How to bridge the generation gap through therapeutic activities

Creative Action LLC's gerontolgists develop and distribute interventions for both residents and staff, conduct market research studies, consult with and train staff in long-term care. With four years of NIH NIA funding and follow-up co-funding by Golden Living and HCR Manor Care, Creative Action LLC developed and tested a
Montessori-based, therapeutic intervention for groups of people with dementia.

While there's often a large age discrepancy between activity directors and residents in a nursing home, therapeutic activities can help bridge the generation gap. An article in the June 2011 issue of the Journal of Intergenerational Relationships titled "Bridging the Intergenerational Gap in Therapeutic Activity Delivery Between Younger Professional Caregivers and Older Adults Living With Dementia" reports on use of this therapeutic cognitive intervention in 12 facilities in four states: Alabama, Maryland, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

"Forty activity directors and staff, age 25-50 in long-term care settings interacted with residents age 56-100 in groups of 10 or more in both an activity intervention and standard activities," the article reports. "The younger caregivers indicated positive responses to the activity intervention and demonstrated an increase in positive attitudes toward cognitively impaired elderly residents.

Many older individuals have cohort-specific knowledge that may not be known by young caregivers. By providing familiar information, using Montessori principles that key into the remaining abilities of those with dementia, it is possible for the younger caregivers to successfully facilitate satisfying, interactive programs.

Anthony Sterns, Ph.D., is the vice president of operations for Creative Action LLC. He can be contacted at 877-281-6336 or info@memorymagic.com .