was placed on providing a short-term intergenerational loneliness intervention among sheltering older adults. While it is essential to keep such individuals engaged in communication to keep them away from negative thoughts, it was also important to question them about their emotional and physical health needs. The findings of the interviews with older adults were expected to illuminate the key issues that the target population is currently facing to determine the steps needed to facilitate the improvement of their life quality, the quality of the services associated with aging, and caregiving, as well as the overall social expectations. This paper reflects on the interview conducted with one of three participants with unique perspectives on life and aging. The interviewee has provided a point of view on her current situation, which is invaluable for future service improvement and the overall practice.

The Reality of Aging, Desires, and Expectations

The desires and expectations associated with aging usually differ from reality. The answers that my mother gave to the question regarding this issue were somewhat surprising because she said that nothing excited her about aging. Such a perspective on the aging process means the individual has some emotional struggles associated with getting older. She mentioned expecting to be financially independent, have a happy family, and travel regularly. While such dreams are very positive and present a good outlook on life in general, reaching them is challenging for an older person. Significant levels of emotional and even monetary support are needed to ensure that an older adult with broad aspirations lives an accomplished life that is full of new experiences.

In my opinion, my mother has a different perspective on aging compared to others as some of her views are somewhat unrealistic. Compared to my godfather, who approaches every day at a time, my mother indicated that she hoped not to age the same way in which other people did. Such a perspective seems somewhat naïve as it does not consider the physical changes in the body and the cumulative effects of molecular and cellular damage. Instead of approaching aging with excitement, she is not happy about aging and mentioned she did not look forward to it because her life goals had not been achieved yet. In my opinion, it is crucial to help my mother to cope with aging through support because the negative perspective will only make the process emotionally burdensome. While becoming older is a thought that can even be depressing, there are also positive things about it, such as having more free time, pursuing hobbies, and even opening a small business to have something to do on an everyday basis. Since my mother shares the desire to have a business, I think that it could help her to have a more optimistic view of aging.

The lesson that should be drawn regarding aging is that older adults want to age graciously and approach life effortlessly. This point is especially relevant for the emotional support of older adults and the development of programs associated with increasing their self-efficacy, confidence, and independence. According to Scult et al., “a healthy aging program is a feasible intervention for targeting older adults that have the potential to increase their morale and self-efficacy” (26). Self-efficacy, in this context, refers to the ability of older adults to influence the events in their life as well as facilitate an improvement in personal ratings of healthy aging. Therefore, a healthy aging program should include insights from chronic disease management practices and physical and emotional health interventions that promote self-care in older individuals.

I think that my mother would receive tremendous benefits from a healthy aging program because of the need to lift her spirits about aging as a process. My family needs to show her that aging does not have to be daunting and that we will support her along the way toward reaching positive health outcomes. I would have liked her to take up a hobby that would make her feel good instead of looking for random things to do. An appropriately-developed healthy aging problem would allow her to combine everyday wellness practices with the leisure that would boost her mood and lift her spirits about getting older.

Dealing with Loneliness

At the time of the pandemic, social isolation and loneliness come hand-in-hand. According to the findings of the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and Administration on Aging (AOA) report, around 28% of older adults (13.8 million) older people live alone, which means that they can feel lonely and social isolated, especially during the quarantine. The interviews with the three older individuals showed that loneliness is a touchy subject, but there is always some room for positive thoughts associated with the issue. Social workers mustn’t take the problem of loneliness lightly because it contributes to human suffering in the elderly, among whom the prevalence of emotional distress contributes to the occurrence of physical conditions.

My mother, on the other hand, said that she sometimes felt lonely but tried to overcome the negative thoughts by doing something productive. This shows that programs designed to help older adults overcome the challenges of aging should incorporate hobbies and activities that could occupy them and offer a sense of productivity and accomplishment. Leisure activities represent a good option in this case because they represent an opportunity for personal goal setting, the development of strategies to get more positivity out of life, as well as to give life a new and exciting meaning (Sala et al. 1). Depending on the interests and desires of older adults, it is possible to develop a plan for leisure activities that individuals will incorporate into their daily routines.

Such activities can align with the healthy aging program aimed to facilitate self-efficacy as it is vital to promote the multi-dimensional improvement of older individuals’ paths toward reaching happiness during aging. For older adults, connecting leisure to the growth of self-efficacy is because of the need to boost their energy and increase the overall satisfaction with their lives (Scult et al. 27). Boosting morale is imperative for positively influencing the ability of older adults to deal with the challenge of loneliness, which has exasperated over the past few months. Also, it could be recommended for my mother to get a pet because they offer company in everyday life. It is essential not to overlook the importance of animals in the lives of older people. They can offer comfort and companionship at times when loneliness is an issue.

Improvement of Public Health Systems

The interview with my mother showed that there were some expectations of public health systems improving to benefit the aging populations. For example, it may be possible to offer more affordable assisted living centers that would change how the public healthcare systems function. This is an interesting thought because nursing homes often fail to address the healthcare needs of their patients, and the intervention of nursing staff and health clinicians is needed. The public health systems should be better suited to address the needs of older adults because they may feel left out from the everyday life of the general public. The perspective on public health that my mother provided is valuable to consider because it takes into account important challenges. For instance, she mentioned that many older adults were still driving, which presented significant risks to their health due to vision problems (Albert et al. 45). Also, she said that many buildings were not appropriately equipped for elderly and disabled people, and this point should be included in a plan on how to improve public health services.

My mother’s comment illuminated a critical problem that requires addressing. The sphere of public health has the potential to improve and ensure that the needs of the vulnerable populations are met when the latter are involved in the decision-making. As mentioned by Elliott et al., communication with older adults is important for facilitating meaningful engagement among providers to improve the quality of their services (383). By establishing a reliable and straightforward decision-making model, older adults can be involved in adjusting the current processes and services to meet their needs. Such engagement of aging adults in decision-making can facilitate an enhanced relationship between policymakers and the community to have more open communication. If not possible, healthcare providers, older adults, and their social support networks should share information to develop and sustain meaningful partnerships.

Making Society Better Designed for Older Adults

Reflecting on the interviews with my mother, I noticed that she said nothing positive about how society in general approaches aging individuals. Older adults encounter not only declining health but also may find it more complicated to adjust to the ever-changing society with new trends, technologies, socioeconomic shifts, and political changes. More support is necessary, and monetary contributions targeted at funding public health and life-long learning and education are essential for keeping the aging population healthy and fulfilled (Narushima et al. 652). Educating older adults on how they can navigate modern life will give them more leverage in decision-making and ensure that they understand what actions are better for them on a long-term basis. Thus, society should allow more participation from older individuals, including their involvement in the labor market, which can facilitate an improved quality of life. This can also include the promotion of financial literacy among the target population so that they are educated about how they can manage their monetary capabilities.

My mother supported the perspective that the general society is unsuited for the needs of older people. They start feeling less productive because they are not given a chance to adjust to technologies that are essential for navigating the fast-paced environment in which people love today. My mother also mentioned that designing a better society to fit the needs of older people implies ensuring that they feel productive for as long as possible, which involves ongoing education and job opportunities. Therefore, two individuals shared the same sentiment – having the ability to learn and develop professionally to feel needed and accomplished. Unfortunately, older individuals felt as burdens to society, which is troubling. There is a high need to shift the narrative and no longer approach older people from the perspective that they are vulnerable and cannot offer any significant contribution. The improved socio-economic and political participation of aging populations is essential because they can provide invaluable experience and knowledge that can enhance society.

In the interview, my mother showed that older people have aspirations and desires to live a fulfilled and happy life despite their age or the impact of declining health. Older people want to have their own business or travel because doing something makes them feel accomplished and well-rounded individuals. While aging is challenging and often frightening, there is always room for a positive outlook on what is yet to come. The development of healthy aging programs that facilitate self-efficacy and confidence in older adults is possible through encouraging hobbies and leisure activities that improve both the emotional and physical well-being of older adults. Whether it is taking up mild stretching exercises or getting a pet, aging individuals are encouraged to invest in opportunities that would make their life more fulfilling. The strategies are especially relevant when it comes to dealing with loneliness, which is an overarching problem affecting millions of older adults.

Beyond the healthy aging program, older individuals should receive support from the broader community because they often feel unwanted or undervalued. They should be involved in the decision-making on the policies improving public health systems because of their first-hand experience with barriers that reduce their quality of life. Besides, it is important to inform the older populations about the new tools available for information dissemination, financial transactions, and everyday activities such as online shopping so they can navigate their lives better. In addition, lifelong learning and professional education programs are necessary to integrate older adults into the workforce is recommended because of their potential to contribute to society with their knowledge and experience. The interviews showed that older individuals want to be useful and productive, but society and current health systems should adjust to their needs and support them on their journey.

• ACL and AOA. “ 2017 Profile of Older Americans. ” ACL , Apr. 2018. Web.
• Albert, Gila et al. “The Challenge of Safe Driving Among Elderly Drivers.” Healthcare Technology Letters , vol. 5, no. 1, 2018, pp. 45-48.
• Elliott, Jacobi, et al. “Engaging Older Adults in Health Care Decision-Making: A Realist Synthesis.” The Patient , vol. 9, no. 5, 2016, pp. 383-393.
• Narushima, Miya et al. “Lifelong Learning in Active Ageing Discourse: Its Conserving Effect on Wellbeing, Health and Vulnerability.” Ageing and Society, vol. 38, no. 4, 2018, pp. 651-675.
• Sala, Giovanni et al. “The Impact of Leisure Activities on Older Adults’ Cognitive Function, Physical Function, and Mental Health.” PloS One , vol. 14, no. 11, 2019, e0225006.
• Scult, Matthew et al. “A Healthy Aging Program for Older Adults: Effects on Self-Efficacy and Morale.” Advances in Mind-Body Medicine , vol. 29, no. 1, 2015, pp. 26-33.
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Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, how to write a great community service essay.

