Multigenerational friendships benefit everyone involved. Many older people cannot socialize as much as they'd like, which leaves them stuck in their houses with nothing to do but watch TV all day. Too many young people do not have any friends more than five years older than them, let alone have had any real interaction with older generations in a non-work, school, or family capacity. You would think that having older parents, grandparents, bosses, and teachers would teach you how to have strong relationships with older people, but friendship is the great equalizer.
One college student discovered how meaningful a friendship with an older person can be. When she was 19, she moved to a small town in Scotland to study fashion and got a job at the local bookie. At work, she met an 89-year-old man named Tommy, and their journey together over the past nine years is nothing short of remarkable.