Summary
In times of shrinking resources and growing needs, service providers of the young and the old must work together to increase intergenerational cooperation and exchange through programs which can most effectively and efficiently meet the needs of persons from all social and economic walks of life. Successful and exemplary intergenerational programs appear to have numerous similar characteristics that set them apart from others–they address major social issues or problems, rebuild natural helping relationships, are mutually supportive and beneficial to all generations involved, provide optimum use of financial resources, build on existing services of institutions and provide opportunities for communities to design programs appropriate to local needs. Such exemplary intergenerational programs can be found in almost all areas of human services. This paper discusses the characteristics of exemplary intergenerational programs as well as program models addressing a variety of needs, serving many different populations and representing creative responses to a range of community problems.
