Intergenerational Program Database

Since 2000, Bishop’s Commons Enriched Living has embraced children of all ages with creative and age appropriate activities and programs. They utilize a neighboring elementary school, day care, and SUNY state college students to foster interaction and friendships with the seniors living at Bishop's Commons. On a weekly basis, our community creates activities for any age that is interactive and meaningful where children and seniors learn from each other, share experiences and life stories, and simply have fun. It begins with the youngest of ages, where infants join seniors for “Lullaby Baby Socials” where singing, rocking, and floor time is simple and easy, yet fulfilling for everyone. Bishop’s Commons staff works to make a meaningful child/senior interaction and experience whenever the opportunity arises so much that the enriched living residence has acquired a reputation around the entire Oswego community where schools that are farther away are calling to bring their students in to benefit from the programs.

HANCI serves individuals of all ages. It is the site of a Foster Grandparent program. Individuals assist in the childcare classrooms

We have a Head Start located on our Campus which has an enrollment of approximately 15 children. We have quite a few planned activities where the children and our residents interact. On a daily basis the children go for a walk through our building which provides a great way for our residents and the children to interact. A few of our residents are regular volunteers in the Head Start program. Our residents also read to the children a few times per week.

Generations is a leading provider of licensed, nationally accredited child care in the Rochester New York (NY) area. They offer uniquely intergenerational programming teams with social adult daycare linking children and seniors. Our St. John’s day care center is located on the St. John’s nursing home campus. Child care and elder care are brought together each week as classrooms get to experience intergenerational programming with residents of the nursing home throughout.

The Gates day care center is particularly unique because in addition to child care, we have our elder care at this facility as well. Children can walk down the hall to visit with the grandmas and grandpas.

VISIONS Intergenerational Program recruits, trains and employs high school students to assist blind seniors in their homes, and at Selis Manor. The youth provide escort and assistance with reading, shopping, and technology. VISONS Caregiver project supports family, partners, and friends who help a senior with vision loss. Overnight respite at VCB and day respite at Selis Manor are provided.

From its inception in 2008, the Intergenerational Prom has been a favorite event for Bernards High School Students. The prom is the brainchild of Bernardsville resident Greg DiGioacchino, a member of the Somerset Hills School District Board of Education. Senior citizens from the school district’s four sending towns – Bernardsville, Bedminster, Far Hills and Peapack-Gladstone – are invited every year. “The purpose of the evening is to treat (the) senior citizens to dinner and dancing,” she said. “It’s just mingling, interaction between the generations. Many generations just coming together to have a night of fun.”

NJIO is an “Orchestra for All” which welcomes musicians of all ages and skill levels into a nurturing artistic environment. Through multiple ensembles, we encourage our diverse group of players to move along the musical continuum. Our members, from earliest beginners to most accomplished instrumentalists will grow musically from their NJIO interactions with musical professionals and each other, while advancing together towards the common goal of achieving artistic excellence within their capabilities.

CareOne at Ewing has partnered with two local schools to participate in our intergenerational program, which partners our residents with students in a variety of fun activities, including karaoke sing-alongs, word games and holiday crafts.

The GrandPals program is a learning and reading program pairing older adults with students in the Princeton Regional Schools. Senior volunteers read to kindergartners at Littlebrook and Riverside Schools to encourage a love of reading and to develop intergenerational friendships.