Kids love them. Parents are into them because physical activity is good for kids. (And let’s be honest: It’s also because we know they’ll sleep well later.)
Whoops.
But you know who else playgrounds are good for? Senior citizens!
Yep, that’s right. Playground equipment isn’t just for little ones.A playground for seniors offers various means of play and exercise. Image pulled from YouTube video.
Seniors enjoy doing more than sitting idly, reading a book, and gazing at the young whippersnappers swinging, sliding, and generally having a good time. They like to play, too!
In Spain, where the population is aging, senior-citizen playgrounds have been popping up for a while.
Not only do they provide a place for folks to enjoy physical activity, they also offer an opportunity for socializing.
“It is very social,” says Paz Vidal, a physical therapist. “[We] want to break the myth of the old person coming to the park and just sitting while grandkids play. And then going home. Kids can also have fun here. The parks help create family cohesion. And it’s intergenerational.”
The playgrounds in Spain sure seem to be serving their purpose.
The playground fills up when seniors come to share time and healthy activities. Image pulled from YouTube video.
“I am not someone to stay home. I get out a lot,” said Franchesca, an 84-year-old in Spain who, in addition to enjoying being active, hasn’t lost her sense of humor. “Because if you stay home, you spend all your time criticizing your kids, eh?”
And it’s not just happening in Spain. The idea has caught on in the U.S. too!
Folks playing at a senior playground in London. More of these in the U.S., please! Photo by Oli Scarff/Staff/Getty Images.
“Play is a great connector for adults and seniors and the children in their lives. In addition to the cognitive and physical benefits of play, it can also reduce stress in adults and is proven to help combat toxic stress in kids,” Sarah Pinsky, director of client services for KaBOOM!, told Huffington Post.
I mean, just watch these folks enjoying themselves. Who wouldn’t want to have fun like that at any age?
In a small village in Pwani, a district on Tanzania’s coast, a massive dance party is coming to a close. For the past two hours, locals have paraded through the village streets, singing and beating ngombe drums; now, in a large clearing, a woman named Sheilla motions for everyone to sit facing a large projector screen. A film premiere is about to begin.
It’s an unusual way to kick off a film about gender bias, inequality, early marriage, and other barriers that prevent girls from accessing education in Tanzania. But in Pwani and beyond, local organizations supported by Malala Fund and funded by Pura are finding creative, culturally relevant ways like this one to capture people’s interest.
The film ends and Sheilla, the Communications and Partnership Lead for Media for Development and Advocacy (MEDEA), stands in front of the crowd once again, asking the audience to reflect: What did you think about the film? How did it relate to your own experience? What can we learn?
Sheilla explains that, once the community sees the film, “It brings out conversations within themselves, reflective conversations.” The resonance and immediate action create a ripple effect of change.
MEDEA Screening Audience in Tanzania. Captured by James Roh for Pura
Across Tanzania, gender-based violence often forces adolescent girls out of the classroom. This and other barriers — including child marriage, poverty, conflict, and discrimination — prevent girls from completing their education around the world.
Sheilla and her team are using film and radio programs to address the challenges girls face in their communities. MEDEA’s ultimate goal is to affirm education as a fundamental right for everyone, and to ensure that every member of a community understands how girls’ education contributes to a stronger whole and how to be an ally for their sisters, daughters, granddaughters, friends, nieces, and girlfriends.
Sheilla’s story is one of many that inspired Heart on Fire, a new fragrance from the Pura x Malala Fund Collection that blends the warm, earthy spices of Tanzania with a playful, joyful twist. Here’s how Pura is using scent as a tool to connect the world and inspire action.
A partnership focused on local impact, on a global mission
Pura, a fragrance company that recognizes education as both freedom and a human right, has partnered with Malala Fund since 2022. In order to defend every girl’s right to access and complete 12 years of education, Malala Fund partners with local organizations in countries where the educational barriers are the greatest. They invest in locally-led solutions because they know that those who are closest to the problems are best equipped to solve and build durable solutions, like MEDEA, which works with communities to challenge discrimination against girls and change beliefs about their education.
But local initiatives can thrive and scale more powerfully with global support, which is why Pura is using their own superpower, the power of scent, to connect people around the world with the women and girls in these local communities.
The Pura x Malala Fund Collection incorporates ingredients naturally found in Tanzania, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Brazil: countries where Malala Fund operates to address systemic education barriers. Eight percent of net revenue from the Pura x Malala Fund Collection will be donated to Malala Fund directly, but beyond financial support, the Collection is also a love letter to each unique community, blending notes like lemon, jasmine, cedarwood, and clove to transport people, ignite their senses, and help them draw inspiration and hope from the global movement for girls’ education. Through scent, people can connect to the courage, joy, and tenacity of girls and local leaders, all while uniting in a shared commitment to education: the belief that supporting girls’ rights in one community benefits all of us, everywhere.
