By the year 2020 approximately 20-25% of all Canadians will
be senior citizens. In Today's mobile and disruptive
society that means one quarter of our population will be
considered "old" and these same older people will often be
disconnected from family ties and family interactions.
Geography, health and economic limitations all make it
difficult for today's seniors to be as involved with the
community as they would like to.
Children, too, do not have the easy access to grandparents
as they used to in days gone by. Today, being with
grandparents often means long distance travel, expensive phone
calls or short visits during holidays. Children no
longer grow up with a spectrum of generations around them to
learn from. They may spend most of their time with
schoolmates and with their immediate parents or
siblings. This lack of "intergenerational" interaction
is at the root of many social problems today that arise from
nonexistent emotional and social support structures.
Intergenerational Programs are about planning and
facilitating mutually beneficial interactions between seniors
and children. This often involves integrating seniors'
residences with on-site or off-site day care centres for
children. Programs are then created and supervised where
seniors and children work and play together in a variety of
enjoyable community activities such as making crafts, cooking,
going on outings, gardening, recreational activities or
learning new skills together.
Children get an opportunity to become familiar with the
issues of aging. Sometimes these issues involve the
difficulties of wheelchairs, life support equipment, or just
the infirmities that come with old age. Seniors get to
experience the joys of children who bring a fresh element of
energy and joy into the seniors' lives. For those who
wish to experience and connect with life in all its stages,
Intergenerational Programs are a wonderful opportunity.
Intergenerational Programs are all about building
relationships and, therefore, building community.
Contributing to the development of Intergenerational Programs
in your community is a way to strengthen the social ties that
support and nourish people.
Through Intergenerational Programs children learn healthy
and positive attitudes towards the challenges faced during the
later stages of life and develop their capacity for caring,
compassion and nurturance while older adults, who often live
alone without many social supports, receive opportunities to
express their unique knowledge and talents.
Intergenerational Programs like this allow the elderly to
share their life experiences, to feel they have something of
value to contribute to society, and to know that they are a
worthwhile part of the community and the development of future
generations. Children, also, learn first hand about
helping people who need special care and respect. It
truly is a win-win situation.
Intergenerational Programs are most effectively run from
integrated sites of seniors' residences combined with on-site
day care centres. The Mel Jr. & Marty Zajac
Foundation has embraced the concept of building community
through Intergenerational Shared Site Programs (ISSP's), and
is committed to building facilities which meet the needs of
seniors, children, and those with special
challenges.