College Admissions , Extracurriculars

Are you applying to a college or a scholarship that requires a community service essay? Do you know how to write an essay that will impress readers and clearly show the impact your work had on yourself and others?

Read on to learn step-by-step instructions for writing a great community service essay that will help you stand out and be memorable.

What Is a Community Service Essay? Why Do You Need One?

A community service essay is an essay that describes the volunteer work you did and the impact it had on you and your community. Community service essays can vary widely depending on specific requirements listed in the application, but, in general, they describe the work you did, why you found the work important, and how it benefited people around you.

Community service essays are typically needed for two reasons:

#1: To Apply to College

• Some colleges require students to write community service essays as part of their application or to be eligible for certain scholarships.
• You may also choose to highlight your community service work in your personal statement.

#2: To Apply for Scholarships

• Some scholarships are specifically awarded to students with exceptional community service experiences, and many use community service essays to help choose scholarship recipients.
• Green Mountain College offers one of the most famous of these scholarships. Their "Make a Difference Scholarship" offers full tuition, room, and board to students who have demonstrated a significant, positive impact through their community service

Getting Started With Your Essay

In the following sections, I'll go over each step of how to plan and write your essay. I'll also include sample excerpts for you to look through so you can get a better idea of what readers are looking for when they review your essay.

Step 1: Know the Essay Requirements

Before your start writing a single word, you should be familiar with the essay prompt. Each college or scholarship will have different requirements for their essay, so make sure you read these carefully and understand them.

Specific things to pay attention to include:

• Length requirement
• Application deadline
• The main purpose or focus of the essay
• If the essay should follow a specific structure

Below are three real community service essay prompts. Read through them and notice how much they vary in terms of length, detail, and what information the writer should include.

From the Equitable Excellence Scholarship:

"Describe your outstanding achievement in depth and provide the specific planning, training, goals, and steps taken to make the accomplishment successful. Include details about your role and highlight leadership you provided. Your essay must be a minimum of 350 words but not more than 600 words."

From the Laura W. Bush Traveling Scholarship:

"Essay (up to 500 words, double spaced) explaining your interest in being considered for the award and how your proposed project reflects or is related to both UNESCO's mandate and U.S. interests in promoting peace by sharing advances in education, science, culture, and communications."

From the LULAC National Scholarship Fund:

"Please type or print an essay of 300 words (maximum) on how your academic studies will contribute to your personal & professional goals. In addition, please discuss any community service or extracurricular activities you have been involved in that relate to your goals."

Step 2: Brainstorm Ideas

Even after you understand what the essay should be about, it can still be difficult to begin writing. Answer the following questions to help brainstorm essay ideas. You may be able to incorporate your answers into your essay.

• What community service activity that you've participated in has meant the most to you?
• What is your favorite memory from performing community service?
• Why did you decide to begin community service?
• What made you decide to volunteer where you did?
• How has your community service changed you?
• How has your community service helped others?
• How has your community service affected your plans for the future?

You don't need to answer all the questions, but if you find you have a lot of ideas for one of two of them, those may be things you want to include in your essay.

Writing Your Essay

How you structure your essay will depend on the requirements of the scholarship or school you are applying to. You may give an overview of all the work you did as a volunteer, or highlight a particularly memorable experience. You may focus on your personal growth or how your community benefited.

Regardless of the specific structure requested, follow the guidelines below to make sure your community service essay is memorable and clearly shows the impact of your work.

Samples of mediocre and excellent essays are included below to give you a better idea of how you should draft your own essay.

Step 1: Hook Your Reader In

You want the person reading your essay to be interested, so your first sentence should hook them in and entice them to read more. A good way to do this is to start in the middle of the action. Your first sentence could describe you helping build a house, releasing a rescued animal back to the wild, watching a student you tutored read a book on their own, or something else that quickly gets the reader interested. This will help set your essay apart and make it more memorable.

Compare these two opening sentences:

"I have volunteered at the Wishbone Pet Shelter for three years."

"The moment I saw the starving, mud-splattered puppy brought into the shelter with its tail between its legs, I knew I'd do whatever I could to save it."

The first sentence is a very general, bland statement. The majority of community service essays probably begin a lot like it, but it gives the reader little information and does nothing to draw them in. On the other hand, the second sentence begins immediately with action and helps persuade the reader to keep reading so they can learn what happened to the dog.

Step 2: Discuss the Work You Did

Once you've hooked your reader in with your first sentence, tell them about your community service experiences. State where you work, when you began working, how much time you've spent there, and what your main duties include. This will help the reader quickly put the rest of the essay in context and understand the basics of your community service work.

Not including basic details about your community service could leave your reader confused.

Step 3: Include Specific Details

It's the details of your community service that make your experience unique and memorable, so go into the specifics of what you did.

For example, don't just say you volunteered at a nursing home; talk about reading Mrs. Johnson her favorite book, watching Mr. Scott win at bingo, and seeing the residents play games with their grandchildren at the family day you organized. Try to include specific activities, moments, and people in your essay. Having details like these let the readers really understand what work you did and how it differs from other volunteer experiences.

Compare these two passages:

"For my volunteer work, I tutored children at a local elementary school. I helped them improve their math skills and become more confident students."

"As a volunteer at York Elementary School, I worked one-on-one with second and third graders who struggled with their math skills, particularly addition, subtraction, and fractions. As part of my work, I would create practice problems and quizzes and try to connect math to the students' interests. One of my favorite memories was when Sara, a student I had been working with for several weeks, told me that she enjoyed the math problems I had created about a girl buying and selling horses so much that she asked to help me create math problems for other students."

The first passage only gives basic information about the work done by the volunteer; there is very little detail included, and no evidence is given to support her claims. How did she help students improve their math skills? How did she know they were becoming more confident?

The second passage is much more detailed. It recounts a specific story and explains more fully what kind of work the volunteer did, as well as a specific instance of a student becoming more confident with her math skills. Providing more detail in your essay helps support your claims as well as make your essay more memorable and unique.

Step 4: Show Your Personality

It would be very hard to get a scholarship or place at a school if none of your readers felt like they knew much about you after finishing your essay, so make sure that your essay shows your personality. The way to do this is to state your personal strengths, then provide examples to support your claims. Take some time to think about which parts of your personality you would like your essay to highlight, then write about specific examples to show this.

• If you want to show that you're a motivated leader, describe a time when you organized an event or supervised other volunteers.
• If you want to show your teamwork skills, write about a time you helped a group of people work together better.
• If you want to show that you're a compassionate animal lover, write about taking care of neglected shelter animals and helping each of them find homes.

Step 5: State What You Accomplished

After you have described your community service and given specific examples of your work, you want to begin to wrap your essay up by stating your accomplishments. What was the impact of your community service? Did you build a house for a family to move into? Help students improve their reading skills? Clean up a local park? Make sure the impact of your work is clear; don't be worried about bragging here.

If you can include specific numbers, that will also strengthen your essay. Saying "I delivered meals to 24 home-bound senior citizens" is a stronger example than just saying "I delivered meals to lots of senior citizens."

Also be sure to explain why your work matters. Why is what you did important? Did it provide more parks for kids to play in? Help students get better grades? Give people medical care who would otherwise not have gotten it? This is an important part of your essay, so make sure to go into enough detail that your readers will know exactly what you accomplished and how it helped your community.

"My biggest accomplishment during my community service was helping to organize a family event at the retirement home. The children and grandchildren of many residents attended, and they all enjoyed playing games and watching movies together."

"The community service accomplishment that I'm most proud of is the work I did to help organize the First Annual Family Fun Day at the retirement home. My job was to design and organize fun activities that senior citizens and their younger relatives could enjoy. The event lasted eight hours and included ten different games, two performances, and a movie screening with popcorn. Almost 200 residents and family members attended throughout the day. This event was important because it provided an opportunity for senior citizens to connect with their family members in a way they aren't often able to. It also made the retirement home seem more fun and enjoyable to children, and we have seen an increase in the number of kids coming to visit their grandparents since the event."

The second passage is stronger for a variety of reasons. First, it goes into much more detail about the work the volunteer did. The first passage only states that she helped "organize a family event." That really doesn't tell readers much about her work or what her responsibilities were. The second passage is much clearer; her job was to "design and organize fun activities."

The second passage also explains the event in more depth. A family day can be many things; remember that your readers are likely not familiar with what you're talking about, so details help them get a clearer picture.

Lastly, the second passage makes the importance of the event clear: it helped residents connect with younger family members, and it helped retirement homes seem less intimidating to children, so now some residents see their grand kids more often.

Step 6: Discuss What You Learned

One of the final things to include in your essay should be the impact that your community service had on you. You can discuss skills you learned, such as carpentry, public speaking, animal care, or another skill.

You can also talk about how you changed personally. Are you more patient now? More understanding of others? Do you have a better idea of the type of career you want? Go into depth about this, but be honest. Don't say your community service changed your life if it didn't because trite statements won't impress readers.

In order to support your statements, provide more examples. If you say you're more patient now, how do you know this? Do you get less frustrated while playing with your younger siblings? Are you more willing to help group partners who are struggling with their part of the work? You've probably noticed by now that including specific examples and details is one of the best ways to create a strong and believable essay .

"As a result of my community service, I learned a lot about building houses and became a more mature person."

"As a result of my community service, I gained hands-on experience in construction. I learned how to read blueprints, use a hammer and nails, and begin constructing the foundation of a two-bedroom house. Working on the house could be challenging at times, but it taught me to appreciate the value of hard work and be more willing to pitch in when I see someone needs help. My dad has just started building a shed in our backyard, and I offered to help him with it because I know from my community service how much work it is. I also appreciate my own house more, and I know how lucky I am to have a roof over my head."

