Intergenerational Program Database

The Memory Café is a welcoming place for people with dementia and their care partners. Once a month students from Brandeis University meet with seniors with dementia. Participants enjoy coffee, refreshments, and conversation with new friends. Guest artists share their work each month and lead participatory experiences.

Road Scholar Intergenerational Programs were designed for adults (grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, or authorized family friends) to participate in a learning adventure with their young relatives or friends. These programs allow older adults to get to know their younger generations better. Programs exist throughout the country.

Engineering students at Olin College, students at Wellesley and Babson partner with local community Councils on Aging for a course. Students come up with projects to allow seniors to age in place.

Intergenerational programs include a Grand-Friend Program with the Steward Elementary School in Topsfield, an annual Valentine Exchange between students and seniors ensuring that homebound seniors receive a valentine, and the S.C.A.D. Dinner - This Senior Citizen Appreciation Dinner is sponsored by the Student Council at Masconomet High School each March. Students provide dinner, entertainment and gifts to show their appreciation of senior citizens in the Tri-Town communities.

Simon C. Fireman Community is a subsidized independent housing complex for people 62 years of age and older. Fireman has developed a model partnership program with Curry College nursing students learning on-the-ground skills to become compassionate and knowledgeable care providers. In addition, the Fireman Community has a regular pen-pal program, a partnership with the Telem Jewish teen service initiative and regular multigenerational trip opportunities to connect residents with youth in the Greater Boston community. Keyword: Shared Site

CATCH brings children and adults age 50+ together to learn good eating and physical activity habits for a lifetime. The program combats obesity by engaging adults age 50+ as mentors to teach healthy lifelong habits to kids in grades K-5. Adults in the program benefit in several ways. Research shows that volunteers have lower rates of depression and mortality and greater functional ability than those who do not volunteer. As they promote healthy habits for kids and for themselves, they also experience the rewards of meaningful community service.

The Humana Foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters are partnering to develop the Humana Legacy Program, and intergenerational mentoring program piloting in Louisville that pairs older adults 55 and over with youth in mentoring relationships that impact the well-being of both generations. Big Brothers Big Sisters research shows that mentoring matches between “Bigs” 55 or older last three times longer than relationships with mentors who are younger.

A support group that supports, educate and mentor relative caregivers that suddenly taken care of family members children.

The mission of the Intergenerational Urban Institute at Worcester State University is to harness the combined talents of college students of all ages to meet the challenges that face our urban environment. By creating a learning community of young, middle aged, and elder students, the IUI fosters growth in knowledge, skill development and interpersonal relationships that enable people to work effectively in service in the greater Worcester community. Programs include a Garden for All Ages, an English Language Learner tutoring program, and a Hunger Outreach Team among others.  

For 10 consecutive weeks, students from the Dedham Middle School come to the Hebrew SeniorLife campus at NewBridge on the Charles to engage in activities with residents in the Memory Support (dementia) unit of our Health Care Center. This program is modeled after a similar initiative with the Rashi School, a K-8 Jewish Day School that shares a campus with NewBridge on the Charles. With both school communities, students are trained to work with Alzheimer's and dementia patients, and help lead weekly activities to stimulate residents' bodies and minds. Keyword: Shared Site