Exploring the secrets to a long, healthy life: Blue Zones and intergenerational connections
Intergenerational relationships
TCU students have opportunities to connect to older generations through their grandparents and programs offered by community members, among other opportunities.
Generation Z and the Baby Boomers learn from each other's life experiences and compare and contrast what makes them similar and different.
Junior interior design major Julia Espy has seen the benefits of fostering a relationship with her grandparents throughout her life, especially during her transition into college.
“My grandparents are always there to support me and to give me advice on how to handle hard situations.” Espy said.
Espy was worried about being away from her family. She made sure to spend time during the summer going into her first-year of college educating her grandparents on how to use their phones so they can keep in touch.
“The highlight of my week is talking to my Papa and Grammie, they always know how to encourage me and make me laugh,” Espy said.
She said the unwavering support and love received by her grandparents grounds her and reminds her of all the life she has ahead.
Espy as a baby being held by her Papa. (Photo courtesy of Julia Espy)
Espy as a baby being held by her Papa. (Photo courtesy of Julia Espy)
Julia and her Grammie. (Photo courtesy of Julia Espy)
Julia and her Grammie. (Photo courtesy of Julia Espy)
Sisters, Mayson and Julia Espy, and their Grammie. (Photo courtesy of Julia Espy)
Sisters, Mayson and Julia Espy, and their Grammie. (Photo courtesy of Julia Espy)
Events that helped shaped the generations:
Vietnam War veterans accepting awards. (AP Newsroom)
Vietnam War veterans accepting awards. (AP Newsroom)
Baby Boomers
- Assassinations of
JFK, Robert
Kennedy, Martin
Luther King, Jr.
- The Space Race and
Walk on the Moon
- Vietnam War
People remember the fall of the Berlin Wall. (AP Newsroom)
People remember the fall of the Berlin Wall. (AP Newsroom)
Generation X
- Fall of the Berlin
Wall
- AIDS movement
- MTV
Students evacuated after the Columbine shooting. (AP Newsroom)
Students evacuated after the Columbine shooting. (AP Newsroom)
Millennials
- Columbine shooting
- Terrorism and the
War on Terror
- Rise of the internet
President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump meeting together. (AP Newsroom)
President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump meeting together. (AP Newsroom)
Generation Z
- Social Media
- Mental Illness
Epidemic- Anxiety
and Depression
- 2016 election and
Donald Trump as a
celebrity and The
President
Intergenerational Connections Fostered Through Education and Innovation
For more than 27 years, Dr. Keith Whitworth has been teaching at Texas Christian University, sharing his passion for sociology through courses that range from sustainability to the sociology of religion. His focus has expanded to building intergenerational relationships, a mission he pursues through community programs like Cycling Without Age.
“We were the first Cycling Without Age program in Texas,” Whitworth said. “It started in Copenhagen, Denmark, and I saw it while teaching there for five summers. When one of the residents at Trinity Terrace ordered a rickshaw, it all came together.”
Cycling Without Age pairs elderly residents with volunteers who take them on bike rides using specially designed rickshaws. The program combats loneliness and fosters intergenerational connections. It has grown into a global initiative with more than 3,000 chapters.
Photo Courtesy of Cycling Without Age.
Photo Courtesy of Cycling Without Age.
Photo courtesy of Dr. Keith Whitworth.
Photo courtesy of Dr. Keith Whitworth.
Breaking Isolation, Building Bonds
The importance of these relationships goes beyond simple companionship. Drawing from the research of U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, Whitworth points out that intergenerational connections can address some of today’s most pressing issues.
“Dr. Murthy is tackling loneliness and social media because they’re interconnected,” Whitworth said. “Intergenerational relationships help address loneliness because they allow for social connection.”
Whitworth outlined the benefits of these connections, quoting Murthy’s research that links social connection to individual and population health, community safety, resilience, and prosperity.
“For college students, interacting with elderly residents like those at Trinity Terrace creates a healthier environment for everyone,” Whitworth said. “It’s a microcosm of what intergenerational relationships can do.”
