Dr. Elie Wiesel, a Romanian-born Jewish-American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel Laureate, and Holocaust survivor, summed up aging for Leading Age attendees last month this way:
- As we age we acquire more and more experiences.
- Experience turns into knowledge.
- Knowledge turns into sensitivity.
- Sensitivity turns into commitment.
- Commitment turns into action.
At least in theory that is the way it should be. As Archbishop Tutu said to Mary Robinson, former Irish president and a member of The Elders, "we must learn to elder."
That is particularly hard in a society where elders, along with children and madmen (alluding to those in society with mental and physical disabilities) are often the victims.
Acknowleging that there are still no solutions to the world's major problems and that by his estimate 60 wars are ongoing around the globe, nonetheless he has hope. Reminds me of what Mary Robinson said about Archbishop Tutu when asked if he was optimistic replied "I am a prisoner of hope."
And with hope a simple citizen (how President Clinton described him during one of their many interviews together) can change things.
"I believe in hope," he said but "I don't want my hope to become someone else's despair." I am not completely sure what he meant by that. My first inclination was that hope without action equals despair.
"But we must protect and defend older people so that can happen."
He encouraged the audience to work in their local communities to foster inter-generational programs, suggesting children interview and record an elder so that stories can be captured and knowledge shared.
On a side note, I attempted this in my local community. I wanted young students to capture stories on video and imagined a You Tube channel with thousands and thousands of knowledge-sharing videos online. The benefits to the young and old have been clearly documented.
The obstacle for me was the nursing and assisted living facilities themselves and that little thing called HIPAA. Yet we need to be open to this knowledge sharing and recognize the benefits not just the potential liabilities.
There is actually a better chance of this taking place in certified adult day centers some of whom are located near child care centers. That fosters inter-generational programming, the kind that Eli is advocating. And that is good PR, which makes the adult day center's record keepers happy.
"When I see a child smiling I believe God is smiling at the work of his creation," he said adding "Never except happiness unless that happiness brings more happiness to others."
This is no doubt a bad time in world history. But there have been worse. Far worse. And when you look at what Dr. Wiesel has endured, you have to marvel at his resilience.
Our elder care professionals are deeply mission driven and understand their role in protecting and defending elders. And they intuitively know the knowledge elders bring.
What we need to do is share and spread that knowledge to the "outside" world where despair paired with a notion that we have all the answers equals a world in desperate need of hope.
Learn more ~ or join the conversation!
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