The second passage is more impressive and memorable because it describes the skills the writer learned in more detail and recounts a specific story that supports her claim that her community service changed her and made her more helpful.

Step 7: Finish Strong

Just as you started your essay in a way that would grab readers' attention, you want to finish your essay on a strong note as well. A good way to end your essay is to state again the impact your work had on you, your community, or both. Reiterate how you changed as a result of your community service, why you found the work important, or how it helped others.

Compare these two concluding statements:

"In conclusion, I learned a lot from my community service at my local museum, and I hope to keep volunteering and learning more about history."

"To conclude, volunteering at my city's American History Museum has been a great experience. By leading tours and participating in special events, I became better at public speaking and am now more comfortable starting conversations with people. In return, I was able to get more community members interested in history and our local museum. My interest in history has deepened, and I look forward to studying the subject in college and hopefully continuing my volunteer work at my university's own museum."

The second passage takes each point made in the first passage and expands upon it. In a few sentences, the second passage is able to clearly convey what work the volunteer did, how she changed, and how her volunteer work benefited her community.

The author of the second passage also ends her essay discussing her future and how she'd like to continue her community service, which is a good way to wrap things up because it shows your readers that you are committed to community service for the long-term.

What's Next?

Are you applying to a community service scholarship or thinking about it? We have a complete list of all the community service scholarships available to help get your search started!

Do you need a community service letter as well? We have a step-by-step guide that will tell you how to get a great reference letter from your community service supervisor.

Thinking about doing community service abroad? Before you sign up, read our guide on some of the hazards of international volunteer trips and how to know if it's the right choice for you.

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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Jordan Mittler, a sophomore at The Ramaz Upper School in New York City and a participant in the Wharton Global Youth Summer Program, is the founder of Mittler Senior Technology, a company that helps senior citizens adapt to the world of technology. In this student essay, Jordan shares the story of how he started his business and why it has become so critical during this time of social isolation — especially in New York City, the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S.

In the next few months, Wharton Global Youth will be featuring a new essay every week, written by students around the world who are at home and eager to share their stories of entrepreneurship, leadership and experiences with business.

Five years ago, I gifted my grandparents, Janet and Mark Mittler, iPhones because it was painful for me to watch them still using flip phones! I have always been passionate about technology. I needed to get my grandparents, with whom I am very close, on board with the latest gadgets. It never even occurred to me that they would have no idea how to use an iPhone. They did not know how to perform many of the basic functions that come so easily to my generation, such as texting, Facetiming, photographing — and the list goes on.

And so, the idea for my business was born. I knew I needed to help this older generation, who missed the technology boom and was literally scared of trying to figure out our new connected world. As a result of this very real fear, they were often left alone and out of touch because they couldn’t communicate like everyone else.

Bonnie’s Got Mail

I decided to test my market concept at the local nursing home. I will never forget walking through those doors. I was only 11 at the time, and the director looked at me as if I had 10 heads. I went to the recreation floor and asked over a microphone: “Who would like free technology help?” I only had one taker. Her name was Bonnie Fisher, and I sat with her one-on-one for more than a year providing technology lessons. You should have seen Bonnie light up when she figured out how to connect with her sister and friends over email! I needed to figure out a way to reach a bigger audience.

I reached out to my synagogue, Congregation Kehilath Jeshrun, and asked if they would send a letter by mail promoting free technology help to all of their members over the age of 65. The synagogue was flooded with phone calls from interested seniors looking to enroll in tech class each Sunday. My temple, affiliated with my school, also let me use the school’s computer lab to hold my weekly classes. So many seniors showed interest that I had to maintain a waitlist. I got them into the classroom and taught them everything from texting to FaceTime and how to navigate the internet.

Fast forward to February 2020, and my classes were booming. I had even inspired some of my friends to join me in volunteering their time as teaching assistants. I had just added another class to fit in as many beginner and intermediate seniors as possible, and I felt like I was in a very good position to start scaling my business to reach even more learners.

We all know what happened next. Coronavirus swept through the world and our country, hitting the senior population the hardest and having a grim impact on New York City (reporting nearly 4,500 deaths through the beginning of April). During this time, I canceled my Sunday classes as my own schedule moved to at-home online learning.

I also realized, however, that senior citizens were suddenly even more cut off than ever. This new world of distancing was going to throw the older generation into more social isolation than they had ever experienced. One of my students, Roz Zuger, is 94 years old. I knew she would be disappointed without her weekly dose of tech class. So, I decided that I would attempt to continue my classes online via Zoom and walk all of my seniors through setting up the application and account. I started with Roz, spending endless phone calls with her to get her set up and comfortable with the online meeting platform. Roz had lots of trouble with the audio function on Zoom, and we slowly worked through this together.

After missing only one in-person class – and sending multiple texts and reminder calls — I had my whole class plus others online with me for our first virtual session. I updated my curriculum to be most helpful for seniors during this time when they were homebound and alone. For example, Rabbi Haskel Lookstein, the Rabbi Emeritus of my synagogue and Principal Emeritus of my school, needed help creating a group chat so he could communicate with all his children at one time. He was having particular trouble setting this up. I was able to show him virtually how to work through all the issues.

Facetiming and Ordering Groceries Online

The key to my teaching success with the older generation is showing, not just explaining. For seniors, talking in technology terms is less effective than presenting them with a visual of how to do something. They’re just not used to the language of technology. Roz, for example, was only able to launch Zoom after I Facetimed with her and sent her pictures via text of the next steps she needed to take. I helped Rabbi Lookstein by sharing visuals with him from my own computer screen.

In the past few weeks, we have been figuring this out as we go along – and it’s working. I started to record all of my Zoom sessions, so the seniors could replay any section of our class for review. After each online session, I send out a link to the recording, as well as a message with everything covered in class that day. My updated curriculum includes showing my students (which total some 80 seniors) how to order groceries online, how to order from Amazon, how to Facetime to stay connected, how to access online newspapers, and, of course, how to mute and unmute their Zoom audio.

It has been really rewarding for me to help so many people become tech-savvy during a time when technology has never been more fundamental to our daily lives. Social distancing has helped me bridge even further the gap between generations – and empower older people with the very valuable tool of connection.

Related Links

• Teen Vogue: Teens Are Helping Seniors Stay Connected

Conversation Starters

How did Jordan Mittler think like an entrepreneur in a time of crisis? Need help? Check out this Wharton Global Youth article for guidance.

Initially, Jordan only had one customer. Why was Bonnie so important to the growth of his idea and his business?

Have you used innovation to respond to needs during the coronavirus pandemic? Share your story in the Comment section of this article.

33 comments on “ Student Essay: Helping the Older Generation Embrace Technology ”

Wow! It’s incredible how technology can connect everyone. Many people often say that technology drifts us apart, but I’d like to disagree. In the current age, technology lets people from all walks of life to seamlessly connect. From Jordan’s example of how he helped local senior citizens be accustom to technology, it indeed shows how something as small as a smartphone can bridge generational divides.

Moreover, I’d like to add that I’ve seen a similar experience with my grandparents. My grandparents currently reside in India while I live in the US. This poses a problem as we cannot communicate readily. However, I found a solution to that vexing issue last summer. My family and I decided it was time for a change in the technology my grandparents were using, so we bought them iPhones. I helped them understand the ins and outs of how to use the technology which they were not familiar with. Because of this, they often facetime us from India and have even become like teenagers, as now they are glued to their phones.

Hi Vishnu, I really enjoyed reading your anecdote about your grandparents in India. I could relate to this issue since my grandparents live in Maryland, while I reside in New Jersey. Pre-isolation, my extended family and I would visit them almost bimonthly. This was crucial to their well-being, as they live alone in a rural area. During the quarantine, I helped introduce them to Zoom, which has been a useful online tool. Now that they are capable of using it, our entire family has weekly digital chats. In relation to this article, our examples of giving help to our grandparents exemplify the responsibility of younger generations to take initiative with technology. Jordan allowing the Rabbi Emeritus of his synagogue to communicate with all his children at once is an important example of lending knowledge and skills to older generations to maximize efficiency and happiness during these times of uncertainty.

I understand that technology helps connect people, especially during this time of endless quarantines. It is beneficial that the older generation is taking an interest in technology, breaking the stereotype that the elderly reject new ideas. After all, technology was and is made to make humans’ lives easier. However, while reading both your comments, Vishnu and Charlie, along with the article, I see that in all the cases of older people using technology, it is because the elderly generation have no other ways to stay connected. Now, this sparked a curious thought inside me—the elderly are using tech because especially during this time period, they really need it to prevent themselves from becoming isolated. But when it comes to young people, we just use tech because we are so addicted to it. We reach for a phone because it’s just what teens do. We text, FaceTime, and play multiplayer games with each other simultaneously. For the elderly, the chance to be able to connect with their loved ones is a big highlight in their life. They have not experienced such ease and luxury for much of their lives.

In contrast, teens have grown up around technology. We should try to bring back a culture that is less focused on technology usage to grow up appreciating the time we use technology, especially to connect with others. The younger generation is so desensitized by constant interaction through texting and voice/video calls that we often fail to appreciate it. I was surprised by the enthusiasm of the elderly when Jordan offered classes, but now I realize that it’s because they have realized its value and are taking efforts to gain the most out of it. For me, it took spending some time in quarantine to realize this. My friends and I are always complaining how we are so lonely, when we have actually been texting and calling daily before the COVID-19 outbreak. Teens need to shift a little bit away from the constant technology usage and take time to do other things that do not require technology—perhaps even teaching their elderly relatives about technology, as Jordan did.

