IP benefits young and old
Over the past two decades, there has been a growing body of literature which describes the increasing separation of young people (under the age of 21) from people 60 years of age and older. Age segregation --
for housing, health care, transportation and economic support -- has isolated older adults from other age groups. At the same time, there is a demonstrated need for our youth to have adult guidance and relationships. This pattern of age segregation has been linked to the decline in life satisfaction among older persons and the increase in negative stereotypes toward the aged and aging among younger people.

Carefully planned and well executed intergenerational programming can help resolve these issues. Generations United reports the following benefits from shared site intergenerational programs:

• More positive mood and higher engagement among frail elders during intergenerational programming compared to single generation activities.
  
  
• Shared sites that placed older adults in mentoring roles with young children revealed benefits to elder participants of choice, initiative, and autonomy and reduced instances of disengagement.
  
  
• Family members and teachers reports benefits for children such as increased comfort around persons with disabilities, receiving individualized attention, and sense of purpose experienced when children are able to teach or help older adult partners.
  
  
• Nursing home administrators revealed that having a childcare program at the nursing home enhanced staff morale and community relations.
  
  
• Family members of enrolled children suggested that children who regularly participated in intergenerational programming were more comfortable interacting with elders they met at church in the broader community.
  
  
• Staff of the intergenerational programs commented they benefit from interaction with other generations and the relationships they build with staff from other programs.

Generations United: Multiple publications, including:

Under One Roof: a Guide to Starting and Strengthening Intergenerational Shared Site Programs, a how-to guide for individuals and groups who are interested in the development of intergenerational shared sites.

Tried and True: A Guide to Successful Intergenerational Activities at Shared Site Programs. This guide developed in collaboration with the Neighbors Growing Together Program at Virginia Tech, provides brief background information on shared sites, recommendations on developing your own intergenerational activities, tips for facilitators and more.

Intergenerational Shared Sites: Making the Case provides you with the facts and figures to make the case for an intergenerational shared site program in your community.

Intergenerational Shared Sites: Troubleshooting provides assistance on dealing with obstacles that may appear when developing a shared site. 

Other resources:

Let’s Do Something: Identifying the Effective Components of Intergenerational Programs was a two-year project that identified and documented intergenerational activities that effectively promote healthy mental involvement and social interaction between young children and seniors in a joint day care setting. 

For examples of intergenerational programs with shared sites and contact information go http://www.activitytherapy.com/intergen.htm

The University of Pittsburgh operates Generations Together, An Intergenerational Studies Program, which grants an International Specialist Certificate.  They also publish online the new Journal of Intergenerational Relationships. For more information go to http://www.gt.pitt.edu/

Interages is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building bridges between generations and cultures.  For sample lesson plans and resources from Interages go to http://www.interages.com

Indianapolis site one of five in nation to receive IP grant

Congratulations to the Martin Luther King Center in Indianapolis! Generations United recently announced that the center is one of five recipients nationwide of an intergenerational shared seed grant, made possible with the support of MetLife Foundation.  The five recipients will each receive $5,000 to develop or strengthen their intergenerational shared site programs. 

Save the date!
The Indiana Collaborative Conference on Aging (ICCA) will take place at the Adam’s Mark Hotel in Indianapolis from February 5-6, 2008.  The purpose of the conference is to provide opportunities for professionals and students in the aging network to:

• increase awareness of trends and applied research;
• network and collaborate with professionals across disciplines, organizations and the continuum of aging services;
• explore how to plan, implement and evaluate programs and best practices; and
• discuss pressing issues and policies that will impact quality of life for older adults in Indiana.

 The ICCA steering committee is made up of representatives of the following organizations:

• Alzheimer’s Association of Central Indiana
• Indiana Activity Directors Association
• Indiana Association of Area Agencies on Aging
• Indiana Association of Adult Day Services
• Indiana Association for Home and Hospice Care
• Indiana Association of Homes and Services for the Aging — Assisted Living Federation of America
• Indiana Association of Senior Centers
• Indiana Department of Health
• Indiana Division of Aging
• Indiana Funeral Directors Association
• Indiana Health Care Association
• St.Vincent Center for Healthy Aging
• University of Indianapolis Center for Aging & Community
• Indiana Intercollege Council on Aging

Call for Presentations for the ICCA is taking place now. If you are interested in presenting, you can download an application now. Deadline for presentation proposals is August 31, 2007.

500,000 wishes
The U.S. Administration on Aging has joined Aging with Dignity and other leading aging and health organizations to launch the 500,000 Wishes National Call to Action Campaign. The goal of this campaign is to leverage the recent translation of Five Wishes, a personal care planning tool that helps someone express how they want to be treated if they are seriously ill and unable to speak for themselves, into over 20 different languages by ensuring distribution to different ethnic and cultural groups. It is hoped that at least a half a million copies of these various translations of Five Wishes are distributed over the next year.

News for Nonprofits
Read all about it: This fall, a new publication developed to serve central Indiana nonprofit organizations will debut. Indianapolis ORG Magazine will be distributed free to central Indiana business professionals and nonprofit leaders.  For more information, contact Brad Haberman, publisher, or call (317) 847-2655.

Quick & easy news: Want to know all the news that's fit to print about the not-for-profit community in Central Indiana?  The Not-for-Profit News is a weekly e-mail newsletter designed to connect the Indiana nonprofit community with each other, with nonprofit job seekers, and with the broader community.  Check it out at www.notforprofitnews.com

Product donations for nonprofits:  Gifts In Kind is the largest charity in the world that focuses on new product donations from corporations, including nearly half of the Fortune 100 consumer and retail product corporations. GIK then provides these new products to 150,000 community charities in America and throughout the world.