A Shift in Generational Values
Whitworth has observed changes in his students over nearly three decades of teaching. He sees today’s Generation Z as unique in their challenges and strengths.
“Gen Z is more anxious than students were 20 years ago,” he said. “But they’re also more service-oriented, more concerned about the world, and significantly kinder and more polite than past generations.”
This empathy and global awareness, Whitworth believes, make programs like Cycling Without Age particularly impactful.
“For students who don’t live near their grandparents, these interactions can be a substitute,” he said. “It helps them see the value of older generations and builds a connection they might not otherwise have.”
Moving Forward
Whitworth's work, both in the classroom and in the community, underscores the importance of building bridges between generations. Programs like Cycling Without Age provide a blueprint for fostering meaningful connections that combat isolation and promote health, empathy, and understanding.
“We know intergenerational relationships work,” Whitworth said. “Whether it’s through mentorship, storytelling, or simply spending time together, these connections are crucial for a healthier, more connected future.”
Learning From Longevity
Whitworth draws on examples from the Blue Zones. “In these regions, families often live together, and the elderly are honored and revered,” Whitworth said. “That’s very different from the U.S., where we isolate the elderly in nursing homes and devalue them as they age.”
These intergenerational dynamics support emotional well-being and benefit younger generations by instilling empathy and offering mentorship.
“When students interact with older residents, they gain perspective,” Whitworth said. “They realize the elderly aren’t just there to be discarded. They have wisdom, life stories and value.”
Blue Zones
National Geographic fellow, award-winning journalist, producer, New York Times bestselling author and founder of Blue Zones, Dan Buettner explored and studied the areas with the world’s healthiest, longest-living populations. He calls these places Blue Zones: Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California.
Buettner and his team of scientists and demographers traveled the world to find communities where people lived not only longer but also maintained a high quality of life in old age. After analyzing demographic data and interviewing with locals, they identified five regions known for their exceptional longevity and vitality:
Barbagia region of Sardinia, Italy: Mountainous highlands of inner Sardinia with the world’s highest concentration of male centenarians.
Ikaria, Greece: Aegean Island with one of the world’s lowest rates of middle age mortality and the lowest rates of dementia.
Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica: World’s lowest rates of middle age mortality, second highest concentration of male centenarians.
Loma Linda, California: Seventh Day Adventists – They live 10 years longer than their North American counterparts.
Okinawa, Japan: Females over 70 are the longest-lived population in the world.
Fostering Community at Stevenson Oaks
For residents at Stevenson Oaks, a senior living community in Fort Worth, building intergenerational connections and staying active is part of daily life.
Lifestyle coordinator Taylor Turner, the community offers a range of activities that foster both physical and mental wellness.
“Our residents enjoy unique activities like a playful bingo game, themed happy hours, and social groups for both men and women,” Turner said. “These events help create a sense of belonging. We’re all family here.”
Stevenson Oaks residents also have access to fitness programs like yoga, water aerobics, and pickleball, which help them maintain health and vitality well into their later years. Turner said providing a mix of educational events, such as talks from local experts and guest speakers, is essential to promoting lifelong learning and engagement.
“We aim to offer activities that not only promote physical health but also mental and social well-being,” Turner said. “Whether it's learning something new or simply enjoying time with friends, there’s something here for everyone.”
A Rewarding Mission
Turner finds great satisfaction in knowing that her work helps positively impact the lives of Stevenson Oaks residents. “It’s hard to pick just one thing I love about my job, but seeing the joy on someone’s face after an event is incredibly fulfilling,” she said. “Putting together the monthly calendar is like solving a puzzle. I make sure everything fits together so that everyone can enjoy what we offer.”
Stevenson Oaks embodies the Blue Zones principles by promoting an active, social, and community-focused lifestyle. The close-knit atmosphere, where residents and staff consider themselves family, is at the heart of what makes the community special.
Lessons from Blue Zones
Whether through building stronger family bonds, fostering intergenerational relationships, or engaging in regular physical activity, the lessons from Blue Zones offer valuable insights into how communities can live longer, healthier lives.
As Buettner and Whitworth both emphasize, living well into old age is not just about adding years to life, but also about adding life to years.
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