Global Intergenerational Week: why we care, and why you should, too

By Rob Kretzinger
President and CEO, WesleyLife

This week is Global Intergenerational Week. It's an important one for WesleyLife, as we believe in the value of intergenerational relationships not only for our communities and services, but for our society. Vision 2030, our organizational guiding plan, calls on us to unite generations by creating experiences not defined by age. Throughout our organization, we strive to achieve this daily. 

Why does intergenerational connection matter?

 Ageism often thrives in distance and assumption. When people of one age cohort don't interact regularly with people of other ages, understanding can be limited, and stereotypes fill the gaps: Younger people can think of older adults as frail, declining, out of touch, and technologically inept. Older adults can consider younger people uncaring, lazy, entitled, and naive. The result: People in different age groups avoid one another, so connections don't form.

When people of all ages interact in naturally occurring ways, they begin to see each other as individuals rather than categories. Younger people gain a clearer understanding of aging: not a fixed state, but a dynamic, varied experience shaped by health, mindset, opportunity, and purpose. At the same time, older adults are seen for their contributions, perspectives, and continued growth, which challenge the negative narrative that often surrounds aging.

Empathy and understanding 

 

Connections between age cohorts do more than shift perception; they build empathy. They help people recognize their shared experiences across life stages (goals, challenges, relationships) and diminish the “us vs. them” thinking that fuels ageism. Over time, these interactions can reshape cultural attitudes, making aging feel less like something to fear or dismiss and more like a natural, valuable part of the human experience.

In short, intergenerational connection is one of the most effective ways we can work to counter ageism. And we're not counting on messaging alone to do that for us; we'll continue to illustrate our commitment through lived, shared experience that changes how people see and value one another.

How you can help

Below, I offer some small, everyday ways we can all prioritize intergenerational connections with the hope of pushing back on ageism. None of this requires a big initiative or a formal plan.

Just spend time with people outside your own generation. When we build real relationships, whether through mentoring, volunteering, or just everyday conversation, it becomes a lot harder to hold on to stereotypes that don't match what we're seeing.

Choose your words wisely. Phrases like “senior moment” might seem harmless, but they reinforce the idea that aging is something to joke about or fix. The same goes for messaging that treats aging like a problem to solve. (To see this in action, visit your local Target or Walmart and peruse the birthday cards. How many of them treat aging as humorous in a negative way? In my experience, the majority of them.) Be aware of this and don't play into it. 

Consider speaking up. If a comment or joke doesn't sit right, it's worth addressing. You don't have to be confrontational; a simple, respectful comment can be enough to shift the tone.

Be thoughtful about what you watch, read, and share. When we support stories and media that show older adults as active, engaged, and fully part of everyday life, we help reshape expectations for everyone. 

Stay informed. The more we understand how common ageism is and the many ways intergenerational connection can help counter it, the more intentional we can be in how we interact with those who might unintentionally perpetuate the stereotypes around aging. 

Perceptions won’t change if people remain separate from one another, and uniting generations through real connection changes that. It creates a clearer, more complete understanding of what it means to live with purpose, engagement, and meaning at every age.

Watch our social media pages this week (and every week!) to explore examples and outcomes of intergenerational connections that help dispel stereotypes. Thanks for joining us in this important and ongoing effort.