Purpose of the Study: We assessed whether a shared site intergenerational care program informed by contact theory contributed to more desirable social behaviors of elders and children during intergenerational programming than a center with a more traditional programming approach that lacks some or all of the contact theory tenets. Design and…

During the 50 years in which "The Gerontologist" has been publishing, the politics of aging in the United States has undergone distinct changes. The political behavior of older individuals has remained largely the same even though different birth cohorts have succeeded each other in populating the ranks of older people. But the politics…

Discusses the Intergenerational Women's Group, formed to provide social support and an interchange of ideas between women of different generations. Provides a model for such a program that may be offered in geriatric medical clinics. Discusses the impact of intergenerational support for both the old and the young. (Author/BHK)

Surveyed agency-assisted shared housing programs and interviewed clients of one program. Developed two typologies, one of programs and one of matches. Found independent matches, characterized by social distance, were likely to be dominant type created by housing-oriented programs; dependent matches, characterized by intimacy, were more likely to…

Evaluated intergenerational program bringing together older people and adolescents to examine assumptions underlying such programing and to determine attitude changes among participants. Only attitude change observed was in adolescents who helped older people showing more enjoyment in being with older people, decreased social distance, and more…

Surveyed administrators of adult day-care centers (n=36) and child day-care centers (n=300) to gather information about professionals' perceptions of benefits and problems associated with providing regular intergenerational exchanges in day-care settings. Found that problems attributed to generational differences and organizational/service…

Surveyed 88 female participants of community-based age-integrated water exercise program designed to enhance comfort and social interaction. Affective measures and observation of membership as a support group elicited few differences by age. Members endorsed having age integration in classes and there was little indication that subgroups of…

Designed program for preschoolers and elders to promote sharing, cooperating, and helping behaviors in children. Used contact with natural grandparents in preschool, regular elderly volunteers in preschool, competent elderly visitors, contact with less able elders in nursing home, and classroom activities about older adults. Program resulted in…

Explored the effects of visits to infirm elders in a nursing home setting on 30 preschool children's attitudes toward the elderly. After the visits preschoolers held more negative attitudes toward their own aging and toward the elderly, but day care and nursing home staffs believed the visits to be of benefit to children and elders. (Author/ABB)

Describes the goals, development, operation, and outcomes of an intergenerational programmatic relationship between a private college and a congregate facility for older adults. Faculty and students report that partnership activities provide excellent opportunities for increasing the understanding of aging and older adults. Residents report…

Describes a 9-month intergenerational program designed to establish a more intimate involvement between a group of 25 fourth graders and 25 elderly volunteers from Senior Neighbors, a multipurpose senior citizens center. Presents the format used to organize the project and identifies ongoing activities and program benefits. (Author/PVV)

Reports on a program that brought together older adults (n=12) with dementia and preschool children (n=14) in one-on-one interactions, using Montessori activities. Experience indicates that older adults with dementia can still serve as effective mentors and teachers to children in an appropriately structured setting. (RJM)