Intergenerational Program Database

The Intergenerational Choir is a non-auditioned group collaboration between the School of Music, Gerontology Institute, and Longview, an IthaCare Community.

The Music & Memory Student Volunteer Program is currently connecting high school and college students in Wisconsin and Texas with intergenerational service learning/volunteer opportunities in nursing homes, assisted living communities and public libraries. Both Wisconsin and Texas have state approved curriculums that are being promoted and taught in order to educate middle and high school students on brain health and dementia. College courses are incorporating hands internship and volunteer experiences into Students are able to bring their tech savvy skills to these various environments to interview individuals with dementia, create personalized music playlists and form meaningful intergenerational relationships. The individuals with dementia are benefiting through an increased access to personalized music, companionship, variety in their daily routine, reduction in the reliance of anti-psychotic and anti-anxiety medication and an overall improvement in their quality of life. Students are learning about dementia and the healthy choices to make now to affect future health outcomes, fulfilling graduation requirements, developing new relationships with their elders and exposure to a wide range of career opportunities. A true win win for all involved!

50 unit apartment built specifically for grandparents raising grandchildren. Includes services and programs for both grandparents (i.e. training, support groups) and youth (i.e. activities, academic support, Young Adults Support Program, etc.)

Visiting Neighbors' Intergenerational Program brings generations together to learn from each other.Young people from the community visit seniors to learn about their lives and to share their own experiences as they relieve the seniors' isolation and loneliness. They escort seniors to medical appointments, help wih shopping and errands, enjoy walks in the community together and learn about the seniors' lives. The seniors learn about growing up in today's world, including new technologies and new ideas.

Since 2005, the students and staff of the Highland Central School District have hosted an annual senior citizens prom.

The youth development & leadership team has held three annual intergenerational programs. This is a student led and created service project involving elementary, middle, and high schoolers putting on an event for senior citizens in the area. This year the project involved popular television game shows through the decades. The goal of the programs is to create vital connections between both generations, to change perceptions and create a positive outlook toward each other. There was participation from nearly 100 students.

The goals of the Isabella Caring Partners Program are: (1) to increase the service provided by Isabella staff by employing high school students trained to deliver non-intimate assistance, (2) to promote intergenerational relationships, (3) to give students experience in the workplace and provide them with stipends and (4) to facilitate students’ exploration of health careers (Caring Partner Program, n.d.). Career Exploration in Aging brings students to skilled nursing floors where they visit and assist residents one-to-one and assist with group activities under the supervision of a charge nurse. Youth participate in workshops related to geriatric health care and issues of aging and health careers. It is an after-school paid working experience (Youth opportunities, n.d.). For 9 months on 2 and 3 day per week schedules, students spend time with elders. The Ratio is 1 to 2 students per 40 residents on a nursing unit.

Kenmore East High School National Honor Society hosts the Tonawanda Senior Citizens Center for an annual intergenerational dance. Students and seniors take a dancing break while students serve homemade deserts and listen to stories from another generation.

United Hebrew of New Rochelle (UH) residents team up with visiting local students for an afternoon of Olympics-style events at UH's annual Intergenerational Olympics. More than 50 residents and 30 students participated in the event, coordinated by United Hebrew, the New Rochelle Office for Aging and the Westchester County Southeast Regional Livable Communities Connection. Residents from Willow Towers Assisted Living, part of the United Hebrew family of services, also participated. Students from Pelham High School, New Rochelle High School Key Club and Academic Pathways dedicated a day of their school spring break to community service by interacting with residents and escorting them to their activities. Bowling competitions, wheelchair races, card games and relays took place at stations around the first floor of United Hebrew's new Skalet Pavilion.

Grandparents and grandchildren participate in a wide range of activities designed to build vital connections between people and nature.  Expect music, canoeing, swimming, hiking, natural crafts, singing, campfires, stars, balsam-scented air and lots of laughter.