I also have another major concern: older people are already at huge risk to scams and privacy issues, and presenting them with increased technology would give others more opportunities to take advantage of the elderly. I already admire Jordan very much for being able to accomplish the feat of teaching the elderly about technology, and I am also very impressed at how he runs his program so professionally and in such an organized way. But I also hope that Jordan, along with you, Vishnu and Charlie, for your grandparents, have presented the gift of technology as well as explained the dangers that come with technology. There are many scammers and hackers that target the elderly, as they are known to take weaker security measures without knowing the consequences. They are more susceptible to common false alerts on the internet and on phone calls. When we think of introducing technology to the elderly, thinking about their tech security and scam-awareness are not the first things that come to mind, so I think there should be further steps taken to make that a priority. Still, I understand that connecting with loved ones is a priority in this case, as it is a good thing that your grandparents have been able to establish a system of communication to maximize the time you all share. I hope there will be more cases similar to that of yours and Jordan’s students. That way, the world can truly be connected and everyone will FEEL connected!

Daniel It is interesting that you note that students now are doing school from home and despite being tech savvy, they miss the socialization of school and may have to find other ways of relating to their friends or spending their time. They can stimulate their minds thinking about how they can contribute to society, or better their reading and writing skills.

Charlie It is important for children and grandchildren to recognize that their senior relatives can benefit from learning technology, and a little patience in instructing them will make them so happy. On a personal note, my Rabbi has done so much for my family and has been there for all of our family’s life events, so it gave me personal pleasure to help teach him how to connect with his family in new ways during these challenging times.

I love your personal experience with your grandparents. Your thoughts remind me that helping the older generation learn the use of technology also help us connects our lives with theirs.

Vishnu This is wonderful to hear that you got your grandparents iPhones and they are now using FaceTime. It is interesting that you point out that technology sometimes causes people to drift apart, maybe because it is often something people do alone without communicating with others. There are so many elements of technology like face time or zoom that allow people to connect virtually.

Hey Vishnu,

It sounds like we both share Jordan’s experience with the elderly population. I definitely agree that technology has connected us all and bridged generations. While your grandparents are in India, mine are in Florida. I know it’s not quite as far away, but for them, it’s far enough. Similar to how you guys had to cater your lessons to what their generation was used to, I have had my share of challenging but also rewarding experiences. For Jordan, it was FaceTime and Zoom; for me, it was Gmail.

My grandpa called me one day because his friend had sent out a party invite as a list. Grandpa spent about forty minutes trying to find it. I told him to look carefully and like Santa, check his list twice. He didn’t think that was funny. I realized that his friend’s email probably went to his Spambox. I told him to look to the left to find Spambox and click on it. He replied “My Gmail must be different from yours; I don’t have a Spambox folder.” After a few minutes of trying to describe it to him, I FaceTimed him. I looked on his screen and realized that he needed to scroll down in order to find Spambox.

For me, I had always automatically scrolled down to find it without even realizing that I did this. To me, every action or click is like a knee-jerk reflex, but I realized that for grandpa, his reflexes needed a bit more time to kick in. Jordan is absolutely right in that the elderly need more hands-on and visual support. Remember, they grew up with things that required more physical interaction like holding a thick hardcovered book or applying their index finger on a rotary phone. Even my mom tells me she used to love watching each digit of the rotary phone make its way back!

Anyways, thank goodness for FaceTime. I showed grandpa how to scroll down to find his Spambox. And sure enough, the mysterious party invite miraculously appeared. I thought about teaching Grandpa how to move that conversation to his Inbox, but he was so elated that I decided to save this lesson for another day.

I found this article very relatable as I have as well tried to teach my grandparents how to use a mobile phone. At the end I was only able to teach my grandmother how to play candy crush and how to select who she wanted to call without needing to type the number every time. But nothing more. She kept refusing to learn the “new and unnecessary technologies”.

What he is doing very important, specially during the coronavirus epidemic. I have found the elderly are the ones who suffer the most isolation, as they are the ones that are less connected. It reminds me of a video what was viral in social media about a grandmother who sang happy birthday to herself, alone, in her house. It broke my heart. This is why seemingly-small ideas like these can really make an impact and change people’s lives for the better.

Hi Alejandra! I can totally relate to your experience. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I have been sympathizing for the elderly in nursing homes, who are not able to interact with families. Therefore, I started Facetime sessions with the elderly, either playing piano for them or chatting with them to help time pass by for them. However, I came across some obstacles, such as having difficulties getting on the video chat. She told me that although she enjoys having a companion to talk to, it is really hard for her to work with the technology, such as logging onto the computer. I was dejected for not being able to teach her about technology usage due to the quarantine lockdown.

Furthermore, I live on the opposite side of the globe from my grandmother. The only form of communicating and interacting is through technology. However, she also has hard time using it as well, and it really is painful to think that I am not able to spend most of the time actually talking rather than being lost on using the technology to communicate, especially when I want to spend as much time with her.

As of in the near future, I would like to create a nonprofit business, putting an emphasis on sharing our knowledge of technology to those who are not efficient with it.

Alejandra Seniors are often fixed in their ways and unwilling to change. They like what has been working for so many years. They have to be told that is ok to try things with their phone and not to be afraid to make a mistake. Your grandmother liked to make calls but she may like to learn how to text if she is encouraged to do so, and understand this is a popular way to communicating these days. If she tries it maybe she will like it. She may appreciate someone texting her an image or picture, something you can’t do over the phone.

This article really reflects the present situation of contemporary society.In just 20 years, from cover phones to smartphones, from 2G to 5G, from 8GB to 512GB, the change is so fast and dramatic that the elderly feel disjointed by the society. Take my family for instance. In the 5 years ago, my grandparents don’t know how to use the smartphones. But now, they can use the app like Wechat to communicate with others. When they go out and buy stuffs, they use the apple pay instead of paying the cash. This paves the convenient for them because the elderly will be easy to lost cash or coins on the way home. You know that they will be disappointed and complaint when they know they just lost several dollars. This problem can be solved now. The another advantage that I discovered is that seeing the doctor online. In the past, my grandfather had to get up early around 5.am and go to the hospital to make an appointment. In the morning, the temperature is very low and it is so tired for him to register. But now, they can make the appointment online through the app. This can largely save the time on the way to the hospital and queuing outside the gate. After finishing the doctor, The medicine will be mailed to the home, so that grandpa would not have to go to the hospital to get it again and again. This class sounds great since it helped a lot of “students” to learn the advanced technology. Nowadays, many young people are busy with their work and don’ have enough time to teach their parents to use the phones. This class just solves this embarrassment. Recently, my grandparents know a lot of knowledge about the prevention of COVID-19 and buying the food online without going to the market to reduce the risk of infection. The phones really make the life more convenient and these classes should be encouraged by the public. We should try our best to make the contribution to the society.

I agree with you, YuTao. The article really emphasizes the change that technology has brought onto the modern world and the transformational effect it can have on someone’s life. As technology evolves every day, so does mankind. And in this time and day, it’s up to the newer generation to educate the older generations about this change. Being part of the new generation myself, I’ve had to teach many family members about technology as well, such as setting up an app, purchasing something, or helping them understand how to communicate with their friends through the use of WeChat and similar apps. A couple of years ago, we went back to China to visit our family, and at the end of the trip, because the thought of saying goodbye and not speaking to them for a long time was so painful, we decided to get them new phones and teach them how to use them so we could communicate with the touch of a button whenever we missed each other. My cousin and I had to teach our uncles, aunts, and grandparents how to set up their new phones and WeChat because technology was still foreign to them at the time. And now, they use their phones just like anyone would in this day and time, despite the large age gap between us. At home, my mom constantly asks me questions about technology because she isn’t very technologically advanced, due to the fact that she immigrated here from China back when there was little technology available. However, now that she has one, she constantly asks me how to set things up, how to search things up, or how to manage her WeChat when she wants to call or FaceTime some of her friends. She’s also learned to use her phone to go places by using Google Maps. Using handheld maps and knowing the routes by heart is no longer needed with the advancement of technology. Because of the elderly’s age, getting places and doing things by themselves is not as easy as it was when they were younger. They aren’t able to support themselves, and their kids may be too busy with work and their own lives to be around them every hour of the day. With their newfound technology, they can call for assistance by simply pressing a button that will notify help, or call someone in case of an emergency. Technology could very well save someone’s life. Moreover, I feel like the class that Jordan has decided to teach could end up helping everyone, not just his students. His teaching the classes means that the elderly’s kids don’t need to teach them themselves, and instead can focus on working and supporting their family as a whole. They can rest assured knowing that their parents are safe and that they know what to do in case of an emergency. In addition, they could also learn to download some games for their own entertainment. It’s important to acknowledge Jordan for everything he’s done and to appreciate him for giving us this opportunity to experience something new that can help many. This example shows just how much technology has evolved over these years.

YuTao Thank you for your kind words. More people are no longer using money, so it would be helpful for seniors to use their phone to pay for things, maybe with credit card or Apple Pay. It is very helpful for seniors to be able to use electronics for medical purposes, like emailing with a doctor. I also teach in my class about a healthcare app where seniors can keep all of their medical information.

Experience is key in entrepreneurship. One of the few ways we have to better ourselves as entrepreneurs, and our businesses as life experiences, is going through an initial process of practice and learning, often a synonym for failure. Bonnie’s role in the case of this fantastic entrepreneurial story is exactly this one: giving Jordan a starting point, from which acknowledging the actions necessary to improve the quality of the business. As often stated throughout the article, connecting people has never had such an importance in the terrible crisis we are facing due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Older people are being left behind, not only technologically, but unfortunately socially too: missing tools, such as the previously discussed iPhones and laptops, and absent experience, make it much more difficult for grandmas and grandpas to go beyond the standard, old-fashioned phone call, in a world, in a time, where the closer we can get to having real-life meeting with our loved ones is joining a Zoom call. I personally find this a wonderful example of how we, as youngsters, can personally engage in making these terrible times lighter and less burdensome: each small action can make a difference, regardless of the size of our targeted audience, and our duty as world-citizen, I think, has never had such an important role in our everyday life.

