Intergenerational Program Database

Promoting Art for Life Enrichment Through Transgenerational Engagement (PALETTE) was launched in Richmond, VA in January 2014. Through this intergenerational art program, active older adults are paired with interdisciplinary undergraduate and graduate students to participate in creative arts activities. The purpose of PALETTE is to foster intergenerational relationships, thereby challenging stereotypes and ageist attitudes towards older adults. Over the course of 14 weeks, PALETTE engages students and older adults in creative arts activities including visual arts classes and cultural outings. Participants of PALETTE experience the program in pairs: older adult/student Partners in Arts Learning (PALs) spend the entirety of the program working and engaging together. Additionally, student participants of PALETTE attend two seminars: a training seminar at the start of the program to discuss aging and aging-related topics, and a reflection seminar at the end of the program to discuss insights and responses to their experience in PALETTE.

The purpose of Feeducation™ is not only to provide intergenerational families in need with nutritious food to address their immediate needs but also to educate grandparents and their grandchildren about proper food choice, preparing nutritious meals for their family and buying affordable, healthy food on a budget. At the end of each Feeducation™ class, participants will take home food that reinforces the healthy eating habits they learned. The Feeducation™ curriculum, developed and taught in conjunction with faculty and students from George Mason University’s Department of Food and Nutrition Studies, was initially presented at select McDowell County Commission on Aging senior centers and at the Five Loaves and Two Fishes Food Bank.

The McClure Multigenerational Center brings together the Champlain Senior Center and the Burlington Children’s Space that allows the two programs to meet increasing needs for child care and senior services. By co-locating and sharing common areas, equipment and some programming, the two agencies have developed a ground breaking opportunity to meet individual organizational needs for space, while maximizing scarce resources, and are doing so in a way that brings people of all ages together. There are opportunities for senior citizens and children to learn together and from each other through play and organized activities.

The St. Francis intergenerational program provides a wonderful opportunity for children and residents to establish nurturing relationships through spontaneous interactions and a variety of planned activities at senior’s discretion. Intergenerational activities range from a hug, a song, a storytelling session, to art projects, baking projects and even walks in the neighborhood.

Josie's Learning Center serves infants, toddlers, and school age children from our community. The Learning Center provides a wide range of child care services ranging from infant day care, preschool learning, after school care, and ECEAP Preschool. The Learning Center program is integrated throughout our building with four designated classroom spaces and shared dining room, dayroom, and activity areas. The children learn important lessons from residents in assisted living, transitional care and long term care, while at the same time, enriching and energizing the life of our home. Keyword: Shared Site

Children and residents of assisted living and long-term care facility interact

CRISTA Senior Living (CSL) and Kings Schools is located on the same campus. The Shoreline campus of CRISTA Senior Living consists of close to 600 residents from independent housing to nursing care. Kings Schools consist of over 1,100 students from preschool through High School. Throughout the school year and summer students and residents are actively engaged in several scheduled and spontaneous intergenerational activities.

Our approach to early childhood education employs an interconnected web of educational practices grounded in the innate curiosity, competence, and enthusiasm children have for learning. Accompanied by their teacher, children participate in planned and spontaneous activities throughout the campus with Bayview residents. Through these daily interactions, the children and the residents create meaningful connections between generations, which helps to foster positive attitudes and understanding towards both seniors and people with disabilities. As children interact on a daily basis with their extended family of “grandmas and the grandpas,” they bring joy and receive genuine appreciation in return. Keyword: Shared Site

A group of 5 - 7 individuals from the community, each in a different decade of life, create and perform an original theatre performance based on the life stories of its cast members. The Company performs 4 different performances each season. The Intergenerational Theatre Company productions tour to local venues, bringing the performance to an intergenerational audience of over 700 people.

Shared Site program with 120 children and 400+ elders living in a long term care facility Keyword: Shared Site