Research

The Macklin Intergenerational Institute has partnered with Birchaven Retirement Village and The University of Findlay to complete qualitative and quantitative research on the benefits to older adults as a result of intergenerational programming.

Graduate students in the Occupational Therapy Department of UF will interview residents of Birchaven, their family members and staff to determine if interactions with the children in MLLEC assist in reducing loneliness, helplessness and boredom as well as affect changes in physical, emotional, intellectual, social, behavioral and pharmaceutical systems.

Interviews will be conducted and data collected through August and September. Results and findings will be shared at the Eden Alternative International Conference to be held in Columbus, OH June 4-6, 2008.

Teaching Tolerence Grant

In Findlay, Ohio, just like many other communities in our country, age-segregation and age-related stereotypes exist. However, compounding the issue of age-related tolerance, the city's population is 97% rural Caucasian, limiting children's exposure to cultural diversity. The project goal was to combine children with senior adults, in a literacy-based project, in order to promote age and culturally-related tolerance. Therefore, in order to assist children to be accepting of others, children's picture books with realistic illustrations of elders were used to introduce children to various cultures and a variety of elders.

Feedback from children's pre/post assessments indicate that initially 20% of the children believed that elders could read to them. At the conclusion of the project 80% of the children assessed indicated that elders had the ability to read to them and that they enjoyed reading with their "grandfriends". Comments from the post-assessment included: "I like to read and do art projects with my grandfriends." (4-year old) "Sometimes grandmas and grandpas look old and have grey hair, but they still read." (3-year old) "The grandmas and grandpas have glasses, bellies, and their hands are wrinkly, but they can still do puzzles, play ball, and read to us. (4-year old.)

Anecdotal documentation obtained through Project Director Observations verified that the children and elders gained benefits from the project. "Grandma Peggy's" and "Grandma Nancy's" letters are attached to demonstrate the feelings of the elders. One of the childcare providers offered this comment: "I love the one-on-one reading experiences, where a grandma or grandpa and one of the children curl up on the couch and read or just look at pictures." An Alzheimer's careprovider shared, "My residents mostly sit in their wheelchairs moaning and groaning until they hear the sweet little voices of the children. Then...they spark up; I see the smiles, brighter eyes, and even a resident who can do books-on-tape with the kids."