Intergeneration learning as a dialog in overcoming loneliness of older adults

Irena Žemaitaitytė; Jolanta Pivorienė; Raminta Bardauskienė; Agata Katkonienė

doi:10.6092/issn.1970-2221/15941

Authors

Irena Žemaitaitytė Mykolas Romeris University

Irena Žemaitaitytė, PhD in social sciences (educational science), is professor at Institute of Educational Sciences and Social Work, Faculty of Human and Social Studies. She is teaching at bachelor, master and doctoral level at the home university and abroad, has over 20 years’ experience in initiation and implementation of the national and international projects in the fields of lifelong learning, education and learning of older adults. She is a member of the ESREA.
Jolanta Pivorienė Mykolas Romeris University

Jolanta Pivorienė, PhD in social sciences, is associated professor at Institute of Educational Sciences and Social Work, Faculty of Human and Social Studies. She is teaching at bachelor, master and doctoral level at the home university and abroad, has over 20 years’ experience in initiation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the national and international projects Scientific interests: social changes, sustainable development.
Raminta Bardauskienė Mykolas Romeris University

Raminta Bardauskienė, PhD in social sciences, is lecture at the Institute of Educational Sciences and Social Work, Faculty of Human and Social Studies. She is teaching at bachelor and master level at home university and abroad. She has over 17 years of experience in teaching, national and international (Erasmus Mundus, Erasmus Intensive Programmes etc.) project activities, participation as an expert for preparation or evaluation of national legislation acts.
Agata Katkonienė Mykolas Romeris University

Agata Katkonienė, MA in Social Sciences (Social Work), lecturer at the Institute of Educational Sciences and Social work. She is teaching at bachelor and master level at home university and abroad. Her main subjects are Social Work with Family and Social Work Methodology. She is trainer in social work methods, positive communication methods and applying digital tools in social work process.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.1970-2221/15941

Keywords:

intergenerational dialog, intergenerational learning, older adults, loneliness, educational activities

Abstract

Increasing life expectancy and inclusion of older people in care system changes the intergenerational communication. Various professionals such as social workers and caregivers take care of older people needs. Little attention is paid to intergenerational learning and education in social care organizations despite it may help to overcome feeling of loneliness among older people. Loneliness is a negative emotion associated with a perceived gap between existing relationships and desired ones. It is widely recognized as one among the most significant and entrenched issues facing our aging society. The effect of loneliness is harmful to health and increases the risk of disability. Intergenerational links have been identified as an important issue in elderly care. Educational activities for the elderly are offered in various social care institutions in Lithuania. The research data reveal several predominant topics that would be relevant to older learners, such as loneliness, activity of older people, and communication.

References

Achenbaum, W. A. (2005). Ageing and changing: International historical perspectives on ageing. In M. L. Johnson, V. L. Bengtson, P. G. Coleman & T. B. L. Kirkwood (Eds.), The Cambridge Handbook of Age and Ageing (pp. 21- 29). Cambridge University Press.

Andreoletti, C., & Howard, J. L. (2018). Bridging the generation gap: Intergenerational service-learning benefits young and old. Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, 39(1), 46–60. doi:10.1080/02701960.2016.1152266

Au, A., Ng, E., Garner, B., Lai, S., & Chan, K. (2015). Proactive aging and intergenerational mentoring program to promote the well-being of older adults: Pilot studies. Clinical Gerontologist, 38(3), 203–210. doi:10.1080/07317115.2015.1008116

Bagdonas, A., Kairys, A., & Zamalijeva, O. (2017). The guidelines of researches of senility, aging and functioning of old people: A byopsychosocial approach. Socialinė Teorija, Empirija, Politika ir Praktika, 15, 80-102. https://doi.org/10.15388/STEPP.2017.15.10811

Bengston, V. L., Elder, G. H., & Putney, N. M. (2005). The lifecourse perspective on ageing: Linked lives, timing and history. In M. L. Johnson, V. L. Bengtson, P. G. Coleman & T. B. L. Kirkwood (Eds.), The Cambridge Handbook of Age and Ageing (pp. 493-501). Cambridge University Press.

Boström, AK. (2014). Intergenerational learning and social capital. In: Schmidt-Hertha, B., Krašovec, S.J., Formosa, M. (eds) Learning across generations in Europe. Research on the education and learning of adults (pp. 191-201). SensePublishers. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6209-902-9_16

Carreras, J. (2005). La intervención socioeducativa com personas mayores: Emergencia y desarrollo de la gerontagogía (pp. 19–83). Universidad de Murcia.

