November 22, 2009
UTNE READER

The Honor and Toil of Growing Old

(Page 2 of 2)

October 4, 2007
By Brendan Mackie, Utne.com 
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To remedy the malaise drifting over the second half of people's lives, Barkan started the Live Oak Project back in 1977. Through community meetings focused on discussion and song, Barkan has helped residents in old folks homes make their voices heard again. Once they've raised their voices, the elders' wisdom can help soothe society's short-sighted spiral of self-destruction. Far from being glorified ottomans who send Christmas cards to their grandkids and burden their families financially, the elderly could use the free time of retirement to share their wisdom with the community at large and ultimately help change the world for the better.

RELATED CONTENT

Go there >> Old Like Me

Go there, too >>  The New Elders

And there >> How Elders Can Rebalance the World

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