Time Together: An Intergenerational Respite, Mentorship and Training Program

Abstract

AbstractPeople living with dementia (PLWD) and their care partners (CP) experience physical and emotional stressors that are exacerbated by social isolation. Paying for in‐home respite care can be out of reach for many; the average cost of in‐home care is $28.00 with a three‐hour minimum. Furthermore, there is a critical gap in the dementia workforce (Weiss, 2020), leaving CP without access to affordable respite care, and PLWD without access to social engagement. The Penn Memory Center’s (PMC) Time Together (TT) and Weekly Smile (WS) programs are two low‐cost intergenerational respite and engagement programs that aim to increase social engagement for PLWD, reduce CP burden, and develop a geriatric care workforce. College students are trained to provide respite care and engagement for community‐dwelling PLWD and their CP. Families pay up to $10.00 (sliding scales offered) for up to 10 hours/week of companion/respite care. The student receives $10.00 an hour for their service. The PMC launched Time Together in 2019, delivering respite services in‐person. In 2020, the pandemic forced the program to pivot to a virtual model called WS. In January 2023 we began offering TT both in‐person and virtually to maximize accessibility and flexibility. Both the in‐person and virtual component are now called Time Together (TT).To assess the impact of the WS model we used a mixed‐methods design, using qualitative and quantitative assessments. The exploratory qualitative arm used conventional content analysis methods to describe the experiences of PLWD, CP, and student participants through semi‐structured interviews. In our findings from interviews with 3 PLWD, 3 CP, and 3 student participants, PLWD cited meaningful engagement and improved mood. CPs described the importance of protected time for self‐care. Student respite workers appreciated learning about aging and dementia and especially enjoyed developing empathy and relational practice. Participation was mutually beneficial to all and created a lasting impact.We continue to collect additional qualitative and quantitative to further evaluate findings from both the virtual and in‐person arms of Time Together for this updated abstract submission. Policy implications include recommendations for respite program structure and composition.