You’ve already met Sheilla. Now see how Naiara and Mama Habiba are building unique solutions to ensure every girl can learn freely and dare to dream.
Naiara Leite is reimagining what’s possible in Brazil
Julia with Odara in Brazil. Captured by Luisa Dorr for Pura
In Brazil, where pear trees and coconut plantations cover the Northeastern Coast, girls like ten-year-old Julia experience a different kind of educational barrier than girls in Tanzania. Too often, racial discrimination contributes to high dropout rates among Black, quilombola and Indigenous girls in the country.
“In the logic of Brazilian society, Black people don’t need to study,” says Naiara Leite, Executive Coordinator of Odara, a women-led organization and Malala Fund partner. Bahia, the state where Odara is based, was once one of the largest slave-receiving territories in the Americas, and because of that history, deeply-ingrained, anti-Black prejudice is still widespread. “Our role and the image constructed around us is one of manual labor,” Naiara says.
But education can change that. In 2020, with assistance from a Malala Fund grant, Odara launched its first initiative for improving school completion rates among Black, quilombola, and Indigenous girls: “Ayomidê Odara”. The young girls mentored under the program, including Julia, are known as the Ayomidês. And like the Pura x Malala Fund Collection’s Brazil: Breath of Courage scent, the Ayomidês are fierce, determined, and bursting with energy.
Ayomidês with Odara in Brazil. Captured by Luisa Dorr for Pura
Ayomidês take part in weekly educational sessions where they explore subjects like education and ethnic-racial relations. The girls are encouraged to find their own voices by producing Instagram lives, social media videos, and by participating in public panels. Already, the Ayomidês are rewriting the narrative on what’s possible for Afro-Brazilian girls to achieve. One of the earliest Ayomidês, a young woman named Debora, is now a communications intern. Another former Ayomidê, Francine, works at UNICEF, helping train the next generation of adolescent leaders. And Julia has already set her sights on becoming a math teacher or a model.
“These are generations of Black women who did not have access to a school,” Naiara says. “These are generations of Black women robbed daily of their dreams. And we’re telling them that they could be the generation in their family to write a new story.”
Mama Habiba is reframing the conversation in Nigeria
Centre for Girls' Education, Nigeria. Captured by James Roh for Pura
In Mama Habiba’s home country of Nigeria, the scents of starfruit, ylang ylang and pineapple, all incorporated into the Pura x Malala Collection’s “Nigeria: Hope for Tomorrow,” can be found throughout the vibrant markets. Like these native scents, Mama Habiba says that the Nigerian girls are also bright and passionate, but too often they are forced to leave school long before their potential fully blooms.
“Some of these schools are very far, and there is an issue of quality, too,” Mama Habiba says. “Most parents find out when their children are in school, the girls are not learning. So why allow them to continue?”
When girls drop out of secondary school, marriage is often the alternative. In Nigeria, one in three girls is married before the age of 18. When this happens, girls are unable to fulfill their potential, and their families and communities lose out on the social, health and economic benefits.
Completing secondary school delays marriage, and according to UNESCO, educated girls become women who raise healthier children, lift their families out of poverty and contribute to more peaceful, resilient communities.
Centre for Girls’ Education, Nigeria. Captured by James Roh for Pura
To encourage young girls to stay in school, the Centre for Girls’ Education, a nonprofit in Nigeria founded by Mama Habiba and supported by Malala Fund and Pura, has pioneered an initiative that’s similar to the Ayomidê workshops in Brazil: safe spaces. Here, girls meet regularly to learn literacy, numeracy, and other issues like reproductive health. These safe spaces also provide an opportunity for the girls to role-play and learn to advocate for themselves, develop their self-image, and practice conversations with others about their values, education being one of them. In safe spaces, Mama Habiba says, girls start to understand “who she is, and that she is a girl who has value. She has the right to negotiate with her parents on what she really feels or wants.”
“When girls are educated, they can unlock so many opportunities,” Mama Habiba says. “It will help the economy of the country. It will boost so many opportunities for the country. If they are given the opportunity, I think the sky is not the limit. It is the starting point for every girl.”
From parades, film screenings to safe spaces and educational programs, girls and local leaders are working hard to strengthen the quality, safety and accessibility of education and overcome systemic challenges. They are encouraging courageous behavior and reminding us all that education is freedom.
