Idaho Senior Citizens Being Hurt by This New Halloween Tradition

Is it out with the old, and in with the new Halloween traditions?

There's no denying this newer Halloween tradition is here to stay. But there's a tragic downside to the event that many of us have never even considered. Trunk-or-treats are systematically robbing the elderly of the joys of Halloween. 

Trunk-or-treats are excluding elderly Idahoans.

While a trunk-or-treat is perceived as a safer, more convenient alternative to traditional trick-or-treating, it can exclude senior Idahoans who might already feel isolated from their community.

According to research from the National Institute on Aging, loneliness is a real threat to elderly Americans around the nation. 

The misery and suffering caused by chronic loneliness are very real and warrant attention,” she said. “As a social species, we are accountable to help our lonely children, parents, neighbors, and even strangers in the same way we would treat ourselves. Treating loneliness is our collective responsibility. [...] Losing a sense of connection and community changes a person’s perception of the world.

-Steve Cole, director of the Social Genomics Core Laboratory at UCLA

For many seniors, Halloween is a time to delight in the sight of costumed children coming to their doors, sharing smiles and a sense of neighborhood camaraderie. Sadly, trunk-or-treats are eroding the time-honored tradition as they eliminate door-to-door visits.

Another thing to consider is most trunk-or-treats require participants to have a car and the ability to decorate it. Many elderly Idahoans don't have access to a vehicle or the faculties to engage in such activities, which further excludes them from Halloween fun. 

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Remember our senior Idahoans.

In short, well-intentioned as they are, trunk-or-treats deprive our elderly neighbors of the cherished pleasures of Halloween. We're not calling for a ban on trunk-or-treats. Instead, our hope is that you'll remember our elderly Idahoans on Halloween and holidays throughout the year.