Intergenerational Program Database

The Dance Generators are a group of dancers in their teens, 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's who come together through a shared commitment to innovative theater making. The Dance Generators give both dancers and spectators the opportunity to see and understand that dance need not be limited to young people. Through their creative process, the company reclaims dance as an art form for diverse bodies. Keyword: Shared Site

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

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.

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.

Children from a local Boys & Girls Club visit with residents at Mennonite Friendship Communities to garden together.

Teens Helping the Elderly (THE) Club was formed by students to help the elderly. Students have helped at Haysville Healthcare Center and plan to be involved with the Haysville Senior Center. The activities include ice cream socials, group circle with various activities, and manicure Fridays. Senior residents have helped students with Homecoming activities and helped them decorate their float for their fall festival. The students helped the residents pass out candy to trick or treaters, assisted with a Veterans Day celebration, and helped serve a holiday dinner to all residents and their families. Students in THE club set up a shopping mall at the nursing home for residents to pick out gifts for their loved ones; students also helped wrap and deliver the gifts. The students also hosted a Valentines dinner and BINGO for the residents in the commons of their school. The residents also had pen pals from tri city school. If funds were allowed, they plan to build a gazebo in the courtyard.

Children and seniors share songs, stories, rhymes, rhythms, instrument play and movement in a supportive, creative setting. Participants in Music Sparks' "Sharing Songs" program include children between the ages of 18 months and age 5, and older adults residing in the assisted living facility that hosts the event. Music Sparks' "Families in Rhythm (FIR)"program welcomes the entire family (3 years and older) to join the seniors of Sterling House Senior Living for rhymes, singing, drumming and moving.

Asbury Park is the home of Asbury Station, an affiliation of Newton Community Child Care Center, providing an opportunity for elders and children to interact on a daily basis. It grants them an opportunity to interact with not only other elders, but also with teachers, children and their families.  Elders realize they still have the ability to nurture and educate during the intergenerational activities.  Keyword: Shared Site

The building that houses the child care center is connected to the Assisted Living area of Schowalter Villa through a corridor named “Main Street. ” Each week every class takes a small group of their children to do activities with their particular residents at the Villa. We have eight seniors who come on a regular basis each week and help in the classroom as teacher aides. Many special events are planned to include children, college students from Hesston College and residents from Schowalter Villa. On occasion residents are brought to the children’s rooms to visit and children visit residents in their rooms. Keyword: Shared Site

The USD 445 School Board and Windsor Place partnered to get an all-day kindergarten classroom built right in the middle of Windsor Place. The elders each day gather around in anticipation of the children’s arrival. The children arrive with smiles, eager to expand their education Keyword: Shared Site