Experience the Pura x Malala Fund Collection here, and connect with the stories of real girls leading change across the globe.
No matter how much caregivers may want to keep a loved one with dementia in their home, it’s not always feasible. Living with dementia is not easy, nor is living with someone who has dementia. But moving a loved one with dementia into a traditional care facility isn’t always ideal, either. It can be difficult to find a suitable living situation that ticks all the boxes for what a family and their loved one would want.
That’s where a “dementia village” comes in as an alternative. Instead of trying to fit a person with dementia into a living situation that either isn’t designed for them or is overly focused on their limitations, a dementia village is an environment designed specifically to help people with severe dementia feel safe and free and live as normal a life as possible.
The Hogeweyk was the world’s first dementia village, founded in 2009. Since then, the idea has been replicated in dozens of locations all over the world. The concept is quite simple: A full, self-contained neighborhood where people with dementia can walk around freely without fear of getting lost, where everyone from shopkeepers to restaurant servers to salon workers are trained in dementia care, and where people who are losing their memory to dementia diseases are treated as people who still have aspirations.
Eloy van Hal, one of the founders of the Hogeweyk, explained to Vox how the guiding principle of the village is “normalcy.” Traditional nursing homes keep all residents under one roof, and they are subject to do whatever program the institution provides for them. In the Hogeweyk, people live in small groups of six or seven in apartments with furnishings like they’d have at home. Distinct landmarks in the public space help residents know where they are, and putting a theater, grocery store, barber shop, etc. in separate buildings encourage movement through the neighborhood.
“It’s about choice, choice, choice, where you want to be during the whole day and with whom,” said van Hal. The idea is to balance safe design with controlled risk, allowing for as much of a normal life as possible.
Every worker in a dementia village is trained in dementia care. Photo credit: Canva
The one downside to the village concept, of course, is cost. Without adequate funding assistance from governments, living in a dementia village can be prohibitively expensive.
Does it really make a difference for residents, though? Has it been proven that outcomes are better than traditional care models? With dozens of villages now being used around the world, research is ongoing, but the data from the Hogeweyk is promising. People in the comments of Vox’s by Design video shared how such facilities have been life-changing for their loved ones and how traditional care doesn’t always meet the needs of people with dementia.
What are dementia villages? No, it's not clickbait. This is an actual thing that a team in the Netherlands created called the Hogeweyk. Here's what we know. pic.twitter.com/JgKI7sixo9
“My grandmother had dementia and when her caretaker who was my grandfather (her husband) passed unexpectedly we had to scramble to get her into a memory care facility in the US. The first place she was in temporarily was so sad, I could see her spirit drain but after about a year we were able to get her into a “village” and the quality of life difference is nothing short of ASTOUNDING! She could function in a way that was familiar and comfortable to her and not be in a foreign hospital setting. The abrupt change from a home where they are familiar, to a clinical setting must be very disorienting and upsetting to these people. That side of my family had mental health issues and memory loss starts early, so I know it will happen to me to some extent and I only hope I can have people take care of me as well as in this Hogeweyk.”
“I’ve worked in a nursing home through high school and college. While I can’t say it was the worst place for dementia patients, it certainly did not work well for all of them. One patient once tried to wedge herself through the door begging to go outside with me and I even had patients confide in me that they hated being institutionalized, they missed being able to live a normal life, being part of a real community, and being able to come and go as they pleased. This concept is probably the closest thing possible to a normal life a dementia patient could ever have.”
“A relative of mine used to get aggressive, violent and angry when she would encounter a locked door in the institution she was in. She couldn’t understand why there would be a locked room in what she understood to be ‘her home’, this would take a lot of calming down and management, only for her to discover another locked door, and kick off again. I love these village based models as they allow autonomy for residents, and have an individual experience. Just because someone has a brain disease doesn’t mean they aren’t entitled to the very best care. I hope the govt spends far more on these establishments in the future.”
“As he said at the end, people with dementia are still people—even if there is proven to be no benefits to this model over a care home, I would much prefer to have dignity in my final days than live in a clinical trap. Love all the incredible ideas the Netherlands come up with.”
A dementia village is a self-contained neighborhood with shops and places for people to go like a normal neighborhood. Photo credit: Canva
Dementia care is something Americans are going to have to look at closely. According to The Alzheimer’s Association, the number of people living with Alzheimer’s is set to nearly double from seven million to 13 million by the year 2050. As more of our elders require full-time care, the more we’ll have to consider prioritizing putting resources into things like dementia villages.
Everyone deserves safety and a good quality of life. The Hogeweyk is a great example of what it looks like to view people with dementia as people first and to care for them accordingly.