Jacopo I’ve been very fortunate to have this entrepreneurial experience at this early age, and I hope to continue through my high school years so that I will be able to expand this program and scale it so it helps so many more people.

Similar to your experiences, I am also a sophomore and also volunteer to aid senior individuals in adapting to new technology! As a branch director in an organization called Teach Seniors Technology, I could not relate more on the initial difficulties in gaining customers. A few years ago, when I walked into my local community center to give my first lesson, there were only one or two students. In fact, there were many times during my first couple of months volunteering where no students had signed up for my weekly lessons! Though I wasn’t necessarily successful at first, I was also forced to adapt for these reasons. After reaching out to the community center staff, I was able to secure a classroom and promotion materials for my service which now serves several seniors each week.

Yet, I believe the “success” of my organization is determined by much more than the number of seniors who I teach. I often serve seniors from China, who have to bridge both the language barrier and the technological gap here in the United States. One of the ladies at my branch literally burst into joy when I taught her how to use Google Translate! In a world which is becoming increasingly interconnected and reliant on technology, I find that “success” of my volunteering branch rests on reintegrating these seniors into the technological area of society. I am overjoyed by the fact that there are other who share so much similarity with me. As more and more technological advancements are made, we must learn to bridge generational gaps so that our society as a whole can progress together with the technology that is being invented.

Jason It is wonderful to hear of another sophomore participating in a similar type of program.

Just like you, I help senior citizens but also adults from Central and South America with the technology and language barrier that thousands of people face in the United States. Technology is not common for lower classes in third world countries which makes it difficult for these adults and senior citizens to understand what seems like the basics of a smartphone for the majority of people in the US. It is such a joy when I see those which I help finally being able to communicate through Google Translate (An incredible tool I must say) and doing tasks like buying on Amazon, Instacart, or any online store. Observing this has made me come to the conclusion that we must come together as the new technology generation and help all of those individuals who have not gotten the opportunity to learn the incredible benefits the tech world brings; together we can close the digital divide across all ages, races, and socioeconomic statuses. We are the future and have yet to see great things created through technology.

Great response, Rossana! Do I see a team of digital-divide change makers forming here?

Technology helps join people, specially for the duration of this time of infinite quarantines. It is recommended that the older era is taking an hobby in technology, breaking the stereotype that the elderly reject new ideas. After all, technological know-how was once and is made to make humans’ lives easier. However, whilst analyzing each your comments, Vishnu and Charlie, alongside with the article, I see that in all the instances of older humans the use of technology, it is due to the fact the aged era have no different approaches to remain connected. Now, this sparked a curious thinking internal me—the aged are the use of tech due to the fact particularly at some stage in this time period, they genuinely want it to forestall themselves from turning into isolated. But when it comes to younger people, we simply use tech due to the fact we are so addicted to it. We attain for a smartphone due to the fact it’s simply what teenagers do. We text, FaceTime, and play multiplayer video games with every different simultaneously. For the elderly, the hazard to be in a position to join with their cherished ones is a massive spotlight in their life. They have no longer skilled such ease and luxurious for a great deal of their lives.

Despite efforts to teach the older generation about the newest developments in technology, it is saddening how much of the older generation is still very ignorant about it, especially since it is an era of technology.

One summer, I went to China to see my relatives, especially my grandmother. My grandmother lived in more rural parts of Sichuan, in Dazu. She didn’t need to use any technology; as long as she knew how to open the television and call using her corded home telephone, she could live happily growing plants in the back yard and raising chickens. She rarely went into the city to where my other relatives lived, they always visited her instead. However, to my delightful surprise, she proactively volunteered to wait for my arrival in Chongqing, one of the busiest cities in Sichuan.

When I arrived at my aunt’s apartment, where my grandma stayed, I asked jokingly why she decided to finally come to the city, she replied that it was because she hadn’t been here for so long. It was boring back home, and my grandma wanted to experience what life is like in the city for a while. She said that she would stay in the city until I left for America in a few weeks.

I was delighted and planned to take her to all sorts of fun places with great food that I had remembered from my last visit here. In Dazu, you could hardly find such boisterousness due to the lack of crowds. I was sure that she would enjoy it.

One morning, after I had officially settled in at my aunt’s house, my aunt and her husband told me that they were going to go somewhere for the rest of the day and needed me to take care of my grandmother. They said I could take my grandmother out to walk or do some other activities, but to be careful. I agreed with a smile.

My grandma was very happy this particular morning as well. She told me that she wanted to try exercising in the nearby park with some other old people; she wanted to make some friends here. I happily agreed. I walked her to the park and watched her dance and make merry with the folks there. After a few minutes, she could tell that I was a little restless and told me to play on my own and insisted that she could manage herself well. She said that she would go home when she wanted to and told me not to worry. I reluctantly agreed, told her the directions to the apartment building, and gave her the corresponding card. The apartment wasn’t that far, only one block away from the park. Then, I went off to a nearby stationary store to buy some souvenirs for my friends in America.

After some time, I picked the gifts that caught my fancy and went on the line to pay. The store was very popular and so the line was very long as well. After waiting for a quarter of an hour, I finally got out of the line and started my way home. In the distance, I saw a familiar figure. I panicked and hurriedly ran to the entrance of the apartment.

My grandma stood in the burning sun, her arms hung down at her sides, watching the pedestrians. Apparently, she had a squabble with the people from the park almost immediately after I left. She wasn’t in the mood to dance anymore, so she went home. However, the problem is that she didn’t know how to open the more technologically advanced apartment door. To me, the door system was very simple, you just had to swipe a card, but my grandmother never had to use this sort of system, she only ever needed a key. My grandma thought that you just had to press the card against the door or something. She also forgot how to call using the smartphone that was given to her. I also didn’t think it was necessary enough to teach my grandmother how to open the door since it seemed natural to me.

This story truly shows the importance of communication and the need to help the older generation with technology.

“When are you coming back?” These words were music to my 15-year-old ears. I had just helped fix the internet connectivity issue for Ms. Jacobson, one of the residents at Sequoias’, a senior residential facility, where I was volunteering to help seniors with their tech issues in the summer after my freshman year. Ms. Jacobson sent a very nice thank you note about the help she received from me to the Services Director at Sequoias who passed it on to me. The note, painstakingly written in spidery cursive must have taken Ms. Jacobson some time to write and is still cherished by me. The experience with helping seniors with their tech issues and entertaining them with piano recitals helped me get more attuned to the needs of my own grandparents. My two sets of grandparents are separated by a decade and come from similar backgrounds but have very different life experiences. One set of grandparents who live with us are older, technologically challenged, and can call on us anytime to help them operate the phone, the TV and other gadgets. They prefer to read the actual newspaper despite efforts to get them to read news online, and prefer talking on the phone instead of using Facetime. The younger set of grandparents who live in India have a large social circle, live on their own, and while still technologically challenged, have learned the basics of how to use a smartphone, browse the internet, and order online. Jordan’s article made me reflect on my experience working with seniors, both in my own family and outside and I realized that seniors face the same challenges that students of all ages face. First of all, every student learns in their own unique way, much like some of Jordan’s students – Roz and Rabbi Haskel. Some are visual learners, some need more time to read and absorb information on their own, etc. Secondly, each student has different capabilities and interests. Some like one set of my grandparents did not have much interest in learning how to use technology as they were happy with the old ways and could always ask us for help if they needed it. The other set of grandparents found ways to learn the basics that they needed to fulfill their needs as they were living on their own. There is also a social and cultural context to this. More and more seniors are now forced to live on their own, either in their homes or in senior facilities. Those that do not live with family face loneliness among other issues, and do need to know some basics such as texting, online searching and ordering, connecting with their medical provider online, etc. to stay safe, independent, and connected. The need to stay connected has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the issue with being connected is that not only are seniors more vulnerable to scams, they are also very gullible when it comes to fake news. I have had to constantly remind my grandparents who treat WhatsApp and Facebook as reliable news sources that everything they read there is not always true. The other issue is the plethora of apps, tools, and websites that can be overwhelming for seniors. I noticed this issue after working with a couple of seniors at Sequoias and created a home page for every senior I worked with, that contained shortcuts/icons for their most frequently used apps and websites for easy access. Perhaps in all of this, there is an opportunity to create senior-friendly apps and devices, but unfortunately, this is not a coveted demographic for tech companies and marketers. There is certainly a need to help seniors learn tech basics which can enrich and simplify their life. I applaud Jordan’s efforts to provide this valuable service to seniors in his community. However, the bigger question I ponder is that why are seniors put into this position in the first place where instead of enjoying time with their families, they are forced to learn new skills, especially when many have impacted cognitive skills which makes learning new things harder. Additionally, we are only talking about a subset of the senior population. There is a big population of seniors living in poverty who have more pressing issues such as survival to deal with. My own experience with my grandparents and with seniors I worked with is that every single one of them would have preferred to live with their families, surrounded by their children and grandchildren instead of connecting with them over facetime and group chats. In fact, the percentage of multigenerational families in the United States has continued to rise, primarily due to financial necessity. While one size does not fit all and every family has their own unique challenges, perhaps it’s time for us as a society to take a closer look at how best to support the needs of our senior population, given the increased life expectancy in the United States.

Hey, Jatin. I really enjoyed reading your thoughtful post and response. What I love most is that you bring up some broader issues that really add value to the “seniors and technology” conversation. I’ve always admired certain cultures — India for one — where families place more emphasis on caring for and living with their elders, the people without whom they would not even exist. The questions you raise about supporting our senior population are so important! We deliver them meals, help them connect, even give them a ride to the market, but we don’t go beyond to the point of human companionship and connection at a time when they need it most.

