Building block of society
According to the 2000 census, nearly four million American households are made up of three or more generations living together. “Elders and children spending time together has been a fundamental building block of human society for tens of thousands of years,” says Dr. William Thomas, a nationally renowned geriatrician. “So, when we find ways to put that building block back together, people feel good. There’s lots of research that shows a long list of benefits to both elders and children when we do that.”

“Interaction between the generations in a family is great because it gives people a chance to learn from each other,” Ronch says. “There is a sense of pride in one’s history, and the family’s continuity grows.”

‘In a different light’
He explains, “It gives families a more glorified view of their relationship. One of the biggest benefits is the closeness that develops when grandparents and grandchildren interact— they really get to know each other on a more personal level and that’s important to the healthy development of any relationship.

“Many adult children also say they appreciate the opportunity to see their parents in a different light,” Ronch adds.

Many residents at Charlestown, an Erickson retirement community in Baltimore, Md., participate in a volunteer program called Bridging Generations.

The program links volunteers from Charlestown with pre-kindergarten through fifth grade students at local Landsdowne Elementary School.

Moving outside family
The Charlestown residents serve as teacher aides and even pen-pals to the students. In turn, the children offer their talents by visiting Charlestown several times a year for musical performances and art shows. Ronch says that it’s the generation “gap” that ultimately helps out in situations like these. “Kids and elders do well with each other,” he says. “There’s the difference in generations, but everyone seems to respect that and ultimately learn from it.”

‘Eye-opening’ experience
As part of the Bridging Generations program, students recently attended an all-Charlestown cast and crew version of the play, The King of Ireland’s Son. Anne Gold, the principal of Lansdowne Elementary School, says it’s great for her students. “Since many of the Charlestown performers also volunteer in our classrooms and computer labs, the students saw many of their friends in the play. The one-on-one interaction our students receive from Charlestown residents reinforces classroom lessons and provides an audience in which they can express what they are learning. It’s a wonderful program all around.”

Charlestown Executive Director Garret Falcone says, “Intergenerational  programs like Bridging Generations have been eye-opening for both parties—for our volunteers who enjoy the wonder, talent, and energy of the children, and for the children who can relate to older figures as people who have endured and thrived through life.”