Intergenerational Programs

Our Intergenerational Programs are designed to achieve the following goals:

1. Expand older adults’ social experiences and relationships with varied age groups.
2. Enable residents to share their talents and knowledge with younger generations, thereby increasing older adults’ sense of self-worth.
3. Decrease the prevalence of negative stereotypes and age bias by encouraging each generation to develop positive attitudes toward one another.
4. Encourage lasting relationships among participants through the scheduling of activities over an extended period.

Programs vary depending on the age of the children. Notably, some programs and workshops are geared towards the children participants helping or leading the seniors in activities, while other programs reverse the role, having the seniors as the teachers or tutors. Whether the teacher/pupil roles may weigh heavier for either generation, all Intergenerational Programs require collaborative effort from all participants and a willingness to share in something positive and life-affirming.

Please see information on the Preschool Senior Companion Program, which typically matches preschool children between the ages of three and five with residents of Assisted Living and nursing homes who suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Ask us for more information.