This article originally appeared last year. It has been updated.
If you have Boomers in your life, you may have noticed a tendency that seems a bit baffling. Despite being older and theoretically wiser, our elders can sometimes become anxious over seemingly small things.
“I had a dowel that didn’t have a price tag on it, whatever, so I ran back and took a photo of the price tag. And as I was walking back towards her, I was holding up my phone… because I had multiple dowels and that was the one that didn’t have the price tag on it,” she said in the video. “And she looks at me and she goes, ‘I don’t know which one that is,’ and she starts like, panicking.” The TikToker said that the woman was “screechy, panicking for no reason.”
Older people can become frustrated over seemingly small things. Photo credit: Canva
Many people raised by Boomers understood what she meant by “Boomer panic.” “Boomer panic is such a good phrase for this! Minor inconvenience straight to panic,” the most popular commenter wrote. And while there was some unfortunate boomer-bashing in the comments, some younger people tried to explain why the older folks have such a hard time regulating their emotions: “From conversations with my mother, they weren’t allowed to make mistakes and were harshly punished if they did.” The TikToker responded, “A lot of people mentioned this, and it breaks my heart. I think you’re right,” Myexistentialdread responded.
“Well, it’s likely that there actually was a reason the woman started panicking about a seemingly meaningless problem,” Sundholm said. “Most of us nowadays know the importance of recognizing and feeling our emotions.” Sundholm then quoted therapist Mitzi Bachman, who says that when people bottle up their emotions and refuse to express them, it can result in an “unhinged” reaction.
TikToker Gabi Day shared a similar phenomenon she noticed with her Boomer mom; she called the behavior “anxiety-at-you.”
Day’s Boomer mother was “reactive,” “nervous,” and “anxious” throughout her childhood. Now, she is still on edge with Day’s children. “She’s immediately like gasping and just really like exaggerated physical reactions, and then, of course, that kind of startles my kid,” Day said. “Again, I know that this comes from a place of care. It’s just a lot,” she continued.
There is a significant difference in emotional intelligence and regulation between how Boomers were raised and how younger generations, such as Gen X, millennials, and Gen Z, were brought up. Boomers grew up when they had to bottle up their feelings to show their resilience. This can lead to growing anger, frustration with situations and people, chronic stress, and anxiety—all conditions that can lead to panicky, unhinged behavior.
Ultimately, Sundholm says that we should sympathize with Boomers who have difficulty regulating their emotions and see it as an example of the great strides subsequent generations have made in managing their mental health. “It may seem a little harsh to call something ‘Boomer panic,’ but in the context of how many of them were raised, it makes a lot of sense,” Sundholm says. “It also underlines the importance of emotional regulation skills and teaching them to future generations. And maybe most important, having compassion for those who never had a chance to learn them.”
Having compassion for older generations can go a long way. Photo credit: Canva
Psychotherapist Jennifer Gerlach LCSW writes about the emotional reality of how Boomers were brought up and why they deserve our compassion:
“The progeny of the Greatest Generation. Their youth was a time of prosperity where appearances, ‘keeping up with the Joneses,’ was quite important. Although many of the years following are graced by stereotypes of openness and expression, parenting practices reflected more of a ‘toughness’ than most used today. Phrases like ‘quit crying or I’ll give you something to cry about’ reflected negative reactions to emotional expression. The concept of trauma only reached some ‘capital T’ traumas—sexual assault and war. Many things that we know can be traumatic today were not treated as such. Psychotherapy was stigmatized and kept secret.”
When we know more about where people from other generations came from, it’s easier to understand and find compassion for them.
Shannon Nelson, better known by her online alias Pinky Nel, describes herself as a “Boomer grandma with an edge.” She also notes in her online bio that she’s “big on family, friends, dogs and golf.” She makes a lot of content wherein nothing is off the table: ex-relationships, private parts, grandkids, being single, and hormone therapy.
Now that she’s 70, she has decided that there are things she no longer feels obligated to do. In fact, there are a few lists she has made detailing those things and many people feel totally seen.
In the first clip, she writes, “One of the many benefits of getting older is that your “To Do” list changes into a “Not To Do” list. Here’s mine:
I will no longer get a bikini wax. It’s barbaric. It’s inhumane. Not suitable for 70-year-old skin.
I’m not wearing thong underwear. Or brassieres with wire in them. Or high heels… for obvious reasons.
I gave up on coloring my hair.
I don’t drive at night. And while we’re at it, I’m not doing THIS anymore. (She then gives a hilarious X-rated gesture with her hand) and proceeds, “I mean I am single and not dating, so chances of anybody expecting me to do that are pretty slim.
