Compelling evidence supporting the benefits of social engagement in older adults has been increasingly discussed. However, knowledge regarding an intergenerational program is limited. Herein, we provide a targeted review of intergenerational programs by focusing on our novel interventional program, Research on Productivity through Intergenerational Sympathy. The Research on Productivity through Intergenerational Sympathy program is an intergenerational picture-book reading program launched in 2004. Participants were involved a 3-month intensive weekly training seminar comprising classes about book selection, reading techniques and basic knowledge of children's school life. Subsequently, they participated in group activities that involved playing a hand game, and reading picture books to children at kindergartens, elementary schools and public childcare centers, once every 1-2 weeks. The Research on Productivity through Intergenerational Sympathy program has shown improvement of physical and psychological functioning of older adults and healthy upbringing of children. Similarly, Experience Corps -designed to train and place volunteers in participating elementary schools for an academic year during which time they assist teachers -also showed positive effects for older adults' health status and the psychological/academic success of young children in the USA. Health promotion efforts for older adults must support social policy for the creation of meaningful service programs for older adults on a large social scale. As such, an intergenerational program based on the concept of social capital, defined as "features of social organization, such as trust, norms and networks, that can improve the efficacy of society by facilitating coordinated actions," is an effective and sustainable program for health promotion among older adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016; 16 (Suppl. 1): 98-109.

BackgroundNon-pharmacological interventions are expected to be important strategies for reducing the age-adjusted prevalence of senile dementia, considering that complete medical treatment for cognitive decline has not yet been developed. From the viewpoint of long-term continuity of activity, it is necessary to develop various cognitive stimulating programs. The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of a cognitive intervention through a training program for picture book reading for community-dwelling older adults.MethodsFifty-eight Japanese older participants were divided into the intervention and control groups using simple randomization (n =29 vs 29). In the intervention group, participants took part in a program aimed at learning and mastering methods of picture book reading as a form of cognitive training intervention. The control group listened to lectures about elderly health maintenance. Cognitive tests were conducted individually before and after the programs.ResultsThe rate of memory retention, computed by dividing Logical Memory delayed recall by immediate recall, showed a significant interaction (p < .05) in analysis of covariance. Simple main effects showed that the rate of memory retention of the intervention group improved after the program completion (p < .05). In the participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) examined by Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-J) (n =14 vs 15), significant interactions were seen in Trail Making Test-A (p < .01), Trail Making Test-B (p < .05), Kana pick-out test (p < .05) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (p < .05).ConclusionsThe intervention effect was found in delayed verbal memory. This program is also effective for improving attention and executive function in those with MCI. The short-term interventional findings suggest that this program might contribute to preventing a decline in memory and executive function.Trial registrationUMIN-CTR: UMIN000014712 (Date of ICMJE and WHO compliant trial information disclosure: 30 July 2014)

This study aims to identify the independent influence of face-to-face contact (FFC) and non-face-to-face contact (NFFC) on the subsequent decline in self-rated health and mental health status by age. A total of 12,000 participants were randomly selected among residents in the study area, and 1751 of them responded to both the 2016 and 2018 mail surveys. The participants were subsequently classified into three age groups (25–49: Young adults; 50–64: Mid-aged adults; and 65–84: Older adults). Social contact was assessed by computing the frequencies of FFC and NFFC. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed the risk of social contact on the decline in self-rated health and World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index. Both FFC and NFFC were significantly associated with maintaining mental health; however, the impacts of FFC on mental health were more significant than that of NFFC among older adults and young adults. Compared with the no contact group, FFC was significantly associated with maintaining self-rated health in mid-aged adults. The influence of FFC and NFFC on health differed by age group.

Recently, many researchers have focused on generativity as a psychosocial task in old age as well as middle age. In this study, we developed a revised Japanese version of the Generativity Scale (JGS-R), which measures multiple aspects of generativity among elderly people, and investigated its reliability and validity.e items were constructed based on the Japanese version of the Generativity Scale (Ohba et al., 2013). JGS-R was administered to 1,393 elderly people living in urban areas. Exploratory factor analysis revealed the following three factors: generative "action, " "concern, " and "accomplishment. " e factor validity was supported by con rmatory factor analysis. All three factor-based subscales showed high internal consistency. Furthermore, each subscale score of the JGS-R showed signi cant positive correlations with the frequency of conversation with other generations, provision of instrumental and emotional support for other generations, and supportive behavior for child rearing in the community, which support criterionrelated validity.

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Taking care of grandchildren may provide health benefits to older adults due to keeping their social roles and feeling more generative; however, we have scarce knowledge of the relationships in Asian countries. This study addressed this question in older Japanese. The data was obtained from a two-year follow-up mail survey conducted in 2016 on 3,116 randomly selected older Japanese, aged 65-84 years, living in a metropolitan area. The main outcome was deterioration of health assessed by the Self-Rated Health (SRH), WHO-5, and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs), defined as decline in 1 or more points obtained after 2 years of follow-up. The frequency of taking care of grandchildren was assessed as every day, 4-6 days per week, 1-3 days per week, 1-3 days per month, several days per year, and none. A multiple linear regression examined the impact of taking care of grandchildren as a predictor of protection of decline in SRH, WHO-5 and IADLs. The models were adjusted for confounding factors. Of 1,561 who responded to the follow-up survey, 959 people had grandchildren at baseline. The subjects had a mean age of 73.2±5.3 years, and mean scores of SRH:2.1±0.6; WHO-5;16.1±5.3, IADLs; 4.9±0.6 (higher scores represent higher evaluation). The higher frequency of taking care of grandchildren were longitudinally associated with less decline in SRH, WHO-5, and IADLs (standardized partial regression coefficient, β=-0.090, p=0.013; β =-0.023, p=0.547; β =-0.107, p=0.008, respectively). In conclusion, taking care of grandchildren might be a protective factor of comprehensive and functional health deterioration.

Purpose of the StudyThis study aims to clarify the job seeking process of the elderly people through the local employment support facility known as the Active Senior Employment Support Center (ASESC)”AKUTIBU SINIA SHUGYO SIEN SENTAA” in the Tokyo metropolitan area, and evaluate the performance as a complement to the national support systems.MethodsWe conducted 6 waves of longitudinal mail surveys over 38 weeks to 235 older job seekers (146 males and 89 females, average age 63.7, SD 5.6), who visited two ASESCs for the first time, to clarify their living situation, health condition, and changes in their job seeking process.ResultsThese older job seekers tended to be at a relatively low education level and on low income, as well as tended to seek jobs for earning living expenses rather than for well-being. Half of them found employment in 35.0 days; however, 23.8% couldn’t find any job in 38 weeks, especially those who were younger and with higher education.ImplicationsASESCs are functioning to assist older job seekers who are mainly seeking jobs for earning living expenses, which can be attained in a short time span and enable them to earn some money. These facilities are expected to be consulting services, not only for employment support but also for general living, because it is important to maintain contact with people who are at risk of social isolation, serious financial difficulty, or suicide. We consider it very helpful to encourage and re-activate these mismatched people, by supporting them to engage in highly contributional services to our society and the next generation, such as providing child-care support or daily life support, the demands for which are rapidly increasing due to recent governmental policies.

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