Volume 1 | Issue 1 | June 2023 | |
Shared Site Learning Network News | |
Introducing our Quarterly Newsletter
About the Shared Site Network: With the support of The Eisner Foundation, Generations United's Shared Site Learning Network brings together practitioners who are interested in connecting with others about intergenerational shared sites. The network meets regularly to share the latest information and resources from the field, facilitate peer learning, and grow the community of shared site practitioners. In an effort to further strengthen and expand the network, we are creating this quarterly newsletter that will highlight innovative models, best practices, relevant policies, and valuable resources. If you would like to join the Shared Site Learning Network and receive this quarterly newsletter, please click here.
The first issue highlights ways shared sites around the world are emerging from the pandemic. For almost three years, most shared sites either closed down or pivoted to virtual interactions between generations. We now have the opportunity to revitalize and re-imagine spaces that support multiple ages under one roof and combat the loneliness epidemic that was fueled by COVID-19. We hope you find the information in the newsletter valuable.
| |
The Life Center: Revitalizing a Rural Community
An exciting new shared site project called the Life Center is underway in the rural town of Logan, Kansas. Like many rural communities, this small town of 500 residents has been in a period of decline. More than half of its residents are below the poverty level. A shrinking public school population, a deteriorating school building and nursing home, and pervasive social isolation for the older residents, have become critical challenges that need to be addressed in order for the town to thrive. Due to the tireless efforts of key stakeholders, including representatives from the existing nursing home, school board, City Council, and the Hansen Foundation, an ambitious project that will enhance the quality of life for older and younger residents is under construction and is scheduled to open in fall 2024. Read more.
| |
Global Perspectives: Emerging from the Pandemic | |
|
Singapore actively promotes a wide range of intergenerational programs as a way to address its fast-growing aging population, the social isolation of elders, the decline in multi-generational families, and the language divide across generations. Although the current number of shared sites is limited, the Singapore government has included the co-location of 13 senior care centers and child care centers, with common spaces for interaction, into its 2023 Action Plan for Successful Aging. The future holds many opportunities for strengthening existing programs and developing new ones.
The following describes two existing shared site programs and their experiences during the pandemic.
| |
St. Joseph's Home
St. Joseph’s Home, a government-subsidized nursing home with over 400 beds, was the first long-term care facility in Singapore to integrate an infant and child center onsite. Read more.
| |
|
The National Trade Union Congress (NTUC) Health Day Centre
The National Trade Union Congress (NTUC) Health Day Centre for Seniors and a co-located preschool My First Skool is another example of a shared site. Read more.
| |
|
The pandemic brought a halt to many intergenerational projects in Scotland, particularly those involving older people in care settings. However through the efforts of Generations Working Together, a center that supports the development and integration of intergenerational work, new efforts are underway to revitalize intergenerational work. In 2020 GWT launched a manifesto for Scotland to become the first intergenerational nation where “different generations are more connected, and everyone can build relationships that help to create a fairer society.” Its call to action includes embedding intergenerational approaches in policy-making, creating more intergenerational places and spaces, and increasing knowledge about intergenerational approaches. Although the concept of intergenerational shared sites is relatively new in Scotland, a number of shared sites are in the planning stages, and Methil Care Village recently opened in Fife, Scotland. | |
Methil Care Village
Although Scotland is home to many intergenerational programs, the concept of “shared sites” is relatively new. A number of shared sites are in the planning stages and Methil Care Village recently opened in Fife, Scotland after a delay due to covid. Read more.
| |
|
Across Australia, numerous examples of intergenerational practice exist, many of which occur in co-located aged care homes and child care centers. Demands placed on the growing number of women in the workforce and a rapidly growing aging population are primary drivers for shared sites. In addition, the popularity of Old People’s Home for 4-year-olds, an Australian factual television series preparing for its fourth season, has sparked interest in the possibilities of generations working together. Creating shared sites can be challenging due to separate government regulations for child care and elder care, yet this idea is taking hold. Although many programs created before covid were suspended or moved to virtual interaction, most are re-emerging, and new ones are being developed. The Australian Institute for Intergenerational Practice, created in 2021, is a crucial resource for helping organizations create, implement and evaluate high-quality intergenerational programs. The following two examples demonstrate how the aging and childcare worlds work together to create caring intergenerational environments. | |
Echoes Montessori
Echoes Montessori, an early learning and care program in Adelaide, Australia, is partnering with ECH, one of the largest integrated providers of retirement village accommodation and aging care services in South Australia. Read more.
