The Design and Implementation of an Intergenerational Program at a Private Long-Term Healthcare Facility with On-Site Childcare.

A practicum project addressed the problem of separation of generations. An intergenerational program was designed to provide elders at a long-term care facility and children at the on-site daycare center with opportunities to interact with one another for the social and emotional betterment of both groups. Participants in the program included 17 children and 30 elderly adults, 12 from the facility's adult daycare program and 18 facility residents. Daily interactions were either spontaneous, scheduled, or planned special events in a variety of settings including an intergenerational room as well as public areas of the nursing home and adult daycare center. Data were gathered from pre- and post-program surveys completed by the children's parents and the elders, and a post-program director's and administrator's survey. As projected at the beginning of the program, results indicated: (1) the program was beneficial to the children and the elders; (2) the children demonstrated a positive attitude toward the elders; (3) the elderly participants enjoyed the children and the intergenerational program; and (4) the program helped create a home-like, family atmosphere at the long-term care facility. Contains 56 references and examples of the survey instruments. (TJQ)