I recently came across an online forum that crowdsources and refines ideas to make life better. The site is called OpenIDEO. My interest was peaked by a recent challenge on the site: How might we inspire and engage young people to support older adults through mentorship?
I appreciate this upside-down thinking where age is not the determining factor in who has something to give.
There are some wonderful contributions to the question. I love the idea of youth partnering with older adults to map memories of places to boost conservation in cities (submitted by Kate Machtiger). Or the “reverse summer school” where young people use empty school classrooms to teach skills to older adults during their summer holidays (submitted by Mathieu Chevalier).
In considering how we might support our aging population innovative and creative ideas like these will be needed.
How can young people in your area support older adults?
the jumping cat 
Wow, that’s interesting! I’ve never really thought about being a “mentor” for an older person…those are cool ideas though.
very interesting idea. I’d like to see some mentoring that doesn’t just involve technology though. A lot of young people are far more environmentally aware (partly because of their increased access to information), for example, and could work with (and mentor as needed) older adults who would like to become more aware themselves.
Or more creative! Many seniors would love to be creative, but just don’t know who to do this.