Intergenerational Program for Nursing Home Residents and Adolescents in Korea

Structural changes in the Korean population, such as a growing trend toward nuclear families and urbanization, have given rise to a generational gap between older adults and the younger generation. The current study developed a 6-week intergenerational program to facilitate interactions between nursing home residents and high school students. The effects of the program were examined in 120 participants (60 nursing home residents and 60 high school students) in the southern area of South Korea. The intergenerational program helped nursing home residents rediscover the value of their lives, have positive feelings about their lives, and adapt to circumstances through the sustained positive interactions with the younger generation. Adolescents obtained wisdom from older adults' experiences, understanding of the value of life, and positive perceptions of older adults through in-depth communication. The current findings suggest that the intergenerational program for nursing home residents and adolescents is a valuable nursing intervention in Korea to overcome the generational gap and achieve developmental tasks. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 44(1), 32-41.].