To conclude, another set of thoughts and questions that have implications for further research are presented. When segregation of any kind occurs, our knowledge of others is often based on generalizations from a few experiences or stereotypes. These are simplistic at best and harmful at worst. The separation of elderly and youth in our culture sometimes results in a climate of fear and mistrust. Older persons are sometimes fearful of youths, having their fears heightened by sensationalist news coverage of crimes committed by a few.
Youths sometimes regard older people as cranky and out of touch with the real world.
The activities that have been described provided us with partial answers for our research questions. From the Oaklands Heritage Project we see an example of the storehouse of information possessed by elders. They have experienced enormous changes over their lifetimes. They grew up in a less specialized era of simpler technologies. Many are used to making things using skills such as sewing and woodcraft.