When we talk about aging programs with an intergenerational focus, it’s difficult to overstate the impact: over and over, we see stories of connection shine through in the relationships older adults form with people from younger generations.
Intergenerational relationships have a positive impact on health, well-being, and social cohesion, both for older adults and younger people in their lives.
That’s why we’re excited that April 24 to April 30 is Global Intergenerational Week. It’s an ideal time to celebrate the many ways that the Health Fund’s grantees and partners are bringing generations together. Here are a few examples:
Time banking program engages LGTBQ+ young people to support Transgender elders
The Health Fund has provided multiple grants to MiGen — an organization dedicated to serving and advocating for LGBTQ+ older adults across the state — to establish and grow a time banking program that engage young people in assisting homebound Transgender elders as they age.
Time banking is a program model designed to build relationships and connections and share non-monetary services among people of all ages. Transgender older adults face significant health disparities and increased risk of social isolation that make this volunteer support even more valuable.
In the process, both elders and youth have shared that the relationships formed through the project have been meaningful and enriching. Volunteers report benefiting from the wisdom and experience of older adults, who in turn gain energy and important ties to community through interactions with the younger volunteers.
“Grand Friends” connects youth with older adults in retirement centers
In 2022, the Health Fund made a grant investment to The Shul in West Bloomfield to expand an intergenerational volunteer program that brings youth into retirement centers and rehab facilities to spend time with homebound older adults.
Grant support has helped The Shul incorporate the program into senior living facilities to impact more than 200 older adults and youth, which primarily serves the greater Metro Detroit area. In addition to its impact in reducing loneliness for older adults, the program helps young people find positive mentors and deeper ties to community.
Input from participating older adults is helping refine the program as it goes, but organizers describe the exchanges between youth and elders as overwhelmingly positive.
Intergenerational day program serves children alongside older adults
With support from a 2023 Healthy Aging grant, the Avenue Family Network is introducing an intergenerational daycare center to serve residents in southwest Michigan. The project offers needed support to older adults living with dementia and their caregivers by bringing them together in a space with young children.
This innovative model offers respite for caregivers, care services and health assessment for older adults, and opportunities for connection and social-emotional learning for children. While this project is still in its early phases, we’re excited by its creative design and look forward to seeing it unfold in the coming years.
Bridging generations benefits all
Looking at these examples, it’s clear there are many ways to incorporate intergenerational elements into programs that serve older adults.
That’s why our Healthy Aging team continues to be open to and supportive of a wide range of models through its grantmaking and partnerships — no matter the specifics, the benefits of thoughtful approaches to forging intergenerational relationships are consistently great.
We’re also grateful for our multi-faceted partnership with Generations United, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of children, youth, and older people through intergenerational collaboration on programs. Generations United has been a critical partner in helping our team incorporate intergenerational elements across our healthy aging work.
Aging affects everyone. By building multi-generational networks of support, we can contribute to a culture where older adults are valued and respected, and people from all generations benefit from the gifts and knowledge of others.
Our 2024 Healthy Aging Initiative is now open and accepting applications through June 17 — we welcome proposals for new programs and strategies to support intergenerational work in Michigan. View our RFP for more details or contact a member of our Healthy Aging team with questions.
