Intergenerational Practice in the Community—What Does the Community Think?

Gail Kenning,Micah Goldwater,Kaarin Anstey,Janna Fitzgerald,Nicole Ee,Ebony Lewis,Nicola Lautenschlager,Ying Xu,Stephanie Ward,Katrina Radford,Ruth Peters,Billy Luu,Kenneth Rockwood

doi:10.3390/socsci10100374

Abstract

The many changes that occur in the lives of older people put them at an increased risk of being socially isolated and lonely. Intergenerational programs for older adults and young children can potentially address this shortfall, because of the perceived benefit from generations interacting. This study explores whether there is an appetite in the community for intergenerational programs for community dwelling older adults. An online survey was distributed via social media, research team networks, and snowballing recruitment with access provided via QR code or hyperlink. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with potential participants of a pilot intergenerational program planned for the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, Australia in 2020. The interviews were thematically analyzed. Over 250 people completed the survey, and 21 interviews took place with older adults (10) and parents of young children (11). The data showed that participants were all in favor of intergenerational programs, but there were different perceptions about who benefits most and how. The study highlighted considerations to be addressed in the development of effective and sustainable intergenerational programs. For example, accessing people in the community who are most socially isolated and lonely was identified as a primary challenge. More evidence-based research is needed to support involvement of different cohorts, such as those who are frail, or living with physical or cognitive limitations.

Highlights

The global ageing of the population means older adults are a more visible part of the community than ever before
Respondents were divided into four groups: ‘Older Adults’ aged 60+ years (n = 46), ‘Parents’ under the age of 60 years who were a parent or guardian of children aged 3–5 years old (n = 49), ‘Carers’ (n = 75) including 10 early childhood educators and 65 aged care providers or relatives or carers of older adults, and ‘Other’ (n = 73) who did not identify as being an older adult, parent, or carer of children or old adults
Most of the research into intergenerational projects has drawn from residential aged care facilities, adult day centers, and organizations who provide support for older people with care needs

Summary

Introduction

The global ageing of the population means older adults are a more visible part of the community than ever before. Less opportunities to socially engage, fewer quality relationships, and a reduction in extended family being in close contact, are often identified as contributing to both social isolation and loneliness in older adults. Children often growing up without grandparents in close proximity, there are fewer opportunities for casual intergenerational engagement (Femia et al 2008). This can result in the stereotyping of older and younger people and lack of understanding across generations, compounding both social isolation and a sense of loneliness (Gallagher and Fitzpatrick 2018; Giraudeau and Bailly 2019; Hanmore-Cawley and Scharf 2018; Kuehne and Melville 2014; Macfarlane et al 2019; Sun et al 2019; Teater 2016; Yasunaga et al 2016)

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