I’m not going anywhere without a parking lot. I’m not gonna drive around for 20 minutes hoping somebody’s gonna leave. Forget it!
I am no longer watching gory or depressing movies. I just can’t handle it.
I’m not going to dinner at anyone’s house where my dog isn’t welcome. Or after 5:30. Make that 5:00!
Also, I’m no longer gonna hold in my gas. It’s not healthy. Also, I’m not gonna force my gas. It’s been a good party trick with the grandkids. It’s not safe.
Finally? I am done with small talk. I’m also done with mansplaining. And I will no longer accept golf tips from a guy who’s lousier than I am at the driving range.”
She then asks her followers to “add anything to the list” and they sure do. There are over 114,000 likes on this clip alone and over 4,000 incredibly relatable comments.
One Instagrammer writes, “I’m not apologizing for canceling plans if I don’t really want to go. I’m not letting unsolicited advice mess with my head. I’m no longer afraid of saying no.”
Another semi-jokingly adds, “I will no longer do anything I don’t enjoy doing—except maybe take a shower every now and then.”
And it’s not just the senior citizens who feel seen. “I’m 37 and have already given up all of this but the driving-related items.”
In part two, she stands in her kitchen holding a cup of coffee and adds, “Here are a few additions to my ‘not to do’ list now that I’m almost 70.”
“I’ve stopped saving for a rainy day. I’m not saving the ‘good China.’ Or the candles or my money. It’s already raining. In fact, it’s pouring.
I’m no longer going to say that I read books. That’s a lie. I listen to books. Ya know, the talking books. I don’t care if that makes me sound dumb.
And I’m putting an end to eating hot dogs without the bun. I don’t care about the calories. Or the carbs! Wieners are just far better when there’s buns.
I’m not ever going to say ‘I’m circling back.’ I’ve never even ‘circled forward!’ And forget about ‘jumping on a call.’ I’m 70. I don’t jump anymore. In fact, I’m not taking calls period. You can text me.
I’m not changing my sheets every week. I’m single. And I’m clean. And so are the dogs.”
Here, we see a shot of her two yellow dogs wagging their tails on the bed.
“And finally, I’m not saving ‘I love you’ for special occasions. I say it every day. To my family, to my friends, to the dogs. Hell, I’ve even said it to my golf clubs. And I meant it. And if you’ve hung in this far, I probably love you too.”
Again, the comments are totally supportive, some even from people a decade older. “I’m working towards 80,” one said, “I love you. I don’t wear makeup anymore unless I’m going to church. I don’t wear a bra unless I’m going out and that’s not very often. Growing old is wonderful. And oh by the way I change my sheets once a month. I’m clean. And I’m single so nobody cares.”
Once again, Nelson comes back for round three. This time, she writes in the comment section, “Getting older comes with one gift: the freedom to stop doing sh*t you don’t care about.”
“You can put away the rubber gloves and the Vaseline, doc. I am no longer subjecting myself to a routine pap smear or rectal.
I’m not checking on how I look from behind before I go out. If I can’t see the problem? It’s not a problem.
I’m not brushing the dog’s teeth. Or paying a thousand bucks to have them professionally cleaned. She’s a dog! (She gently lifts up one of her pup’s lips.) Look how nice they are!
And forget about changing my bed sheets every week. I’ll just switch sides! Flip the pillow over.
And no more hanging onto things I can no longer wear anymore. Even though they are so beautiful.
And finally, no more wincing when I see myself in the mirror. So I look my age! Aren’t I supposed to?”
When we’re young, we’re so often overwhelmed by new love. The beginnings of things can feel like we’re being whisked into another dimension, and then if or when it falls apart, those crashes can feel devastating. With time, the hope is that wisdom follows.
After a lifetime of experience—big loves and heartbreaks—older people often have a clearer rearview mirror when it comes to love.
William Rossy (who uses the name @Sprouht on social media) has over one million subscribers on YouTube alone and claims to have interviewed the elderly in “35 countries.” (He was even fortunate enough to interview Dalai Lama for life advice.) He asks people in their 70s, 80s, and 90s to share their deepest thoughts with questions like, “What’s a big regret you have that taught you a valuable lesson?” “What advice would you have for younger generations?” And, powerfully, “How would you define love?”
A woman in her 80s answers, “Love, to me, is a commitment. It isn’t just something that happens to you. Ya know, like ‘Pow—LOVE!’ It’s something you work at, something you have to nourish.” Her friend adds, “You grow into it; it doesn’t just happen at first sight.”
