By Geralyn Magan
The Retirement Research Foundation is supporting a multi-phased project to expand high-quality intergenerational programming in affordable senior housing.
The LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston and Generations United have entered the third phase of their collaborative effort to support the development of intergenerational programming in affordable senior housing communities. All 3 phases of the intergenerational programming initiative have been funded by the Retirement Research Foundation.
The newest phase of the 3-year initiative is designed to deepen and broaden the work completed during the initiative’s first 2 years, according to Dr. Taryn Patterson, policy research associate at the LTSS Center.
PHASE 1: DATA ON INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAMS
During Phase 1 of the initiative, which was completed in 2017, researchers collected valuable data on the range and nature of intergenerational programs and activities within senior housing. Findings from that study suggested that there is a growing interest among housing providers in using intergenerational programming as a vehicle for:
- Dispelling negative age-related stereotypes.
- Preparing a future workforce for the aging-services field.
- Improving the well-being of both youth and older adults.
Researchers documented the existence of several long-standing and exemplary programs in the senior housing network. However, they also found a gap between the promise of intergenerational programming and the depth of intergenerational practice in most housing communities. Particular areas of concern included the fact that many existing intergenerational programs:
- Did not conduct joint planning with program partners.
- Had limited resident engagement in the development and management of cross-age programs.
- Lacked a focus on cross-age relationship building.
- Conducted minimal training of participants.
- Had insufficient tools and staff capacity for assessing program impact.
PHASE 2: DEVELOPING LEARNING TOOLS
During the second year of the intergenerational programming initiative, which took place in 2018, the LTSS Center and Generations United translated research findings from Phase 1 into practical learning tools. The tools were developed in collaboration with 6 national affordable senior housing providers that agreed to become partners in the intergenerational programming initiative:
- Hebrew SeniorLife.
- 2Life (formerly Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly).
- Lutheran Senior Services.
- National Church Residences.
- Volunteers of America (VOA).
- HumanGood
The partners participated in an Intergenerational Learning Collaborative comprised of leadership-level national staff from each organization, and staff—including resident service coordinators and activity directors—who are responsible for programming at specific housing communities.
The Learning Collaborative helped to facilitate learning among its members and served as a vehicle for technical assistance as members either established new intergenerational programs or strengthened existing programs in the 13 participating housing communities. Members of the Learning Collaborative supported one another as they developed the pilot sites, and staff from LeadingAge and Generations United provided one-on-one technical assistance.
The participating housing sites also provided feedback on an Intergenerational Programming Toolkit that researchers developed during Phase 2. The toolkit will be published this spring.
PHASE 3: SCALING UP INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAMS
Phase 3 of the intergenerational programming initiative, which began in January 2019, will involve an intentional effort to enhance the work of the pilot sites established during Phase 2.
“Working intensively with targeted sites this past year, we have seen the impact of concrete program development tools, ongoing technical assistance, and peer learning opportunities on the quality of intergenerational work,” says Patterson. “But more work is needed to move intergenerational programming from an ‘add on’ activity to an integral part of the way senior housing providers support and engage their residents.”
Phase 3 will feature ongoing technical assistance to the pilot sites, training workshops at both national conferences and at specific housing organizations, and webinars sponsored by national associations through which aging service providers can earn continuing education credits.
In addition, the LTSS Center and Generations United will work to foster the expansion of high-quality intergenerational programming by:
- Disseminating the new Intergenerational Programming Toolkit to a broad audience.
- Creating an online repository of interactive tools, slide decks, and how-to program guides that can serve as a resource for senior housing providers interested in planning and implementing intergenerational activities and programs.