Intergenerational Program Database

Program at Kids Ink Too that matches school-aged children with a "gramp" at Sunrise Assisted Living. They are penpals; they exchange gifts, spend time together, and bond when they swap visits.

We're pleased to be able to offer intergenerational get together between the students of Hoyle School and our seniors. Recent visits have included story reading and Presidential skits. It's always a special day when the students visit and a good time is had by all.

The high school student council provides a Senior Citizen Brunch for elders in the community to visit the high school, enjoy a meal, and spend a few hours interacting with the high school students. This event is coordinated by the high school students in collaboration with the Lakeville Senior Center and Freetown Council on Aging.

Through the Intergenerational Matching Program volunteers are matched with elder friends to develop long-term relationships. Volunteers commit to visit regularly, 3 - 4 hours a month. The value of the personal connection of the visitor and the elder cannot be underestimated. The elders in this program are the most vulnerable. In addition to friendly chats, watching movies and going for walks, elders may be assisted by their “visiting friends” with the daily challenges of living independently.

Jumpstart Community Corps creates meaningful intergenerational relationships between preschool-age children and older adults living in low-income communities. These relationships help children gain essential language, literacy, and social emotional skills, while simultaneously transforming the lives of the older adult volunteers who work with them. Jumpstart Community Corps facilitates the creation of these relationships by recruiting and training teams of six to ten older adult volunteers, called Corps members, to deliver Jumpstart’s research-based language and literacy curriculum to children in pre-kindergarten classrooms throughout a school year.

Generations Incorporated engages older adults (ages 50+) as literacy volunteers to children in kindergarten through grade three. We serve in 17 public elementary schools and after-school programs (called partner sites) in low-income communities. Our highly trained volunteers provide one-on-one and small group literacy support to students – all are at-risk of school failure and 80% are low-income. Our results-driven programs generate strong intergenerational relationships that get results and improve lives.

Pleasant Bay Nursing and Rehabilitation Center has a preschool on site. The residents and preschoolers enjoy intergenerational activities together.

The senior center participates in various intergenerational programs throughout the year however, the seniors consistently support youth through the Newborn Welcome program and Scouting Award Sponsorship. All newborns in the town receive a package including a handmade knitted hat and other assorted items. The seniors also sponsor Boy and Girls Scouts pursuing Eagle and Gold awards providing the opportunity for intergenerational collaboration.

Swampscott High School and Council on Aging share a physical location. High school students occasionally volunteer at the COA, but an annual pen pal/book exchange program with the elementary school children is established.

Habitat Intergenerational Program (HIP) promotes awareness and conservation of the natural environment through educational programs and community service projects coordinated by Massachusetts Audubon’s Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary. Community service and educational activities take place within the 84-acre sanctuary and out in the surrounding communities. HIP activities bring people of all ages together to work on a variety of environmental service projects: removing invasive species, helping to rejuvenate a pond, restoring walking trails, and creating wildlife habitat areas at schools using only native plants. HIP programs and partnerships include Cherney Middle School, Herb Study Group, Pulling Partners, Just For You, Winter Senior Project, HIP Family Bird Walks, HIP Spring and Fall Trails Days, and the HIP Steering Committee.