Of her third (and she says hopefully “final”) husband, she says, “We both had a lot of baggage. We met when we were 72, so you’re gonna have a lot of baggage. So you give each other a generous baggage allowance.” She adds, “It’s not easy to share your life with a person. You’re never gonna have the exact same response to things. Recognizing that your point of view may not be the other person’s point of view. A lot of tolerance.”
A man in his 90s, who has been married for 67 years, answers that the secret to such a long relationship has been “compromise.” Adding, “No question. Very few things in life are worth fighting over. I want to go downtown, and she wants to go to Westmount Square. So? We went to Westmount Square, and I’m very happy.”
When he’s specifically asked to “define the word love,” he answers, “Extreme respect and caring. No more than that. The physical side dies early.”
People in the same age range are asked about life regrets; again, the answers are truly eye-opening. One woman mentions she didn’t have children. When pushed to answer, she first says she has no regrets, but when asked, “Did you ever regret it?” she answers, “I did feel it was something I should have, perhaps, done. But I wasn’t cut out for it.” Someone counters in the comments, “Admitting you are not cut out for children despite wanting them shows massive self-awareness. It is better to not have them than to have them and not look after them properly.”
One man, whose wife passed away after a 55-year marriage, advises the younger generations to always talk. “Sit down and talk, no matter the disagreement.”
Near the end of the clip, Rossy references a dear friend in Montreal who painted a drawing of an older person sitting on a bench with a younger one. He shows the painting to the elderly people he’s speaking with and asks, “What advice would you give to me on living a great life? Maybe something you wish me and people my age would know a little sooner?”
One woman very directly answers, “Make a point of liking and knowing as many people as you can.”
A 96-year-old woman, as she holds her cute dog, says, “Look after yourself. Take care of yourself. Don’t abuse yourself.”
Another discusses the importance of travel. “Keep your options open. Travel is a big way to open your mind. Make sure that whatever you do in life, you have some international travel.”
A man seconds the travel advice. “Travel. Expose yourself. And for God’s sake, be tolerant.”
And lastly, a woman quite simply admits, “I’ve kind of learned that I don’t like to give advice. Because I don’t actually like it when people give me advice. I don’t have any advice, but I’ve got a lot of experience.”
What’s better than combining eager Halloween-celebrating kids with the elderly who could use some visitors? Why trick-or-treating of course! This idea has been making the rounds and many are sharing their cute TikTok videos to prove the joy.
Just this week, Upworthy shared the heartwarming story about a mom who took her daughter (dressed head to toe in princess pink) to a senior care facility, delighting many of the residents. She pranced around with her pumpkin Halloween bucket, into which senior citizens joyfully dropped candy. It inspired many to take part in this wonderful win/win for the elderly and the youth.
That said, after the idea also went viral on the subreddit r/MakeMeSmile, some people had concerns. A Redditor, @FinnFarrow, wrote “Such a good idea” and shared a picture of a woman holding an orange sign. It reads: “If you take your children trick-or-treating, please consider taking them by NURSING HOMES. Most of them give out candy, and the residents would love to see the little ones in their costumes. Please stop by and brighten their day! You have no idea how much this means to them!”
The comment section exploded, and not in the way one might think. The first is practical advice: “I would recommend contacting the nursing homes prior. I used to work in one, and they allowed it with restrictions.”
Another adds, “Absolutely call beforehand though. I saw a similar post a couple of years ago and called every nursing home in town, and not one allowed trick-or-treating.”
Some people were kinder in the comments than others. One bluntly points out that having lots of children in their facility could threaten health conditions of the elderly: “I would imagine bringing 100 nose miners into a nursing home during cold and flu season would be bad for residents.”
Others noted that if such a thing were unexpected, it could be confusing for some of the residents. One gave the example of a man in assisted living who, when walking to the dining hall, saw kids dressed as aliens for Halloween. He did not handle it well. One points out, “It’s also very funny seeing the kids try to explain their costumes to the old folks and for the old folks to try to comprehend what characters kids are wearing these days. I don’t even know, and I’m always online.”
And then there’s the logistics of candy. I called my mom, who is in a senior living home, and asked if her facility did this. Her answer was surprising: “I hope not. Where would I even get candy?”
But the idea is still a lovely one, at least for some. And if it’s something that resonates, here are a few tips for making it work.
NOTE THE SENIOR FACILITY
There’s a big difference between senior independent living, assisted living, and memory care. It’s important to note that before attempting a visit which includes children. Senior independent would probably be the best place to start, as the residents (often) have fewer physical or memory-health issues.