Castro J. L., González D. A. , Aguayo I. H. & Fernández E. A. (2014) Perceptions concerning intergenerational education from the perspective of participants. Educational Gerontology, 40:2, 138-151, DOI: 10.1080/03601277.2013.802182

Creswell, J. (2003) Research design. Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches (2nd ed.), Sage, Thousand Oaks.

Díaz D. B. (2012). Economic impact of ageing and disabled population care centres in Spain: Valuation for region of Cantabria. Revija za socijalnu politiku, 19(2), 155-174. doi: 10.3935/rsp.v19i2.1052

Doll, G., & Bolender, B. (2010). Age to age: Resident outcomes from a kindergarten classroom in the nursing home. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 8(4), 327–337. doi:10.1080/15350770.2010.520614

Ehlman, K., Ligon, M., & Moriello, G. (2014). The impact of intergenerational oral history on perceived generativity in older adults. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 12(1), 40–53. doi:10.1080/15350770.2014.870865

Franz, J. & Scheunpflug, A. (2016). A systematic perspective on intergenerational learning: Theoretical and empirical findings. Studia Paedagogica. 21(2):25–41. doi: 10.5817/SP2016-2-3.

Ge, L., Yap, C.W., Ong, R., Heng, B.H. (2017). Social isolation, loneliness and their relationships with depressive symptoms: A population-based study. PLOS ONE. 12(8):e0182145. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0182145

George, D. & Singer M. (2011). Intergenerational volunteering and quality of life for persons with mild to moderate dementia: Results from a 5-month intervention study in the United States. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 19(4):392–396. doi: 10.1097/JGP.0b013e3181f17f20

Hanemann, U., McCaffery, J., Newell-Jones, K., & Scarpino, C. (2017). Learning together across generations: Guidelines for family literacy and learning programmes. Hamburg: UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning. Retrieved 29 October 2020 from https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000248446.

Hanks R. S. & Icenogle M. (2001) Preparing for an Age-Diverse Workforce: Intergenerational Service-Learning in Social Gerontology and Business Curricula, Educational Gerontology, 27:1, 49-70, DOI: 10.1080/036012701750069049

Hazan, H. (1994). Old age: Constructions and deconstructions. Cambridge University Press.

Jarrott, S. E., & Smith, C. L. (2010). The complement of research and theory in practice: Contact theory at work in nonfamilial intergenerational programs. The Gerontologist, 51(1), 112-121. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnq058

Jurczyk-Romanowska, E., Koszczyc, M., Jakubowska, L., Marcinkiewicz-Wilk, A., Gulanowski, J., Kabát, M., Švecová, M., Milenkovic J. T., Barone, P., Giannelaki, Ch., Zemaitaityte, I., Katkoniene, A., Januskeviciute, A. & Indrasiene, V. (2019). Location-based games as a contemporary, original, and innovative method of seniors’ teaching and learning. University of Wroclaw. Department of Pedagogy. https://doi.org/10.34616/22.19.009

Lee, K., Jarrott, Sh. E. & Juckett, L. A. (2020) Documented outcomes for older adults in intergenerational programming: A scoping review, Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 18:2, 113-138, DOI: 10.1080/15350770.2019.1673276

Leliūgienė, I., Gaileviciūtė, A. & Bajorienė, A. (2013). Mokslas ir edukaciniai procesai. [Science and process of education], Nr. 2 (17), p. 14-27.

Leliūgienė, I. (2003) Socialine pedagogika. Kaunas : Technologija.

Lymbery, M. (2005). Social work with older people. Context, policy and practice. Sage

Luka I., & Niedritis, J. E. (2012). Intergenerational learning as a means of increasing social capital within the lifelong learning context. Conference: 6th annual conference of the University Network of the European Capitals of Culture "Ageing Society, Ageing Culture?” Maribor University, Slovenia. Volume: UNEECC Forum Volume 5, 2012, pp.74-87.

Luo L. (2012). Aging and quality of life in Taiwan. Journal of Alternative Medicine Research, 4(3), 233-243.

Mali J. (2014). The role of social work in the epoch of intergenerational solidarity in society. Revija za socijalnu politiku. 21, 11-131. https://doi.org/10.3935/rsp.v21i2.1188.

