1. Professor Anneke Fitzgerald
The Intergenerational Care Program
Research evaluating an intergenerational learning model in Australia
Presented by
Professor Anneke Fitzgerald

2. Introduction Demographic changes require alternative forms of care
Intergenerational care program is the purposeful coming together of younger and older persons
Synergy between child care and community aged care is an opportunity for cost saving and allows for intergenerational learning
As the population ages and the incidence of people with cognitive decline rises significantly, there is a need to address alternative forms of care that may delay people with cognitive decline entering residential care
One potential alternative form of care is Intergenerational Care Programs
Intergenerational care programs provide older adults and children care and social support programs, in the same setting for a specified period of time
In Australia, intergenerational care is gaining support from the Australian media
While this is potentially because of the changing demographic, economic and social needs, it may also be because of the anticipated synergies and cost savings between sharing child care and aged care resources

3. What we know about Intergenerational Programs:
FOR CHILDREN
Provide older adults with a sense of purpose
Enhance the dignity experienced by older people
Alter communities’ perceptions of older adults and the ageing process from negative to positive
Improve the social outcomes of older people
Encourage older people to remain living in their home longer
Encourages older persons to reminisce
FOR OLDER PEOPLE
Provide and opportunity to learn from and connect with the older generation
Helps improve the behaviour that children show towards older people in general
Improvements in children’s pro-social behaviours of sharing, helping and cooperating
Decrease likelihood of juvenile delinquency in later life

4. Background research Legislative requirements
systematic review of current programs in Australia and overseas
A review of existing aged care and child care qualifications
a Delphi study on preferences for models of care and,
a feasibility study into the demand for intergenerational care in the Australia context
Globally intergenerational care programs have been in existence for many years
While intergenerational care programs are well-established elsewhere, they are still in their infancy in Australia
Based on this background, my colleagues and I are conducting an intergenerational care research project

5. Findings from our Background Research
A study investigating the legislative requirements for both aged care and child care identified potential barriers in relation to two key areas:
Workforce
Built environment
These potential barriers can be overcome with careful planning and consultation with participants, families, the community and industry experts.
Workforce: Differences in staff competencies between the childcare and aged care workforces and qualifications specific to each area.
There was also an identified potential for intergenerational care worker to prioritise child needs over older persons’ needs
However, there is opportunity to create new career paths connecting child care and aged care certifications between the two workforces.
Built environment: Design of the building and shared space compliance with both child care and aged care requirements including amenities such as laundries, bathrooms, toilets etc.

6. Findings from our Background Research
Literature review revealed:
The need for purposeful and meaningful curriculum
Time sensitivity
Play-based and sensory
Appeal to both groups
A review of literature revealed there is opportunity to develop a new educational framework designed specifically to:
Offer meaningful reciprocal interactions between older adults and children
Match adult educational needs with childrens’ needs to appeal to both groups
Promote collective and individual learning processes which enhance mood, improve skills in literacy and knowledge, improved mobility, increased sense of worth in both older and younger participants
Intergenerational care educational program need to be play-based, and rely on spontaneous interactions

7. Findings from our Background Research
Panel of experts in our feasibility study identified two main alternative models of Intergenerational Care:
Shared Campus Model – Aged day care and child day care centres offer their programs on the same site with shared infrastructure and facilities. The intergenerational care program is then provided in a multi-function room common to both aged care and child care facilities
Visiting Campus Model – Centres are located separately and either children or older people are transported to the other site and intergenerational activities are held n that site for 1-2 hours, twice per week

8. Findings from our Background Research
There was little detail in the literature about funding structure required, therefore a willingness to pay study was conducted to examine care preferences among a sample of 816 Australians. Findings revealed:
There was demand for both visiting campus and co-located campus models. On average people were willing to pay more per session for both models.
Parents were more likely to take up intergenerational care compared to the status quo, and adult carers reported a higher willingness to pay for these services.

9. What we don’t yet know
What are the socio-economic measures that can provide evidence that intergenerational care is feasible, cost effective and sustainable in Australia?
What are the effects of intergenerational learning on educational theory, ie the development of an eldergogy?
What are the opportunities for the aged care and child care workforce in terms of career progression?

10. The Intergenerational Care Program trial
Aim of the project is to evaluate two models of intergenerational learning programs within community day care settings to benefit older people and carers, and younger children (3-5 years old)
The trial will be conducted across four intervention sites and two control sites located within QLD and NSW
While the psychological benefits of intergenerational learning for children and older people are well recognised, our research will more specifically investigate the potential benefits for the research participants and their carers, and the potential benefits for workforce development and economic implications for the service providers and the broader community

11. Conclusion
We believe that creating an intergenerational community based program will provide purpose, improve the overall experience of ageing and create age friendly communities, resulting in a range of benefits for children, the elderly, their carers, the workforce and society as a whole.
Mixing younger children with older people has been proven to reduce teenage delinquency, has the potential to reduce social isolation of the elderly and may delay entry into residential care.

12. Intergenerational Care

13. Thank you!! This research is partially funded by: Griffith University
Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Health Service
Department of Aged Care Services (DACS)