Planning an Intergenerational Shared Site: Nursing Home Resident Perspectives

ABSTRACT

We utilized a strengths-based community capacity framework to consult with nursing home residents with dementia about the development of a co-located intergenerational visitation program. Twelve residents participated in face-to-face interviews. Eleven of the residents spoke about their positive reaction to the childcare center opening, including how it would benefit both the residents and the children. In addition, seven of the participants indicated some concerns with the opening of the childcare center. These concerns related to role ambiguity for the residents, the behavior of the children, the level of commitment required by the residents, and child safety concerns. Recommendations include processes to work with residents as innovative programs are being developed for nursing homes for people with dementia.

KEYWORDS:

• Intergenerational
• childcare
• nursing home
• dementia
• inclusion

Acknowledgments

We thank Thomy Nilsson, Lorraine Begley, Martha Gabriel, and Andrew MacDougall for their assistance with this research. We recognize funding provided by the PEI Centre for the Study of Health and Aging.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the PEI Centre for the Study of Health and Aging [n/a];