Intergenerational Program Database

The Humana Foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters are partnering to develop the Humana Legacy Program, and intergenerational mentoring program piloting in Louisville that pairs older adults 55 and over with youth in mentoring relationships that impact the well-being of both generations. Big Brothers Big Sisters research shows that mentoring matches between “Bigs” 55 or older last three times longer than relationships with mentors who are younger.

CATCH brings children and adults age 50+ together to learn good eating and physical activity habits for a lifetime. The program combats obesity by engaging adults age 50+ as mentors to teach healthy lifelong habits to kids in grades K-5. Adults in the program benefit in several ways. Research shows that volunteers have lower rates of depression and mortality and greater functional ability than those who do not volunteer. As they promote healthy habits for kids and for themselves, they also experience the rewards of meaningful community service.

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

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

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.

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

Our Intergenerational Program provides unique opportunities for the integration of the young and old; holidays, arts and crafts, music and stories create special moments. We bring the innocence of youth and the experience of age together in ways that rarely happen in childcare centers.

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.

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.