Connecting Across the Ages Generational Considerations for Diabetes Self-Management

Elaine Leclerc – HCS Training and Consulting

The Premise …

• Experiences Influence Values

• Values Influence Attitudes

• Attitudes Influence Actions

People who are similarly aged will have some values in common!

Values

Attitudes

Actions

The Generations

Traditionalists 1925 – 1946 (68+)

Baby Boomers 1947 – 1960 (54 – 67)

Generation X 1961- 1980 (34 – 53)

Millennials 1981 – 2000 (14 – 33)

The Connected Generation 2001 + (<14)

The Traditionalists 1925 - 1946

Experiences At Home • Large Families

• Limited Resources

• Clear Gender Roles

• Rural Areas No

Electricity

Experiences At School • Formal

• Rules and Discipline

• Not Everyone

Succeeded

• Limited Resources

Experiences in the Community • Patriotism

• Sharing & Caring

• Loyalty

• Awareness of Status

Behaviors You May Notice …

• Respect for age/authority

• Lack of assertiveness wrt to authority figures

• Reluctance to discuss personal matters

• High degree of body privacy

• Potential literacy issues

The Baby Boomers 1947 - 1960

The Baby Boomer At Home • Nuclear Families

• Clear Gender Roles

• Conservative Values

• Respect For

Authority

The Baby Boomer At School • Rules and Discipline

• Gender Roles

• Competition

• Streaming

BBs In The Community • Volunteering

• Growth of Facilities

• Safe

• Rank & Status

Important

Behaviors You May Notice …

• Like to be treated like a friendly peer

• Some degree of social engagement

• Do not like to be put on the spot, potentially embarrassed

• Want their knowledge and experience to be respected

Generation X 1961 - 1980

Generation X At Home • Working Parents

• Independence

• Fewer Nuclear

Families

• ??? Authority

Generation X At School • Less Formal

• Innovation

• Individual Success

• Technology

Generation X In The Community

• Less Involved

• More Commuters

• New Communities

• Impact of Recession

Behaviors You May Notice • Communicate directly and assertively

• Impersonal - comfortable without small talk

• Business-like, get things done

• Expect understanding of their need for work/life

balance

The Millennials 1981 - 2000

The Millennials At Home • Smaller Families

• Emphasis on

Nurturing/Supporting

• Participation

• Respect for Diversity

The Millennials At School • Less Formal

• Collaboration

• Communication

• Everyone Succeeds

• Inclusion

Millennials in the Community • Engaged with Parents

• Civic Minded

• Cautious – Safety

Oriented

• Environmentally Responsible

Behaviors You Might Notice • Comfort with technology

• Open, assertive communication

• Personable and social

• “Laid back”, busy, multi-taskers

• Information “junkies”

Generation C – The Connected Generation

Behaviors You Might Notice • Confident communicators

• Natural negotiators

• Adept with technology

• Very few boundaries

What Are the Implications for… • Providing education?

• Sharing information?

• Providing support?

• Keeping in touch?

Providing patient-centred, age appropriate care that supports disease self-management?

From Mailboxes to Inboxes …

From Blackboards to Smartboards

From Telephones to Cell Phones

From Books to E-Books

From Paper to Aps

From Support Groups to Chat Groups

From Experts to Internet

Strategies to Support Success!

The Traditionalist • Enjoy face-to-face

• Like paper

• Want a personal touch

• Still use the phone

• Overwhelmed by the complexity of technology

Baby Boomers • One foot on either

side of the divide! • The only generation

that still talks on the phone

• Like email, less comfortable with other SM

• Face-to-Face, Phone, Email

Generation X • Optimize technology!

• Less need for personal interaction

• Trust information, not people

• Email – Text – Phone – Face to Face

• Support on-line, not in-person

Millennials • Less private, more

public

• Speed!

• Interactive, engaging, stimulating

• Text – Email – SM – Face to Face - Phone

The Connected Generation

Fun and Fast!

Connecting Across the Ages Providing Patient-Centred, Age Appropriate Interventions