Intergenerational Programs

1
Intergenerational Programs
Their impact on the health and well-being of
communities, children and older
adults.

• Annelisa Tornberg, BSN student
• Dr. Rebecca Kang, Faculty Mentor
• de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging
• 2005 Undergraduate Research Project

2
Research Question

• Do intergenerational programs benefit
  communities, children, and older
  adults?
• Describe the contribution of
  intergenerational programs to the
  
  well-being of communities, children,
  and older
  adults.

Purpose
Photo de Tornyay Center for Health Aging
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What are Intergenerational Programs?
Children and older adults have a mutual
need for love, attention, and emotional
support.
(Nikkei Concerns)

• Allow the strengths of one generation to meet the
  needs of another.
• Reduce age-related stereotypes
  and negative attitudes (Kuehne).
• Promote understanding across ages
  (Kuehne).

Photo Generations United Website www.gu.org
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Benefits to Communities
Intergenerational programs can and do contribute
toward building strong communities (Kuehne, p.
2).

• Benefits to Community
• Enhance traditions and culture through group
  activities.
• Form social networks and support systems.
• Create partnerships among organizations
  (Intergenerationday.org).

Photo Generations United Website www.gu.org
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Benefits to Children

• Social
• Connection with the
• community
• Engagement with positive
• role models
• Learn new life perspectives
• Develop pro-social behavior
• towards older adults

• Cognitive
• Better school performance
• Learn about aging
• Develop skills through
• activities involving creativity
• and coordination.

• Emotional
• Increased self-esteem
• Increased comfort interacting
• with other generations

Photo Generations United Website www.gu.org
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Benefits to Older Adults

• Promote successful aging
• Increase self-esteem and feelings of
  self-achievement
• Decrease isolation
• Increase independence and social interaction
• Stimulate mental capacity
• Promote physical activity
• Create a home-like, multigenerational,
  environment
• Encourage life long learning

Photo Generations United Website www.gu.org
Rekindle the joy of living!
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Intergenerational Program Study

• Method Interview staff members at a local
  intergenerational organization.
• Setting Nikkei Concerns, an organization
  providing health related services to
  
  
  older adults since 1976.
• Seattle Keiro (respect for the elderly)
• KIDcare (Keiro Intergenerational Day care),
  opened in 1996
• Demography
• Multi cultural staff, older adult residents, and
  children
• Age 6 weeks to 100 years.
• Interview Participants
• Seattle Keiro Activities Coordinator
• KIDcare Director

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Nikkei Concerns

• Demography
• Seattle Keiro
• 150 beds
• Aged 24- 110 years. Most residents are over 90
  years old.
• KIDcare
• 57 children
• Aged 6 weeks to 5.5 years
• Ethnicity of residents and children
• Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Filipino, Vietnamese,
  Caucasian, Asian Pacific Islander, and African
  American.
• 35 different languages and dialects are spoken
  by Nikkei Concerns staff

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Interviews

• Participants
• Seattle Keiro Activities Coordinator
• KIDcare Director
• Interview Questions
• How do you plan and implement intergenerational
  interactions?
• How often to older adults and children interact?
• What are some common activities during
  interactions?
• What part does language play in interactions?
• How does the program benefit older adults?
  Children? Families?
• What have you observed from program participants?
• What has been successful? Not successful?
• What are the challenges of running an
  intergenerational program?

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Study Findings

• Community
• Extended family atmosphere
• Children
• Visit grandparents 2-3 times a week.
• Gain respect for elders, understanding of
  diversity,
  and acceptance of people with disabilities.
• Older Adults
• Childrens laughter, embraces, and curiosity
  bring youthful
  energy to the older adult residents.
• Feel their roles in the interactions are
  important and become more engaged in life.

Photo from www.nikkeiconcerns.org
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Study Conclusion

• Nikkei Concerns intergenerational program
  recognizes and works to meet the needs of a
  multigenerational and multiethnic community.
• It is challenging, but possible, to meet the
  needs of both generations.
• Careful planning and evaluation of activities
  allows children, families, and older adults to
  benefit.

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Conclusion

• Intergenerational programs form relationships
  that strengthen communities by allowing children
  and older adults to be resources for one another.
• Most programs currently focus on activities that
  benefit children.
• More research, evaluation, and policy development
  is needed to help program directors design
  activities that mutually benefit children and
  older adults.
• To achieve maximum benefits, programs should
  promote healthy aging by designing activities
  that increase the physical, mental, and social
  activity of older adults.

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Intergeneration Day
October 2, 2005

• Elders and children have needed each other for
  thousands of years. In fact, the special bond
  between young and old has shaped human culture
  and history. This day acknowledges these
  powerful relationships and we are all the better
  for taking time to reflect on their value.

Photo courtesy of Mary Jo Tornberg.
Dr. William Thomas, founder of The Eden
Alternative
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References

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  K.S. (2005). Effects of a Montessori-based
  intergenerational program on engagement and
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  (Eds.), Successful aging through the life span.
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• Generations United (2005). Retrieved April 3,
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