In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, the Silver Books project celebrates the vibrant narratives of our elderly community members as they integrate into the digital world. Featuring over 10 participants, it explores how technology serves as a powerful tool for documenting and preserving their rich memories, as well as addressing social and digital exclusion.
Stories beyond borders
This is also where the innovative aspect of the Silver Books project lies – involving elderly individuals in a participative action of memory documentation by fostering cooperation between caregivers and care recipients, as well as with the younger generations interested in listening, and by involving the elderly in the digital creative process. The international aspect of the project allows us to appreciate and learn the stories of elderly people from other countries, whose memories and experiences differ from the ones we know. The Silver Books project aligns well with projects aiming to prioritize intergenerational learning, such as Intergenerational Bridge: Connect to Create (ID: 2020-1-IT02-KA204-079904), DIGITALISE ME: Upgrading Older Adults’ Digital Competences to improve their social inclusion/development (ID: 2019-1-PT01-KA204-060701), or AGE WISE (ID: 2020-1-AT01-KA204-078088). Emphasizing the inclusivity of the digital world, this brief guide underscores the elderly’s active participation, highlighting the profound impact technology has in fostering connections and independence, regardless of age.
Trust as the key to the project
To engage elderly individuals in the Silver Books European project, a key element was establishing a collaborative and trusting relationship between caregivers and the elderly, and between the project’s participants and the elderly. Gaining their trust was a gradual process, often necessitating multiple meetings to build a sense of rapport and comfort. Understanding that the stories and memories, even if traumatic, are topics close to their hearts, we prioritised creating a supportive environment where participants feel safe sharing their experiences. While initially we feared that getting the elderly involved in a digital will be a particularly difficult task, it turned out to be an interesting addition to our creative process. While some of our interviewees were already familiar with digital tools, for others it was a completely new, but nonetheless exciting possibility to enrich their stories, for example by adding photos or audio recordings.
During our creative process which spanned a period of 4 months, we haven’t or have hardly seen any hostility towards digital tools, which is so often being associated with the elderly and their relation to new technologies. Among the fascinating subjects tackled by the partnership representatives during their sessions, we can mention the stories told by the elderly participants about their past from a professional point of view, their love life as well as their parent’s love stories, or war experiences. The latter, unsurprisingly, turned out to be the most difficult subject to talk about. The cooperative dynamic between caregivers, the elderly individuals and the partnership are crucial, fostering an atmosphere of understanding and empathy, enabling the project to not only document their narratives but also to provide a therapeutic outlet for the participants. Moreover, the participants express a genuine wish to communicate with younger generations, fostering a sense of continuity and ensuring that these stories remain vibrant and relevant for years to come. This motivation adds depth to their engagement in the creative process, making their involvement both meaningful and impactful.
The importance of transmitting
To further emphasize the significance of involving elderly individuals in the Silver Books European project, it’s essential to acknowledge that for them, sharing stories is a vital aspect of preserving their legacy, particularly as part of a generation gradually diminishing. This aspect was also one of the most demanding – working with the elderly demanded a mix of discipline and understanding, to, on one hand, be able to gain participants’ trust and bond with them, also by giving them enough time to tell their stories; on the other side, working with participants whose time left here is somehow limited.
To find out more about the Silver Books project, click here.