CALL AHEAD
This might take some time, but call around to different facilities to make sure this is allowed. Usually, this is a planned event on their part, so while they may love the idea, it certainly takes coordination. The site, A Place for Mom can offer a list of nearby residences.
OFFER A DONATION
Getting out and getting candy (or having the funds to do so) should also be a consideration for something like this. One idea is that once you’ve established that a facility is hosting an event like this (and/or is open to it), consider offering money to buy the actual candy. Or one could drop the candy off.
There’s a bit of magic to the idea that the circle of life has a through-line of joyous moments. When you’re young, you can’t see the days ahead of you, and so the tiniest novelties—like dressing up in a pink dress with tulle and getting copious amounts of candy—are spectacular. When we age, some of us lose sight of that magic. “Been there, done that,” we might think. And as we near an end to life, perhaps we don’t even get exposed to it anymore.
The trend of having children trick-or-treating at senior homes and nursing facilities is ultra inspiring. Such a wonderful opportunity for two age groups to be inspired by one another—an obvious win/win for both the elderly and the kids.
On TikTok, Karen Chan Binnings (@karen.channnnn) shared the video of her young daughter clad in a fluffy, bubblegum pink princess dress with a Halloween pumpkin basket. But what makes this trick-or-treating event different is she is in a nursing home. We see her approach the first resident, who notes, “Look at how pretty you are,” as she puts candy in her bucket. She continues down the hallways, with Binnings reminding her to say “thank you” when she forgets.
Occasionally, she happens upon a caregiver or staff member (who are also at the ready with candy), but it’s the senior citizens lined up in chairs (some of them in wheelchairs) that make the exchange the most special. About halfway through the video, we get a montage of the young girl posing with different residents.
And while, yes, the candy seems to be her biggest focus, occasionally the camera catches her lock eyes and smile with one of the elderly people. For her, it must feel like 100 grandparents descending all at once with chocolate.
Binnings writes, “If you haven’t gone trick or treating at a nursing or retirement home, you’re missing out! This is your sign!”
The comment section seems genuinely moved. Many point out that logistically, doing this at a senior facility should ensure that the candy “will be safe.”
Another person shares, “The residents look forward to these events so much.” Binnings replies, “The residents looked very happy. My daughter was loving the extra attention!”
Their conversation continues, with the person explaining their kids grew up in a senior living facility because they worked in one. They add that both the kids and seniors couldn’t wait to count down to Halloween. Binnings exclaims “That is adorable and so special! Kids that enjoy spending time with the elderly have a special old soul.”
KSBY News reports that “Hundreds of kids attended (a) Halloween event at Paso Robles assisted living facility” accompanied by a YouTube video of tiny witches, goblins, and ghosts visiting a senior home for their “trunk or treat” event. This specific celebration also helped support a fundraiser for an upcoming Alzheimer’s walk, which raises donations and awareness for the disease.
A popular Instagram page, @thesourcela, put up the reminder message: “If you take your children trick-or-treating, please consider taking them by nursing homes. Most of them give out candy, and the residents would love to see the little ones in their costumes. If you can, please stop by and brighten their day. You have no idea how much this means to them.”
The people agree. One person adds, “Everyone deserves a chance to feel the enjoyment of any celebration.”
It might be an understatement to say that we are in divisive times. Many of us live in an echo chamber of our own making—carefully curated social media bouncing the same news sources and opinions back and forth like a game of pickleball.
But what if you find yourself in a situation where you can no longer curate your surroundings? What happens when circumstance make it impossible to only be around like-minded people? This happened to my mother (and many of her friends) when she moved into a senior living facility. All of a sudden, she found herself having dinner and playing Mahjong with people who (gasp) held different political opinions.
It took some getting used to. My mom, like many of us, is steadfast in her beliefs. She has spent decades learning about and fighting for the things she believes in, and in her mid-80s, most of those opinions are unlikely to change. That said, there was a simple solution to bridging the (often vast) gap between her and her new friends and building mates.
I asked her, “When you’re seeking out friendships, even now in the senior center, what are the kinds of traits you look for? What bonds you?”
Her answer was quick and simple. “Volunteering together.” She further explained, “Doesn’t matter if you’re on the left or right side of the aisle. If we’re doing something together to help someone else, it’s almost like that other stuff goes out the window.”
Because of my mom’s sight and mobility issues, her ability to volunteer is a bit limited. But she can help put care packages together for those in need, donate and organize jewelry for fundraisers (like for Alzheimer’s), and she even offered up a dance class to the other residents called “Dances with Walkers.” What she has found is that others who offer themselves with acts of service tell her nearly everything she needs to know about them. And it creates a true bond that goes beyond voting records.
