Through the Ages: Developing Relationships Between the Young and the Old

ABSTRACT

This article evaluates a program between students at a primary school and aged care residents.  The aim of the program was to increase respect and appreciation between the groups. Visiting programs between children and the elderly are well documented, and assumes that the contact will benefit both groups.  However the research is contradictory.   To ensure that this program was achieving its goals, pre-post test data using the Children’s Perceptions of Aging and Elderly test was collected. Significant improvements in attitude were seen in two items. Overall, there was an improvement in attitude in 12 of the 18 instrument items.

KEYWORDS:

• Intergenerational program
• elderly
• children
• aged-attitudes-toward

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to acknowledge the staff and students at Bayswater North Primary School, Victoria, and the staff at Heritage Gardens Aged Care, Bayswater North, Victoria.