| |
|
The Herd Intergenerational Learning Center
The Herd Intergenerational Learning Center in Victoria, Australia opened its doors in January 2023. Developed by sisters and early childhood teachers Anna and Fiona Glumac, the centre was inspired by their late grandmother who spent the last year of her life in residential care. Read more.
| |
|
|
Check out this Medium blog for an intergenerational public policy update from Generations United Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator Chelsi Rhoades. The blog includes information on new proposed updates to the Older Americans Act regulations, the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Indian Child Welfare Act, recent debt limit negotiations, introduction of the Grandfamily Housing Act, and current program reauthorizations we're watching in Congress. Read the policy updates here.
| | | |
Collaboration and Co-Design
Collaboration is at the core of high-quality intergenerational practice. Developing age-and ability-appropriate programming requires staff working with children/youth and those supporting older adults to engage in ongoing planning, implementation, and evaluation. Staff need opportunities to share their expertise about the developmental strengths and needs of different populations, to discuss realistic expectations for participant behavior, and to understand how to create a welcoming environment for all.
Collaborative planning takes time and effort. It involves identifying common goals, defining roles, establishing regular meetings and communication vehicles, and assuming shared responsibility for implementation. Using a co-design process in which people with professional and lived experience come together to listen, learn, and make joint decisions holds excellent potential for developing sustainable programs/ activities. Although not all older adults or children would be appropriate for this process, empowering participants to generate ideas and provide feedback is important. This inclusive approach can increase engagement and commitment, enhance the quality of programming, build skills, and contribute to long-term sustainability.
Jarrott. S. E., Turner, S. G., Juris, J., Scrivano, R. M., & Weaver, R. H. (2021). Program practices predict intergenerational interaction among children and older adults. The Gerontologist, 62(3), 385-396. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnab161
| | |
Feasibility criteria for Intergenerational Contact Zones
As part of the research project “Combatting age- segregation and ageism in Andalusia,” a group led by Dr. Mariano Sanchez, the Macrosad Chair in Intergenerational Studies (University of Granada, Spain), is working on the validation of feasibility criteria to set up intergenerational contact zones (“spatial focal points for different generations to meet, interact, build relationships, and, if desired, work together to address issues of local concern”). Intergenerational shared sites are typically planned to host Intergenerational Contact Zones (ICZ).
During the first stage of this process, 18 criteria were submitted to 11 international intergenerational experts for them to assess clarity, relevance, conceptual appropriateness, and delimitation of each criterion. Feedback was analyzed and a second version of the criteria was recently reviewed.
Once this list of criteria is finalized, it will be shared with intergenerational practitioners, policy-makers and organizations involved in the development of shared sites. In Andalusia – a region in Southern Spain – the criteria will be used to select a few examples of actual spaces where the development of an ICZ seems more feasible.
The +CINTER project is funded by FEDER/Government of Andalusia-Department of Economic Transformation, Industry, Knowledge and Universities [B-SEJ-346-UGR20].
| | |
|
Sharing our Space: A Toolkit for Developing and Enhancing Intergenerational Shared Sites. Access the resource.
Tried and True: A Guide to Successful Intergenerational Activities at Shared Site Programs. Access the resource.
Intergenerational Learning: Program Operational Guidelines and Toolkit. Access the resource.
| |
|
Generations United Global Intergenerational Conference will happen July 26-28, 2023 in Washington, DC. The conference is sold out but you can join the wait list to be contacted if space becomes available.
If you are already registered, please save the date for the Shared Site Learning Network meeting, Thursday, July 27th from 5:45 - 6:45 pm. Learn more about all of the conference events at www.guconf.org.
Stay tuned for information on the next online Learning Network meeting!
| |
|
Thank you for reading this newsletter. Please share your latest resources, news articles, and/or ideas for future issues by emailing nhenkin@gu.org. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this newsletter. Feel free to reply with any feedback or comments.
Best,
The Shared Site Learning Network Team
| |
Did you receive this newsletter as a forwarded email? You can sign up to get it in your inbox! | | | | |
