An intergenerational community places emphasis on socialization and cooperation across generations. Intergenerational interaction between older adults (OAs) and youth increases self-esteem, decreases social isolation, and promotes quality of life. This project presents a novel intergenerational community in a personal care home that situates graduate health science students as neighbors to older adult residents, requiring at least four hours of intergenerational interaction a week. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact on quality of life and ageism in this intergenerational living from the student and OA resident perspective. A mixed methods study design was utilized to assess ageism of health science students and illustrate the lived experiences of students and OAs living together. Students and OAs from a single personal care home were recruited. Students were assessed pre/post at least five months of interaction, while OAs were assessed post. Quantitative student outcomes on ageism included pre/post assessment using the Relating to Older People Evaluation (ROPE) and the Geriatric Attitudes Scale (GAS). Upon preliminary analysis, minimal changes were noted in student ageist perceptions quantitatively pre/post interactions. Qualitative reporting included 30-minute semi-structured interviews with student residents pre/post and OAs post. Individual content analysis was followed by consensus coding to validate thematic results. Qualitatively, intergenerational living was valued by students and OAs. The students and OAs identified the experiences as influencing future healthcare knowledge, breaking stigmas, learning from wisdom, and impacting mental health through authentic relationships. Creating intergenerational communities is a concept in its infancy. This arrangement may improve quality of life of both students and OAs. Considering the mental impacts of higher education and isolation in older adult communities, HCPs should advocate and consult on the creation of intergenerational living communities.
Stories of an Intergenerational Neighborhood: Living and Learning with Older Adults as Health Science Students at a Personal Care Home
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