Maybe I'm just starting to live…

The age when you can take care of yourself

Lydia Tikhonovich, "Philanthropist""Early aging of Russian people" – such a phenomenon was highlighted by an art therapist working in Israeli nursing homes.

Indeed, in our old people they write down people who "still have to plow and plow". The columnist of "Philanthropa" tells about one of the charity programs that help older people to remain active members of society longer.

When does old age beginOld age is a relative concept.

At what point does it start? In different societies and cultures at different times, ideas about old age vary significantly. In the Russian literature of the XIX century, for example, you can find a description of an "elderly man of forty years."

Yuri Tynyanov writes about Karamzin: "Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin was the oldest of all those gathered. He was thirty–four years old - the age of extinction" (Yu. Tynyanov, Pushkin). And Pulcheria Alexandrovna, the middle–aged mother of Rodion Raskolnikov from Dostoevsky's novel Crime and Punishment, is 42 years old…

In our time, the boundaries of the onset of old age have been greatly pushed back. More and more often there are stories about people who radically change their lives, start doing new things and achieve impressive results when they are well over 60. They prove that old age can be happy, active and eventful. It is no coincidence that more than 55,000 people like the "Age of Happiness" Facebook page. But among her characters, unfortunately, there are very few Russian pensioners.

In general, in Russia, people who, by Western standards, are still far from this milestone are enrolled in the "old men". Moreover, many themselves begin to identify themselves in this way already in 50-60 years.

Alexander Galitsky, an artist and art therapist who works in several Israeli nursing homes, described this phenomenon as "early aging of Russian people." Conducting a master class at the "White Nights in Perm", he was very surprised to see who came to his classes. "I work in Israel with the generation born in 1920-1930," he wrote on his Facebook blog. – In Russia, people born in the late 40s and early 50s came as "grandfathers and grandmothers". They also have to plow and plow. Brothers! How is it that people who are old enough to be the children of my Israeli elders are themselves very old in Russia?! The difference is actually for a whole generation???"

Among the reasons that cause "early aging", he highlights, firstly, the attitude of society, which declares a person "old" ahead of time, and secondly, the lack of a system of classes based on interests: studios, houses of culture, etc.

The most difficult thing is to change the general attitude that being an "old man" is "supposed to be". "Be sad, burdened with years, sick, poor – it's okay, you're an old man, baby"…

But as soon as older people find themselves in a situation where they can study, communicate and do what they like, these stereotypes inevitably collapse. One of the illustrative examples is computer literacy training.

Pensioners OnlineThe fact that computer literacy is difficult for pensioners is definitely a myth.

Having received basic skills, they quickly and easily master social networks, Internet search, Skype communication and much more. The computer and the social network system significantly change the quality of life, but it is also important that new connections and relationships are also established during the study process.

It is gratifying that there are more and more computer courses for the elderly, and they are becoming commonplace not only in the capitals. The need for them is great, so there is enough space for everyone to work: social protection departments, non-profit organizations, and businesses. One of such charity programs is "Status: online", It is held in Nizhny Novgorod, Rostov-on-Don, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Samara and Tomsk.

Elderly people are not only given the basics of computer literacy, but also taught to communicate in social networks, as well as to use electronic services: make payments, remotely sign up for a clinic, etc. Young people and teenagers are attracted as "teachers", and a "mixed", multi-age group appears, which in itself already gives a change in the self-perception and tone of the elderly.

The organizers were faced with the incredible enthusiasm of their "students". "Frankly speaking, I was afraid to work with the elderly," says Natalia Simonova, head of the charity organization "Care", coordinator of the "Status: Online" program in Nizhny Novgorod. – I thought: these are people who go through life with a heavy load: diseases, troubles, rejection of some new things. I was afraid that all this would show up in the courses. And it was a revelation to me how positive, energetic, eager for life and communication people are. Either the world has changed, or people have changed, or we just have such a situation..."

Communication is a necessary and really invaluable thing for the elderly. Many of them are happy to stay on the courses after their graduation as volunteers to help newcomers to study. All, without exception, are active members of the group created for them in social networks.

Other opportunities of the Care center were also in great demand: psychological trainings, dance-motor therapy. An interchange between "students" spontaneously arose: someone began to give medical consultations to others, someone - educational. "One woman, she is 77 years old, is now finishing the courses of guides. He is going to invite all students of computer courses to his excursions," Natalia Simonova said.

I would like to hope that clubs, clubs, and various creative activities will become available to absolutely all people of the "age of happiness" – regardless of their place of residence. And that someday it will really be available to everyone, and the age of "old age" will move a lot in Russia.

As an epilogue , we present the collective work of the Nizhny Novgorod group of computer courses:

Even though we have been retired for a long time,
We sing not only songs
We have Computer courses!
They found resources on them!
Let's sing programs now,
How we perform scales
And we are not afraid of the virus
We have everything "plus" – not "minus"
Now we go online,
And together we will say to boredom: "no."

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru27.06.2013