Connecting with the elderly

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During this unprecedented time with COVID-19, The Kindness Project is encouraging teens to connect with the elderly people in their community.

1. If you have not done so, please click create an account at the top to stay connected with The Kindness Project and our future events.

2. To participate in this current activity, find an elderly person to talk to(it could be a family member, a friend, an uncle etc)

3. DM us a quote from your interview along with a photo of them (make sure to ask them) to be featured on our website and our instagram.

4. If you want, also post the picture and the quote on your instagram story and be sure to tag @kindness_proj and use the hashtags #stopthespread #storytelling




Sample Ice Breaker Questions:

  1. What do you remember about the place you grew up? Do they still live there, or have they visited? If so, how has it changed?
  2. Which invention from your lifetime are you most amazed by? What was life like before? Their generation witnessed the invention of color TV, personal computers, the Internet and more.
  3. What’s the weirdest fad you remember? Is it dance marathons, swallowing goldfish or Jell-O™ salad? How about expressions or slang?
  4. What was your favorite movie when you were younger? Suggest watching it together! Streaming services like Turner Classic Movies and Criterion Collection offer large selections of old films, as do many local libraries.
  5. What was your first job? How about your favorite? My grandfather worked in a prison for 12 cents an hour!

Questions about family

  1. Do you know the history of your family name, crest or origin? If they’ve always wanted to learn more, suggest a service like Ancestry to use together. You may be surprised by the results.
  2. What do you remember about your parents and grandparents? This is a special opportunity to learn more about family members you didn’t have the chance to meet.
  3. What were your children like growing up? Do they have any funny or embarrassing stories about Mom or Dad?
  4. What did you and your siblings do for fun? Maybe straight-laced Aunt Ruth was a huge troublemaker back in the day!
  5. How did you meet your spouse? Was it love at first sight or an uphill battle? What was the wedding like?

Questions about getting older

  1. What are the most rewarding things about getting older? Is it a lifetime of knowledge? The senior discount at the movie theatre?
  2. What are the most important lessons you’ve learned in your life? Ask to hear the stories behind those lessons.
  3. Who has influenced you the most? Thank your loved one for the ways they’ve influenced your life so far.
  4. What life advice would you pass along? Take this answer to heart.
  5. If you could go back to any age, what would it be? Would they stay the age they are now, or go back? How far back? What was life like at that time?

Questions about values

  1. What was the best day of your life? It could be a wedding, the birth of a child or just a nice day by the lake.
  2. What are you the most proud of? Congratulate them on this accomplishment.
  3. What kinds of things make you the happiest now? Now that you know, you can try to make them happen often.
  4. How have your dreams and goals changed throughout your life? Do they seem at peace with these changes, or do they have regrets?
  5. How would you like to be remembered? This question can be sad, but knowing how your loved one wants to be remembered will help you honor them and tell their story.