Who: We are searching for any Wofford College student to interact with a local older adult via phone or in-person at community center. Students can be any grad year and any major.

How: Please sign-up with your name and basic information on GoogleDoc link below. For those interested in phone calls: Students and older adults will have access to the list to select a partner or can ask to be paired up. Once we have a pair, they will be given each other’s contact information (phone number).

When: See GoogleDoc for options for in-person meetings. Or if by phone: The pair will determine the best day and time for the phone call and if it is a one-time event or will occur weekly. A 30-minute conversation is suggested, but shorter or longer is up to the pair. Students should be clear about a required end time when starting a conversation.

What: Activities are provided on the Living Words Program website. For phone calls: The pair will determine what they would like to talk about over the phone. Ideas for first time call or follow-up conversations are provided below.

To Do:

1. Sign-up either via GoogleDoc or by emailing Dr. Bopp at boppkl@wofford.edu
2. Select or be given older adult partner and schedule a time for your phone call.
3. Add “Intergenerational Connections” (Intgen-102) Moodle page where you will find information and resources.

Instruction: In moodle go to “site home” (left side) and search “Intergenerational”.

• Prepare for phone call by looking through suggested conversation topics (below and on Intgen Moodle page).
• After your phone call, we ask you to complete the following questionnaire so we can keep track of the number of conversations occurring.

https://wofford.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_envv6XBb9S04MT3

Tips and suggestions:

• Get to know each other during the first phone call. See below for possible questions.
• LISTEN.
• Set any needed boundaries on topics or on time at start of call.
• If you are not comfortable with a conversation, respectfully ask to change the topic. “I wonder if we can talk about ‘x’ instead?”
• If the older adult is struggling to hear you, annunciate your words (speak clearly) rather than speaking louder. If unable to verbally communicate, consider writing letters to each other.

Conversation ideas for first time talking on the phone:

• Hometown description
• Past or current activities and interests
• Family
• Impact of COVID-19 on life

Conversation ideas after initial conversation:

• Favorites: food, places, people, music, TV shows, movies, books, season, holiday, games, activity/things to do
• Memories of: childhood, teen years, school, love/relationships, vacation/trips, big life events (e.g. birthday, wedding), world events (e.g. 9/11, presidencies), weather events
• Imagined: talent, career, trip, future self, famous friend
• Would you rather questions
• What if questions (e.g. lottery)
• What do you think about… cell phones, allowances, hiking, credit cards, secrets, etc.
• Discuss a quote, poem, piece of artwork
• Advice
• Current events: specific or general (e.g. effect of technology)
• “Ungame” questions listed on Moodle page (e.g. would you go skydiving and why?)
• Have a good idea?: please share with me at boppkl@wofford.edu or on Moodle page!