The age of smartphones has progressed so quickly that the fact the first iPhone originated just over ten years ago may come as a surprise to many. This development is only one example of a world industrializing at an unprecedented rate. Despite making communication and practically every other aspect of life easier, this revolution may not apply to all — the elderly, as you stated, are often not kept up to date to these new technologies. However, it must be noted that other adults may also not be kept up to date. I believe my parents are a prime example of this. They both immigrated to the United States in the 1980s and made a decent living running a restaurant. However, when it came time to digitalize, they struggled and required my older sister’s assistance to facilitate this new aspect of the business. Now that she’s off to college, it’s my turn to fulfill this position of filling out online documents and forms. This is a growing problem as it is a given that technology will only advance forward, regardless of whether there are those who are unable to utilize these new advantages. That is why I find programs like yours to be so fascinating and thoughtful. My mother has recently taken up taking computer classes, where she learns basic computer navigation skills. It is essential for the whole population to collectively adapt as a whole.

Alvin I appreciate the idea of showing seniors how to fill out forms online, and all of the elements involved in that process.

I certainly agree with Jordan that technology helps us stay connected. It is very important that we help the elderly members of the society on the use of technology. It is not easy to teach the older generation to use technology, as they are not quite familiar with it.

Moreover, I have also had a similar experience with my grandmother who just got a new iPhone and she did not know how to use it properly. Though she was able to make her daily phone calls and read her WhatsApp messages, she did not know how to access the Internet, do Face time and little other stuff. One day during the never-ending lockdown, I decided to teach my grandmother how to use her new phone. Since, she was having sleepless nights due to the change in her sleep cycle because of lockdown, I first taught her how to use YouTube so that she could put spiritual music on it and have good sleep. As days progressed I taught her how to access the daily news online, face timing, texting and many more things. This also gave me an opportunity to spend quality time with my grandmother, which I could not during my school days. My grandmother had a habit of doing all her office-work on paper so, later I started teaching her to use the laptop to check few mails and tally her accounts. This whole process not only helped her a great deal by making her work a lot easier, but also it helped me become more patient by answering the same quarries that she had again and again.

There have been vast advancements in technology over the years and it has helped us in many ways, such as online classes and courses, which are the most helpful things at the moment. By helping the elderly members of the society as to how technology can be used, bridges the generation gap and will help the society progress faster.

I’ve spent a lot of time helping relatives with technology and sometimes it can get very frustrating but I remember that they didn’t grow up with this like we did. So I am more patient and don’t get mad because I love my relatives. What Jordan is doing is really important, especially during this pandemic. The elderly are the most impacted in my opinion, because many of them lack technological experience. His Zoom meetings are a great idea though, keeping the elderly learning and up to date with technology so they can stay connected.

The younger generation is lucky. Since we were young, we have had access to electronic products. Elders often see their grandchildren typing like a speed of light with two thumbs on the keyboard or on the phone, while they themselves can only type letter by letter or word by word with their index fingers. Many elders have only had access to technologies in the past 15 to 20 years. We sometimes get annoyed when they want to learn how to use technology. But when thinking about our situations, aren’t we like them when we are trying to figure out how to solve a simple math question? We see the technologies are easy for us to learn and use, but the elders must take a long time to get used to using technologies.

The last time I saw my grandmother in person was five years ago, but we are able to FaceTime each other at least once a week. When I visited her in China five years ago, I saw her struggling to send a message on WeChat or even make a simple phone call. She would forget which group chat is which and would constantly send private messages in group chats with other family members in it. When I started teaching her how to use WeChat, I saw my grandma was listening to what I was saying very carefully. I taught her how to use WeChat for video calls, voice calls, and many other functions of the app. Later, she took her cellphone and just pressed on it casually trying to use the phone herself. This makes me think that the elders are still very curious to learn new things and look forward to more connections with others so as not to be disconnected from society.

Although she still struggles with using keyboards, my grandma has greatly increased her ability to use her phone. Now she is able to shop online and play simple games on her phone like mahjong and Candy Crush. She sends us many photos of places she has visited and writes that she wishes to take me on one of her trips. Communication is a bridge to build interpersonal relationships. From sharing feelings to expressing ideas, the world requires us to communicate with others. Not just through face-to-face communication, but also through technologies, we are able to share our feelings with others through a simple call or message. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, we find communication important with family members or friends or co-workers through technologies. We have stayed home for more than one and a half months, and we would need to communicate with our parents almost every day and stay with them 24/7 face-to-face. We might not know how to have a conversation with them before, but with this pandemic, we might have no choice but to speak with them. We have learned that communicating with them is not as hard as we thought, and moreover, it is enjoyable to hear stories from our parents or other elders in the family. The elders are aging every day and we are growing up every day. It is hard for us to frequently see each other in real life, so technology is how we would connect and communicate with them.

What a sensational experience, Jordan! I enjoyed reading your stories, and I was astonished at how your involvement with elders related to mine.

As another member of Generation Z, technology and the rapid advancement of modern devices have always piqued my interest. Due to my eagerness, I grew up as a tech nerd, earning the title of “tech guy” in the family. “Alvin, why is my wifi not connecting?” “Alvin, what’s wrong with our TV?” “Alvin, why is my Bluetooth not connecting?” At least five times a day, I would hear such questions from my parents and brothers. From simple wifi connection problems to complicated home appliance control systems, I had to be present if the issues involved technology.

My title became significant as COVID invaded our lives. Similar to your experience, my grandparents struggled the most as the majority of platforms and services turned online. Since my grandparents were in a higher-risk group for exposure to COVID, they had to be extremely cautious. They could not go outside to get food or to their workplace. Whether they liked it or not, they had to stay home and adapt to online platforms to order food and attend Zoom meetings. And, as the “tech guy” of the family, I was responsible for providing comfort for my grandparents. Starting from scratch, I had to water down difficult technological terminologies such as Airdrop, iCloud, and Bluetooth to help them rapidly adapt to new lifestyles. Such experiences were similar to teaching elementary schoolers about calculus, in which I realized how uncomfortable it was for my grandparents to utilize new technologies. For instance, Bluetooth features offer wireless connections within the comfort of one’s own vicinity, which is one of the reasons why younger generations utilize Bluetooth: it provides comfort. On the other hand, older generations have an arduous time figuring out how to connect devices using Bluetooth since they are unfamiliar with such features. It is true that consumers are attracted to more comfortable features, and businesses provide new technologies that could reduce time management for consumers. However, it creates a downside for older generations, making them take longer to do something. While convenience for the younger generations increases with the use of technology, the older generations are having difficulty adapting to rapid technological advancement.

By observing the hardships of older generations from my grandparents’ perspective, I thought there was a need for action. Although there are various ways to address such issues, I focused on a fundamental need for everyone: food.

Therefore, I gathered up my close friends, Robert and Kaiden, who shared similar visions regarding this issue, and we came up with an accessible software that will make it approachable for elders to order food from nearby food centers. Essentially, our solution focused on a sustainable, healthy, and accessible approach that is similar to your experience helping elders order groceries. We developed a food ordering app that sends prepackaged, nutritious meals to seniors who sign up for it. Our sign-up system is very simple since it could be pre-installed on phones, involves one click of a button, and has well-explained and accessible payment methods; for example, this service allows the program to automatically extract money from the elder’s source of payment which minimizes the complicated process of payment process every. Ultimately, elders can readily receive healthy and hearty meals at their doorstep. We also utilized the Zoom recording function to create tutorials to help elders navigate through our process. These methods of solution could sound ironic at first, but I believe the most effective solution for elders who are uncomfortable with technology is to expose them to an extent of unfamiliarity to reduce their discomfort.

Like most other start-ups, our application lacks feasibility, so initially, we must test it on a small group of elders and make adjustments. If our test proves to be successful, we will launch our application, which will familiarize elders with technology and aid them in accepting and embracing modern devices. Moreover, I would like to expand this business into providing food and holding online classes about ordering goods, entertainment, media, and safe technology use for elders. I would happily like to share words with you about this matter, and I want to resemble your helping and enthusiastic attitude towards social advancement.

Wow! This is a really beautiful essay. It inspires me to see a fellow teenager making such a positive impact in the world today.

Technology is one of the major generational gaps we have today, and it is very refreshing and encouraging to see someone trying to bridge that gap. I love your teaching strategy of showing instead of just telling. That is truly one of the best ways to explain. You made an astounding impact in a dreary and challenging time for many. As someone who teaches children in a local orphanage home, I can relate to the indescribable feeling of joy you get when your student finally understands.

I will also like to place emphasis on not just teaching seniors how to navigate the internet, but also on teaching them how to be safe while navigating the internet! Cyber crimes are increasing in a very tremendous way all over the world, as more people look for illegal means to usurp unknowing people. This is one of the major fears of seniors and the older generation concerning technology. I believe that teaching them how to best stay safe in the ‘dangerous’ global world provided by the internet would not just be beneficial to them, but it would also help in further bridging the generational gap.

Chidera, your comment is one that caught my attention. Your comment highlights a crucial aspect of our society today: the technology generation gap. Most importantly, the issue of cyber crimes. Indeed, with the rapid advancement of technology, it becomes increasingly challenging for elderly to keep up. Even some of us from younger generations struggle with mastering the intricacies of various tools and software, like navigating Google spreadsheets.

But you draw attention to the pressing issue of cybersecurity and cybercrime, which poses a significant threat to people of all ages, including the elderly. Even myself, who is clearly not an elderly person, receives tons and tons of spam messages and emails trying to trick me of my money. While these scams may not work on us, they can be extremely tempting for the elderly, who may be more vulnerable to such tactics.

For example, my friend’s grandma was a victim to these scams, falling victim to a company promising to save money for her granddaughter’s college tuition fee. This just highlights your point on the emphasis and awareness that should be put on cyber crimes. It demonstrates how easily elderly individuals can be targeted and deceived and the urgency of addressing the dangers they face while navigating the Internet.

