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MA/PhD Theses Abstracts of Current Students & Alumni |
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Rausch, Anna Irene, February 1981 - REPORT ON THE INTERGENERATIONS PROGRAM FOR PALM HARBOR DAY CARE CENTER
Abstract: During June-August 1980, the author worked as an intern under the Applied Anthropology Internship Project, a part of the graduate program at the University of South Florida. The goal of the internship project was to develop a program of activities involving pre-school children and "frail" elderly adults who attend a day-care center. This thesis is a report on the planning, implementation and evaluation of the intergenerational program developed by the author for the Palm Harbor Child and Adult Day-care Center. The author formulated and implemented the following plan of action: (1) review of cross-cultural literature in order to discover ways in which the elderly and young children interacted in other societies (2) participant observation of the two existing programs in order to determine appropriate activities for the two groups to share (3) interviews with the elderly participants to determine their interest in interaction with the children and the extent of their physical and emotional handicaps which might restrict their involvement in the program (4) development of an evaluation instrument to determine the reactions of the staff members and the participants to the intergenerational activities. The author found that activities which were most satisfying and enjoyable to the participants were those that provided an opportunity to interact but did not require it. If the focus of attention was on the activity, rather than on communication between the children and the elderly, interaction occurred naturally and spontaneously. However, those activities requiring good eye-hand co-ordination, good eyesight on the part of the elderly, long periods of concentration or sitting sit, were not effective means of interaction. The author, as a result of information gained from participant observation and program evaluation makes recommendations for successful continuation of the program. These involve additional staffing, creation of a new position to oversee the intergenerational program and additions to the existing facility. The author feels that the implementation of the intergenerational program was successful, at least on a short-term basis, since activities initiated during the internship project are still in operation six months later. Unforeseen variables make long-term evaluation difficult, however. The author concludes that despite the great differences in ages between the children and the elderly participants (60 to 90 years) and despite the extensive physical limitations of the elderly, the two groups can be brought together to share mutually enjoyable experiences within the day-care environment.
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