Throughout the year, Elder Care Alliance communities support and promote opportunities for different generations to interact and spend time together. September is Intergeneration Month — the perfect time to recognize some of the programs and activities that bring together people of all ages.
One example is a new partnership with California College of the Arts. Beginning in September, students from the college — along with their professor — will begin work at Mercy Retirement & Care Center to create murals expressing themes of holistic wellness.
Students will meet with residents to solicit feedback on proposed designs and volunteer time in the community as part of their course requirements. The program, organized by Elder Care Alliance art therapist and experiential researcher in residence Dr. Erin Partridge, will continue through December, when the murals will be installed.
Bringing Generations Together at Elder Care Alliance
Another example of programming designed to promote intergenerational interaction began in April, when a group of local Cub Scouts visited AlmaVia of San Rafael to work with residents to plant flowers and enjoy the outdoors. The scouts, members of the fourth-grade Webelos group, visited the community as part of their “Good Turn” project, a specific Scout achievement.
The daughter of a staff member at Elder Care Alliance also made a presentation recently about a project to help people who suffer from aphasia, a condition that results in voicelessness. Ruby Jordan, a seventh-grade student at Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley, discussed the challenges faced by the 10 million individuals who cannot use their voices. She detailed the reasons why existing technology often is insufficient and described the role of new technologies in offering solutions.
Benefits of Intergenerational Activities
Since 2000, Intergeneration Month has connected people across generations, with 43 state governors and numerous nonprofit organizations formally recognizing the observance.
At Elder Care Alliance communities, our team members understand that when people of different generations come together, everyone benefits. With a variety of activities that encourage intergenerational interaction, seniors and young people learn new things and gain a deeper perspective.