Likewise, in the effort to bridge the technology generation gap, I believe that it is crucial to not only teach the elderly how to use technology but also raise awareness to the public about the prevalence of cybercrime and the importance of robust cybersecurity. By empowering people of all ages with knowledge and strategies to protect themselves online, we can help them become more confident and secure users of digital tools.

I truly believe that with stronger cybersecurity implementation and the awareness we can teach people about, the challenges of cyber crimes is one we can focus less on. Allowing us to focus more on bridging this generational gap, being able to facetime our loved ones, and even send them cool gadgets.

I think this is an amazing and much needed program! People tend to alienate the elderly from our evolving world, waving them off as they say, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” This is incredibly isolating and unfair to them. A month ago, I helped organize a ceremony for my high school, and many senior citizens came to support their grandchildren. The program for the ceremony was online, and I watched many of them struggle to scan a QR code. It was clear they were embarrassed, and they deserve to spend the day celebrating their family rather than feeling ashamed.

It’s also important to recognize that technology can help them stay busy. Many of the elderly cannot drive or live very far from their families. My grandparents live across the world in India. They are retired, and travel is very hard for them. They don’t typically have much to do, and they can get bored and demoralized. However, my grandpa stays busy and keeps his mind sharp by playing sudoku on his iPad. My grandma loves to play candy crush or call her relatives. Teaching the elderly how to use technology can be more helpful than most realize.

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Free Essay On Senior Citizen

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Health , Interview , Sociology , Society , Family , Life , Elderly , Aging

Published: 02/08/2020

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Ideally, my interview with the 68 years old man was fruitful. I gathered quite a lot of information pertaining senior citizens in our society. It is therefore important to note that each of us is aging and there are a number of ways in which life will significantly change. Based on our interview, it is coherent to posit that the interviewee was very positive about life. From his facial expressions, you could note that he very much treasures his family which has always stood with him. He is very proud of his children who are now grown and independently working and living on their own. The interviewee lives life to the fullest and he so much adores all what he has acquired to this day. From the interview, I noticed that he is physically and mentally healthy and he values the well being of all persons in all walks of life. There is this one instance when he saved the life of a young girl who had been hit by a car. He narrated the story emotionally stating that he had literally been sent by God at that particular time to save the life of that dear girl. His response to this incident was very strong which portrays his great love for children and mankind in general. Certainly, there are responses from the interviewee that were amazing particular on the issue of learning. Unlike what most elderly people are accustomed to, learning to him is a noble thing and a lifestyle. He literally attends social classes where he learns about sociology in the society and various ways to bring cohesion among all social groups in the society. Most importantly his life is no different from that of a teenager; he enjoys walking, jogging in the morning when he wakes up and riding his bike. These activities have played a big role in building his physical and mental health. He claims that living healthy can be achieved by constantly focusing on only that which builds once overall health. That is his secret of keeping the doctor away (McMurray, 2011, p. 112). Healthy aging in this context is evidently portrayed by his positive attitude towards life. He is able to adjust to the limitations and changes that come with aging. For instance, his involvement in various local programs and forums portrays his good attitude towards life. To add to that, he attends classes that help build his esteem and also help him maintain good relationships with his family and lifelong friends. Critically, I would posit that the interviewer is on the right track and doing very well. The fact that he is able to socialize with his peers very well is commendable. Arguably, it is imperative to note that he owns a house and two cars; a station wagon that is driven by his wife and a truck which he drives, he is therefore financially stable which enables him to attend classes and participate in various social forums. Participating in social activities like playing golf and badminton in the society is very impressive of the interviewee; this is because interacting with other elderly peers helps him relate well and acquire other relevant skills which he may need in life. Unlike many aged people suffering from social isolation and discrimination, it is a different case for him. He has been lucky enough to prioritize this prevention by living healthy and engaging himself in meaningful activities. Additionally, he has taken the initiative of ensuring his personal growth and that of his family. Volunteering in social forums aimed at developing the community is majorly significant in his life. Subsequently, maintaining a healthy life has been triggered by environmental and socioeconomic factors. His adoption of a healthy life has helped him prevent chronic diseases that mostly affect people in their old age. Based on what I gathered from the interviewee, there are a number of areas that he can possibly improve on to attain a balanced healthy aging life. To start with, he should engage in a balanced fitness like aerobics that particularly helps the elderly in increasing flexibility, increased cardiovascular endurances and also increased strength. Mutual aid is also equally important in enhancing a reciprocal process across all generations. It therefore is an important consideration that could assist in bonding the gap between the elderly and the young in the society. Similarly, if he gets more cultural and gender responsive information, he will be in a good position to learn more activities such as home exercise dancing that may enable him to actively participate with peers in different age groups with confidence and pleasure (Human, 2009, p. 450). Based on this context, determinants of healthy aging vary with the interests of the involved victim although there are scenarios where same interests are common to all. Living healthy entails a number of things: eating healthy is a fundamental consideration to the aging group. Exercising regularly is very helpful in enhancing physical, psychological and social growth among the aging group. Consequently, having a positive attitude towards life is a huge determinant of healthy aging. As a final point, I would like to posit that growth, development and aging are correlated and are affected by similar factors. Therefore, it is important to note that healthy aging can only be achieved if one focuses on meaningful ways to enhance proper growth.

McMurray, A., & Clendon, J. (2011). Community health and wellness: Primary health care in practice. Chatswood, N.S.W: Elsevier Australia. Human Kinetics (Organization). (2009). Health and wellness for life. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

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• The Importance of Senior Citizens in Our Society Essay Sample Singapore

The Importance of Senior Citizens in Our Society Essay

This essay sample is on the Importance of Senior citizens in Our Society for Singapore students.  Here we will explain Who are considered Senior citizens in Singapore? The senior citizens of Singapore, Why are senior citizens important to society? , etc.

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This is an essay example of the importance of senior citizens in our society. If you’re a Singapore student looking to download this paper, then contact our experts who can provide custom essays according to your needs for school or college!

Introduction- The Importance of Senior Citizens in Our Society Essay Everyone human being gets old, it is part of one’s life cycle. Almost every household has elder members. But one can not deny that senior citizens are often treated as outcasts of society. In reality, seniors citizens are quite an important aspect of society and contribute much to it. This begs the question if the elderly contribute to society, why are they not treated accordingly? We shall be answering this question here. The topic of discussion in this sample essay shall be “Importance of Senior Citizen in Our Society”. Moreover, this is quite an important and equally sensitive topic. Thus, we shall be providing all the necessary information. In addition to this, we shall also be including different aspects of the topic. For the same reason, we will be dividing the sample essay into different sections. This will help us define and understand the topic better. Moving on, we shall be starting our sample essay by looking at who is considered or recognized as a senior citizen. Understanding this is important before moving to more advanced concepts. So without further adieu: Main body- The Importance of Senior Citizens in Our Society Essay Who are considered Senior citizens in Singapore? In general, we all know who are senior citizens. However, a person looking old is not enough to consider them old. In technical terminology, a person has to be of or older than a certain age. Moreover, different places and systems have their own criterion for recognizing someone as a senior citizen. Nevertheless, as per the senior citizen act of Singapore, a person who is or older than 60 years is to be considered and recognized as a senior citizen. Moving on, we shall be looking at the situation and stats concerning the senior populous of Singapore, in the next section of the sample essay. The senior citizens of Singapore Here, we shall be taking a look at the situation of senior citizens in the Singapore city-state. As per the latest survey, Singapore homes a total of 6,14,400 senior citizens. In addition to this, Singapore is facing the issue of the aging population. This is due to the fact that the life expectancy of Singaporeans is increasing. In addition, to increase expectancy, the birth rate is decreasing. Both of these reasons add up and create a problem of the aging population. However, this is not our main focus. The main takeaway from this paragraph is that: there is an increase in the population of Singapore citizens in Singapore. Moving on, we shall be looking at the reason why senior citizens are an important part of our society in the next section of the sample essay. Buy high-quality essays & assignment writing as per particular university, high school or college by Singapore Writers Get A Free Quote Why are senior citizens important to society? Here, we are discussing how senior citizens are important to society. It is a fact that everyone gets olds, there are no two say about it. With age, our overall function of the body declares considerably. Thus, people associate aging with a lack of ability to provide for society. The reality is the total opposite. Even though the senior citizens are not as physically capable as their former selves, there do provide their fair share to society. Moreover, it is seen that senior citizens are more engaged in shopping, which in turn adds to the economy. In addition to this, they also donate to charity more than the younger populous. Plus, they have better pro-social skills and experience or rather wisdom gained over the stretch of a lifetime. These factors can be useful in any expect of business or daily life. Furthermore, senior citizens contribute highly to their respective households. More daily chores to taking care of children, they do it all. It is a considerable contribution, even if it may not seem like one. In the bigger picture, without the contribution of the elderly society would work very differently. Consequently, the contribution of senior citizens is equal to any other aspect of society if not more. Conclusion:  The senior citizens in Singapore are important to our society because they have the experience and knowledge that is vital for teaching, caring, and guiding young people. They also provide ideas about how we can make life better in the future.  However, there are many challenges facing seniors in Singapore like loneliness or health-related problems; these problems require solutions from all of us in order to give them a good quality of life in their later years.

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Volunteering enhances life satisfaction among syrian refugee women.

A We Love Reading ambassador reads aloud to children in a mosque in Karak, Jordan. The volunteer program seeks to promote childhood literacy.

Reading aloud to children through a community-based volunteer program significantly boosted levels of life satisfaction in Syrian refugee women living in Jordan, providing them a tangible sense of fulfillment, agency, and human dignity, according to a new study co-authored by Yale anthropologist Catherine Panter-Brick.

