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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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An intergenerational program connecting children and older adults with emotional, behavioral, cognitive, or physical challenges
— gift of mutual understanding | | Author(s) | Carol B Burgman, Elizabeth A Mulvaney |
| Journal title | Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, vol 14, no 4, October-December 2016 |
| Publisher | Taylor and Francis, October-December 2016 |
| Pages | pp 353-359 |
| Source | htpp://www.tandfonline.com |
| Keywords | Children ; Schoolchildren ; Behaviour disorders ; Age groups [elderly] ; Nursing homes ; Residents [care homes] ; Physical capacity ; Cognitive impairment ; Personal relationships ; Projects ; United States of America. |
| Annotation | Most published literature about programmes connecting older adults to children identifies only one group as challenged, however there is scant knowledge about implementing similar programmes where both groups have an identified impairment. The unique programme described in this study involved children with social, behavioural and emotional disorders enrolled in a special private school. Students interacted with older adults (age ranges 50-102) residing at a nursing home due to their need for assistance with activities of daily living and medical care. This article describes how the programme was initiated, designed and implemented. It was hypothesised that the two groups could help each other _ i.e. students could bring joy to the nursing home as active, social visitors as well as helping with daily tasks. In reciprocity, nursing home residents could provide the students with affectionate regard and life lessons, bolstering their self-esteem. The experience yielded a number of practical lessons as follows: do not underestimate the capacity and power of people to help one another (reciprocity); early cooperative planning is necessary; the 'intergenerational potential' has not been fully realized; programme ideas should reflect the needs of both groups; formal evaluation of the programme is difficult. Overall the study concluded it was rare that an intergenerational project would involve two populations with such divergent and serious impairments. It may be precisely this feature that made the programme work, as both groups shared much in common, and this led to genuine affection and mutual understanding. (JL). |
| Accession Number | CPA-170217224 A |
| Classmark | SBC: SBM: EP: BB: LHB: KX: BI: E4: DS: 3E: 7T |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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