COMMUNITY-SERVICE ACTIVITIES VERSUS TRADITIONAL ACTIVITIES IN AN INTERGENERATIONAL VISITING PROGRAM

ABSTRACT The impact of traditional activities (e.g., playing board games) were compared with community-service activities (e.g., making first aid kits for a homeless shelter) during a monthly intergenerational visiting program. The participating seniors (n = 19) gave high ratings to both types of activities. However, they felt that they had helped others more during the community-service activities, and they expressed greater interest in community-service activities for future intergenerational visits. Intergenerational programs should be supported by the public as well as by funding agencies, as these have great potential for benefiting not only the participants but also others in the community.