Rethinking Social Isolation, Intergenerational Practice in the Community and Aged Care

Dear Colleagues,

Intergenerational programs are becoming more important because of their ability to increase confidence, improve communication skills, and build relationships in both older and younger groups. The opportunities that develop from intergenerational programs benefit individuals and the community by bringing together older and younger groups in a caring and supportive environment that encourages sustained relationships, benefits wellbeing, facilitates shared learning, and promotes generational appreciation and understanding.

The approaches to intergenerational programs and practices are varied, with initiatives extending to younger groups from childcare centres, primary and high school students, and youth groups, and for older groups from community centres, aged care centres, retirement centres, and individuals in the community. The amount of empirical evidence from these programs is increasing, with findings making significant contributions to practice in both older-person and younger-person communities.  A number of theoretical frameworks are emerging in support of the efficacy of intergenerational practice and the benefits of the programs, such as shared stories and knowledge, improving mental and physical health, building relationships, and minimising loneliness and isolation for older persons.  Intergenerational practice has gained momentum, with many programs highlighting the mutual benefit of bringing older and younger persons together.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to invite papers that build on the growing evidence base for intergenerational programs in different contexts and from varied perspectives. We welcome contributions from all areas of social science, including social work, social policy, sociology, anthropology, pedagogy, andragogy, psychology, law, health, and management, together with interdisciplinary articles.  Papers might have theoretically and methodologically diverse approaches and can explore intergenerational programs in terms of relationships, curriculum design, pilot projects, and case studies, including, large- and small-scale design examples.

Dr. Jennifer Kosiol
Dr. Gaery Barbery
Dr. Ruth Peters
Prof. Dr. Anneke Fitzgerald
Guest Editors

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