In a previous edition of Maturity Matters, we looked at some creative and impactful intergenerational programs that brought together different generations in new and innovative ways. We featured a shared preschool and senior residence in Seattle, a high school program embedded in long-term care facilities in Canada, and mentorship initiatives in Japan that revived traditional family-style learning. The stories were hopeful.  The emotional payoffs were real. But were these successes by default or design?That’s the focus of this month’s newsletter.  Just what is it that makes an intergenerational program actually work?

Intergenerational programs can take many forms. What turns them from nice encounters into life-changing experiences is the planning, design, preparation, and objectives that work for both the young and the older participants.

What Are Intergenerational Programs?

At their core, intergenerational programs bring people from different age groups together in structured ways to build relationships, exchange skills, combat isolation and challenge ageism. But that’s just the headline.

The reality is, these programs come in a variety of shapes and sizes:
• Shared Sites: Seniors and children share the same space daily, often co-located (e.g., child care inside senior living).
• Mentorship Programs: Elders mentor youth in life skills, trades, or academics.
• Reverse Mentorship: Youth teach older adults digital skills, pop culture, or language apps.
• Creative Collaborations: Mixed-age teams create podcasts, songs, or community projects together.
• Home-Sharing Arrangements: Older adults offer students reduced rent in exchange for help around the home and companionship.
• Embedded Classrooms: High school students attend full days inside seniors’ residences, blending academic work with social service.

Each type of program brings different benefits, but only when built with intention.

By Design, Not By Default

You may hear someone say, “We just threw our seniors and kids together–and it worked fine!” Maybe they got lucky. Maybe there was an unspoken structure, or the personalities just clicked. But research shows that reliable, sustainable and potentially transformational outcomes such as improved mood, stronger cognitive engagement, and lasting connections don’t come from chance. They come from planning.

A 2021 scoping review by Jarrott et al. found that the most consistently successful programs shared the following characteristics:
• Clear goals and outcomes
• Role clarity for all participants
• Trained facilitators
• Structured, meaningful activities
• Opportunities for relationship building over time
(https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0164027521996191)

Generations United also reminds us that the most impactful intergenerational programs are guided by shared vision, mutual respect, and co-created outcomes.  It is so much more than just shared space. (https://www.gu.org/app/uploads/2018/06/13-IntergenerationalPrograms-Report-Because-Were-Stronger-Together.pdf)

Without this structure, interactions tend to stay surface-level. People may be polite, but what if the objective is more aspirational?  What if we were going for the magic of transformation? These loftier goals are more likely to happen when everyone knows why they’re there, what they’re aiming to accomplish, and how they fit into the story.

The Anatomy of a Successful Intergenerational Program

Here’s what makes it work:

• Start with Clear Objectives
What do you want this program to achieve, for youth and for older adults? This could be emotional support, skill development, cultural sharing, reduced isolation, increased empathy, or perhaps even all of the above.

• Co-Create the Program
Involve both older adults and youth in shaping the design. What would they enjoy? What feels meaningful to them? Ask, don’t assume.

• Train and Prepare Participants
A short training session on how to listen, how to ask open-ended questions, and how to move past stereotypes can dramatically shift the tone of interactions.

• Structure Matters
Don’t rely on “they’ll figure it out.” Define roles, create rituals (like weekly check-ins), and use shared activities to give the relationship a foundation.

• Measure and Reflect
Track indicators of success: mood, attendance, reported well-being, anecdotal stories.  Build in pre- and post assessments to document (and hopefully celebrate) changes in assumptions, stereotypes, knowledge and skills.

• Plan for Closure and Continuity
What happens when the program ends? Have a closing event. Let people say goodbye–or better yet, keep it going with pen pals, future visits, or ongoing mentorship.

When generations come together with intention, we do more than share space. We share meaning. These programs can ignite a sense of purpose, spark curiosity, forge new friendships, and remind both young and old that everyone has something to give and something to learn. With clarity, planning, focus and heart, we do more than just connect people across age gaps. We build bridges strong enough to carry stories, wisdom, laughter, and a renewed sense of belonging. That is how we shape a more compassionate and age-inclusive world, one conversation, one activity, one shared moment at a time.

Warmly,
Rhonda Latreille
Founder, Age-Friendly Business®
p.s.  Since 2003, Age-Friendly Business® has trained thousands of professionals and businesses committed to learning how to elevate the quality of the client, customer, and community experience. They are called Certified Professional Consultants on Aging (CPCAs)® and Age-Friendly Businesses®. They have earned the right to ask for your business.

Body: Health & Emotional Benefits

Structured intergenerational programs bring joy and even support better health. Research shows that older adults who participate regularly in well-designed intergenerational programs often report:

• Improved mood and lower rates of depression
• Increased physical activity and mobility
• Better cognitive stimulation
• Stronger sense of identity and contribution

Meanwhile, younger participants show gains in empathy, patience, and academic performance–especially in reading and storytelling programs.

These outcomes are often stronger and longer-lasting when participants are clear on their purpose, feel safe, and have time to build meaningful relationships over weeks or months–not just a single visit.

Spirit: Inspirational Quote

“When generations connect, we don’t just share wisdom–we grow it.”
– Anonymous

Research support provided in part by ChatGPT, a language model created by OpenAI. Final content authored by Rhonda Latreille, MBA, CPCA®.