She shared, “I mean there are still big ideas I’ll always fight for. But the kindness people show by helping others is very important.” I asked her how else that ‘kindness’ presents itself and, again, her answer was clear. “The way they talk to the staff. When we sit in the dining hall for dinner, I want to be around people who are kind to wait staff. On the day to day, that matters more than how they feel about tax brackets.”
She also notes that laughter is a big factor. If she can sit and laugh with someone, that helps tide over any religious or political beliefs. Though here she also brings up an impactful quote that she calls “the right to exist one.” The actual quote is: “We can disagree and still love each other, unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist.” (Snopesshares it’s often attributed to James Baldwin, but was actually written by author Robert Jones, Jr.)
As some might imagine, there are many recent Reddit threads regarding building bridges. One asks bluntly, “Is it possible for Democrats and Republicans to get along?” There are many answers, including a few who dig into their ideologies and claim the stakes are too high at this time. But there are also many who eloquently express that it’s not only possible—it’s common.
One Redditor writes, “It is. Respect for one another just needs to transcend political opinions. My best friend is very left wing and hates Trump. They even have an autograph from Obama framed and hanging in their home. We talk about politics infrequently because we already know each other’s stances and realize our friendship is far more important.”
This person argues that most people get along, despite what social media might portray: “I would say a far majority of the people of the US get along regardless of their political affiliation. Reddit is NOT the ‘far majority.’”
Just recently, a piece was published on NJ.com (a site for all things New Jersey) about two political consultants, Julie Roginsky and Mike DuHaime, who are dear friends despite having different political views. On Friendly Fire, they’re interviewed by Star-Ledger editor Enrique Lavín. When asked, “Q: Do you think your friendship has helped you better understand the ‘other side’?” they each had insightful answers.
Roginsky said, “People would be surprised to know that Mike and I probably don’t disagree on much and I think we have probably evolved in each other’s directions as we have gotten older and ideology gave way to real learned experience. Mostly, I just really wish the best for Mike. When he has career successes or his kids do well and I hear about it, I am happy for my friend. Politics is really secondary to all that.”
And DuHaime agreed. “I realized a long time ago that Julie and I have so much in common, and we should never be distracted by different viewpoints on policy. I cannot be happier than when I see Julie doing a great job on television or hearing somebody tell me about some success she has had. Think of how many billions of people there are on the Earth, and we were dropped into New Jersey politics at the same time. There is tremendous amount to have in common and a wonderful starting point for many great conversations.”
Stephanie Walsh isn’t your average hip-hop dancer. At 77, “Ms. Stephanie” is still able to hold her own on the dance floor, popping and locking with people a third of her age, and she loves it. When you see her dance—and her enviable muscle tone—you might think she’d been a trained dancer all her life. But in actuality, she didn’t take any formal dance lessons until she was almost 30.
In 2022, Walsh told Growing Bolder, an active lifestyle brand, that she had wanted her daughter to dance when she was little, so she got her ballet lessons, which the daughter hated. Realizing that dancing was her dream and not her daughter’s, Walsh took her kiddo out of ballet and started classes herself right away. She had always loved to dance and developing her skills only led to more and more dancing.
These days, Ms. Stephanie gets her dance moves on at Fusion Fitness, where she encourages people to “dance like EVERYONE is watching.” One video of her dancing at Fusion has gone viral multiple times, and it’s easy to see why. Check this out:
Reposting this video of Ms.Stephanie & I since it going viral again. This video will always be a vibe. One thing Ms.Stephanie and I created was magic. We dance from our hearts. My classes are always about creating a Fierce vibe for everyone to show up and show out! . #fiercefitness#dancefit#fiercefitnessty#hiphopfitness#fyp#viral
“Reposting this video of Ms.Stephanie & I since it going viral again,” shared @fiercefitnessty on TikTok in 2023. “This video will always be a vibe. One thing Ms.Stephanie and I created was magic. We dance from our hearts. My classes are always about creating a Fierce vibe for everyone to show up and show out!”
It’s not just the dancing. It’s the intensity. It’s the full presence in the moment in her face and in her movements. She’s there for it, and she brings everybody with her.
“It’s the “I’m a badass” facial expression for me! ” wrote one commenter on Facebook.
“I dislocated my shoulder just watching that ” shared another.
“She can throw it back like the rest of them. You go girl!” shared another.
Walsh shared that dancing has helped her get through many difficult periods in her life. Watch her share her story:
A few years later, Ms. Stephanie is still thriving and dancing. She even has a fan page dedicated to her on Instagram, with posts from as recently as May 2025 showing she’s still doing what she loves:
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