Intergenerational Programs: Breaking Down Ageist Barriers and Improving Youth Experiences

Effectiveness and sustainability of volunteering with older people living in care homes: A mixed methods systematic review

“…Details of individual studies are reported in Table 1. Fourteen quantitative or mixed methods studies evaluated the impact of volunteering (Baker et al., 2017; Caspar et al., 2019; Clarkson et al., 2007; Di Bona et al., 2019; Lee et al., 2007; Lokon et al., 2017; Low et al., 2015; McNair & Moore, 2010; Sauer et al., 2016; Seitz et al., 2016; Skropeta et al., 2014; van Zon et al., 2016; Westerhof et al., 2018; Xaverius & Mathews, 2004), and 22 reported questionnaire or qualitative data (Biggs & Knox, 2014; Bradley et al., 2000; Damianakis & Wagner, 2007; Filinson, 2003; Gundersen & Johannessen, 2018; Hill, 2016; Hunter et al., 2018; Jain et al., 2020; Kawamura et al., 2009; Keith, 2001; Keith & Schafer, 2002; Landau et al., 2013; Lokon et al., 2012; Ostwald et al., 2003; Persson, 2004; Santini et al., 2018; Schwalbach & Kiernan, 2002; Somers, 2018; Tanner & Brett, 2014; Tinker et al., 2017; Van der Ploeg et al., 2012, 2014). Overall the quality of studies is poor.…”

“…Twenty studies reported volunteering from children and students, 16 reported volunteering from adults including five studies where some volunteers were in their 80s and 90s (File , Table S3). Eighteen studies reported the inclusion of care home residents with cognitive impairment or dementia (Biggs & Knox, 2014; Bradley et al., 2000; Caspar et al., 2019; Clarkson et al., 2007; Damianakis & Wagner, 2007; Di Bona et al., 2019; Jain et al., 2020; Kawamura et al., 2009; Lee et al., 2007; Lokon et al., 2012; Low et al., 2015; McNair & Moore, 2010; Sauer et al., 2016; Seitz et al., 2016; Skropeta et al., 2014; Tanner & Brett, 2014; Van der Ploeg et al., 2014; van Zon et al., 2016) as participants, 11 of these stated that this included people whose dementia was defined as advanced, severe or late‐stage (Clarkson et al., 2007; Damianakis & Wagner, 2007; Di Bona et al., 2019; Jain et al., 2020; Lee et al., 2007; Lokon et al., 2012; McNair & Moore, 2010; Sauer et al., 2016; Seitz et al., 2016; Skropeta et al., 2014; Van der Ploeg et al., 2014) (File , Table S2). All studies took place in residential care, nursing homes or assisted living facilities.…”

“…Thirteen studies reported resident outcomes. The most commonly reported outcome was resident engagement, measured via direct observation by staff or researchers (Baker et al., 2017; Caspar et al., 2019; Lee et al., 2007; Low et al., 2015; McNair & Moore, 2010; Sauer et al., 2016; Xaverius & Mathews, 2004). All seven studies that reported this outcome (all involving Intergenerational activity) found a positive effect on engagement during the activity.…”

Factors that facilitate multigenerational exchanges in regional locations: a cross‐sectional study in Niigata City, Japan

“…In this study, many of the representatives with specialist qualifications were nurses, doctors, childcare workers, nutritionists, or counselors. The success of intergenerational programs is determined by the presence of a skilled healthcare professional and a qualified recreation therapist [31]. The most significant subcomponents regarding a facilitator's skills include being knowledgeable about different generations (e.g., children, [32].…”

“…Conversations among different generations increase the knowledge level of each party more than interactions within the same generation [45]. Conversation may prevent cognitive deterioration among older persons [34,46], improve attitudes toward older people [11,12,31,[47][48][49][50][51], and lead to the transmission of knowledge to children [22,45]. Furthermore, communication is an important factor in SC [17]; communication at Cha-no-Ma connects people so that conversations arise naturally in locations other than Cha-no-Ma.…”