Volunteering had no meaningful effect on women’s psychological empowerment or wellbeing, the study’s two other primary measures.

The study, published in the journal Social Science & Medicine , addresses gaps in evidence regarding what actual benefits are accrued to individual volunteers, testing a widely held view that volunteering programs help people from marginalized socio-economic groups to engage meaningfully with society in ways that support their inclusion and participation.

For the study, the researchers used a randomized-controlled trial of 105 Syrian refugee women from poor households to evaluate the effects of participating in We Love Reading, a program developed in Amman that seeks to establish informal libraries and trains volunteers to read aloud to children. Measured outcomes included life satisfaction, psychological empowerment, and wellbeing.

The study also featured thematic analysis of group discussions to clarify how Syrian women perceive key constructs, such as empowerment and life satisfaction, in the context of their lived experience. The participants also engaged in cognitive mapping — a visual approach to establish the causal relationships drawn between real-world circumstances, volunteering programs, and psychological outcomes.

The randomized-controlled trial revealed that life satisfaction — which involves the sense of fulfillment in achieving one’s goals — was the only one of the three primary measures to show significant improvements from participation in the volunteer program. Levels of empowerment and wellbeing were not impacted by engagement in the program.

The finding may demonstrate the difficulty in changing women’s sense of empowerment and wellbeing, especially in the case of Syrian refugee women, who often are expected to focus their activities within the home, said Panter-Brick, the study’s lead author. These women, she said, often have few opportunities to work, learn, and socially interact in the community at large.

“ Perhaps in the absence of structural societal change, it’s simply easier to feel an improved sense of life satisfaction through volunteering activities, than to boost levels of empowerment or wellbeing,” said Panter-Brick, the Bruce A. and Davi-Ellen Chabner Professor of Anthropology, Health, and Global Affairs, who has appointments at the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs and Yale’s Faculty of Arts of Sciences. “We show qualitatively, quantitatively, and visually that the ability to volunteer in the volunteer reading program enhances the women’s life satisfaction. Yet they are still ensnared in the same confining social structures that severely limit their opportunities to feel empowered.”

The study is the first to rigorously test the effects of a volunteering program on refugee women in the Middle East. It builds on prior research , also co-led by Panter-Brick, which provided evidence that engaging in volunteering work helps poor women to diversify their social networks, boosting empowerment through opportunities to learn and socially interact. 

Concepts of empowerment and life satisfaction are often used in global surveys, but they are typically very ill-defined, Panter-Brick said. For the new study, the researchers examined these concepts to better define what they mean in the local culture and local context, she said.

According to the findings, the women emphasized the importance of reaching goals, having “the full right to act,” the freedom to make decisions, willingness to pursue goals, and determination. They explained that building their empowerment and agency was a main driver of life satisfaction, and that volunteering boosted the resolve of “not giving up” on life goals, made them feel more visible in the community, and provided “proof of existence,” according to the study.

“ That they described empowerment as ‘proof of existence’ is very compelling,” said Panter-Brick, who also directs the Program on Conflict, Resilience, and Health at Yale’s MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies. “In other words, the ability to leave the house, make plans, and have goals — even ones as simple as helping children in their community learn to read — is very meaningful to them.”

These insights can help identify the types of volunteer programs most likely to benefit women in socially and economically marginalized societies, she said.

The We Love Reading program, which received the UNESCO International Literacy Prize in 2017 and is active in over 65 countries, promotes social entrepreneurship within the communities where it operates. The community-based program encourages volunteers to lead “reading aloud” sessions in their neighborhoods, and as their schedules allow, making volunteering more convenient for women and fostering a sense of ownership of the program.

By contrast, many top-down volunteer programs run by government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which enlist women as unpaid volunteers to help deliver services, often require a commitment to set schedules and to work outside the neighborhood. This can become a burden to the volunteers rather than a source of life satisfaction, Panter-Brick noted.

“ The take-home message here is that we must be careful with the assumption that volunteer work is empowering for women in low-resource contexts, simply because it asks them to leave the house, working for minimal compensation to serve the larger needs of society,” she said. “That’s a very top-down and empirically questionable approach and leads to thinking that you’re empowering poor women, when they’re really just serving the purposes of an NGO or the state.”

The study was co-authored by Jannik J. Eggerman of the Yale Program on Conflict, Resilience and Health; Philip Jeffries of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada; Lina Qtaishat of the Tagyheer Organization in Amman, Jordan; Rana Dajani of the Hashemite University Zarqa in Jordan; and Praveen Kumar of Boston College.

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Moving to Moscow

This guide was written prior to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and is therefore not reflective of the current situation. Travel to Russia is currently not advisable due to the area’s volatile political situation.

Moscow is an incredibly large, interesting and challenging destination offering a wide variety of experiences for expats. There is much to see and learn about Russian culture in the capital city, and expats will certainly not be bored among the hustle and bustle of Moscow's lively streets. 

Living in Moscow as an expat

Moscow is a constantly changing and rapidly expanding city. As it's one of Russia's main economic centres, the majority of expats moving to Russia for work  settle here. Moscow offers job opportunities in a range of fields, from technology and finance to human resources and teaching. These generally come with a rather lucrative employment package but are hard-earned and can be difficult to find. 

Moscow has an extensive public transport system. The most common means of transport is the efficient, safe and cheap metro. Many of the metro stations are lavishly decorated and constitute works of art in themselves. During rush hour, it can get crowded, especially in the centre. Traffic congestion can be nightmarish in Moscow, and many expats choose to hire a driver rather than brave the roads alone.

Moscow is by no means short of cultural activities and events . No visit is complete without a trip to the Bolshoi Theatre, and ballet performances at the Kremlin Palace are outstanding. There are several fascinating museums in the city, as well as wonderful architecture. 

Cost of living in Moscow

Moscow has a relatively high cost of living. While it's cheaper than many of the world's major capitals, accommodation comes at a huge cost, and those who choose to live lavishly will also pay dearly for it. That said, those with money can enjoy a luxurious  lifestyle in Moscow that's on par with any major international city.

Expat families and children

Expat families should note that the standard of public education and hospitals can be considerably lacking in Moscow. That said, expats always have the option of sending their children to one of the private or international schools located in the capital. There are also numerous private healthcare facilities available that expats can visit.

Parents will be glad to know that Moscow is filled with attractions and activities to entertain the kids. Families will also discover that some of Moscow’s most attractive features are the many public parks dotted throughout the city, which give it a more spacious and leafier feel. Going for a walk in the park is a daily habit for many residents, and families with children can make use of these green spaces for a day spent outdoors.

Climate in Moscow

Unlike the rest of Russia, Moscow has a humid continental climate. Summer weather is warm, with average daytime temperatures of  73°F (23°C). Most of the city's rainfall occurs during the summer months. Winters, on the other hand, are long, cold and snowy.

Expats in Moscow who can keep an open mind will find that the Russian capital has a lot to offer. Before moving to Moscow, expats should read as much as they can about the city to prepare themselves and to minimise any initial culture shock . One of the best ways to prepare for relocating to Moscow is to learn how to read the Cyrillic alphabet and speak some basic Russian.

What do expats love about Moscow? " What I like the most about Moscow is the city itself. It is always clean, vibrant, and full of entertainment and friendly pedestrians. It means that you can walk as far as you want to and feel safe about doing so." Read more about Eva, an Indonesian expat, and her move to Moscow in her interview.  " Honestly, I think Moscow is highly underrated. Compared to other metropolitan cities in the world, I think it is one of the best cities for quality of life! "Expats usually relocate here for business purposes since there are plenty of opportunities to take advantage of. Another bonus is the fast pace of city life, which is great for many expats."  Read about Russia from the perspective of a Russian – Yulia, a global nomad, shares her thoughts on life in Moscow .

Further reading

►For info about the ups and downs of life in the city, read Pros and Cons of Moving to Moscow .

Are you an expat living in Moscow?

Expat Arrivals is looking for locals to contribute to this guide, and answer forum questions from others planning their move to Moscow. Please contact us if you'd like to contribute.

Expat Health Insurance

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Moving Internationally?

International Movers. Get Quotes. Compare Prices. Sirelo has a network of more than 500 international removal companies that can move your furniture and possessions to your new home. By filling in a form, you’ll get up to 5 quotes from recommended movers. This service is free of charge and will help you select an international moving company that suits your needs and budget. Get your free no-obligation quotes from select removal companies now!

Free Moving Quotes ReloAdvisor is an independent online quote service for international moves. They work with hundreds of qualified international moving and relocation companies to match your individual requirements. Get up to 5 free quotes from moving companies that match your needs. Get your free no-obligation quotes now!

Home — Essay Samples — Geography & Travel — Travel and Tourism Industry — The History of Moscow City

The History of Moscow City

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Published: Feb 12, 2019

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Tallahassee man sentenced to life in prison for beating 70-year-old, stealing her car

A 20-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison for severely beating a 70-year-old woman and stealing her car in a Tallahassee Sam's Club parking lot, prosecutors said Thursday.

Shakel McClain was found guilty Feb. 16 of attempted first-degree murder, armed carjacking and attempt to flee from an officer.

McClain attacked the woman in 2021, when he was 17, before taking off in her car, prosecutors said in a statement. She was an employee at the Sam's Club on Dick Wilson Boulevard. The woman later underwent emergency surgery to treat brain bleeds and severe head trauma.

Several days later, Tallahassee police saw the stolen car and began a chase. McClain fled, managing to escape police. But he was arrested six days after the attack.

"Earlier this year, a second suspect, Aaron Carter, was arrested in connection to the case," the State Attorney's Office said. "Carter is accused of planning the attack and is currently in the Leon County Jail awaiting trial."

Breaking & trending news reporter Elena Barrera can be reached at  [email protected] . Follow her on X:  @elenabarreraaa .