Marques, E., A., Marques, Baptista, F., Santos, R., Vale, S., Santos, D., A., Silva, A., M., Mota, J., & Sardinha, L., B. (2014). Normative functional fitness standards and trends of Portuguese older adults: Cross-cultural comparisons. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 22, 126-137 http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/JAPA.2012-0203

Martínez-Alcalá, C., I., Rosales-Lagarde A., Alonso-Lavernia M., A., Ramírez-Salvador José Á., Jiménez-Rodríguez B., Cepeda-Rebollar Rosario M., López-Noguerola J., S., Bautista-Díaz M., L., Agis-Juárez R. A. (2018). Digital inclusion in older adults: A comparison between face-to-face and blended digital literacy workshops. Frontiers in ICT, 5. DOI=10.3389/fict.2018.00021

Maslenikova V. & Bulotaitė L. (2013) Emociniai išgyvenimai, emocijų reguliacija ir depresiškumas senatvėje. Gerontologija, 14 (3): 159–165.

McDonald, A. (2010). Social work with older people. Polity Press.

Mikulionienė, S. (1996). Trijų kartų požiūris į senatvę ir senus žmones. Lietuva socialinių pokyčių erdvėje. Vilnius: LSD, LFSI.

Mikulionienė, S. (2003a) Pagarba, diskriminacija, neišprusimas? Požiūrio į pagyvenusius žmones analizė. Filosofija. Sociologija, 2: 59–62.

Mikulionienė, S. (2003b) Vyresnio amžiaus žmonių socialinė apsauga: darbas, pensija, parama. Vilnius: Socialinių tyrimų institutas.

Mikulionienė, S., Rapolienė, G. & Valavičienė, N. (2018). Vyresnio amžiaus žmonės, gyvenimas po vieną ir socialinė atskirtis. Lietuvos socialinių tyrimų centras.

Newman, S., & Hatton-Yeo, A. (2008). Intergenerational learning and the contributions of older people. Ageing horizons, 8(10), 31-39.

Official statistics portal (2020). 2020 m. Pagrindiniai šalies ekonominiai ir socialiniai rodikliai Demografija. Available at: https://osp.stat.gov.lt/informaciniai-pranesimai?articleId=8417190#

Powers, M., Gray, M. & Garver, K. (2013). Attitudes toward older adults: Results from a fitness-based intergenerational learning experience. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships.11(1):50–61. doi: 10.1080/15350770.2013.755067

Rabušicová, M., Pevna, K. & Vařejkova, Z. (2015). Surrogate grandparents as actors in intergenerational learning. Studia Paedagogica. 20(4):85–107. doi: 10.5817/SP2015-4-6

Sáez, J. (2002). Hacia la educación intergeneracional. Concepto y posibilidades [Towards intergenerational education. Concepts and possibilities]. En J. Sáez (Coord.), Pedagogía social y programas intergeneracionales: educación de personas mayores [Social pedagogy and intergenerational programs: Elderly people education] (pp. 99–112). Aljibe.

Singh, S, Thomas, N. & Numbudiri, R. (2021) Knowledge sharing in times of a pandemic: An intergenerational learning approach. Knowl Process Manag, 28: 153– 164. https://doi.org/10.1002/kpm.1669

Lietuvos Respublikos Socialinių paslaugų katalogas. (2006). Valstybės žinios (Official Gazette) , 2006, Nr. 43 –1570

Strom, R. & Strom, P. (2015). Assessment of intergenerational communication and relationships. Educational Gerontology, 41(1), 41–52. https://doi-org.skaitykla.mruni.eu/10.1080/03601277.2014.912454

Tomczyk, L., Eliseo, M. A., Costas, V., Sanchez, G., Silveira, I. F., Barros, M.-J., … Oyelere, S. S. (2019). Digital divide in Latin America and Europe: Main characteristics in selected countries. 2019 14th Iberian Conference on Information Systems and Technologies (CISTI). https://doi.org/10.23919/cisti.2019.8760821

Trybusińska D, Saracen A. (2019). Loneliness in the context of quality of life of nursing home residents. Open Med (Wars), 14:354-361. doi: 10.1515/med-2019-0035. PMID: 31157300; PMCID: PMC6534106

Zahra A. S. & Hossein K. M. (2017) Intergenerational learning program: A bridge between generations. International Journal of Pediatrics, 5 (12). pp. 6731-6739 https://doi.org/10.22038/ijp.2017.28072.2430

Zydziunaite, V., Sabaliauskas, S. (2017). Kokybiniai tyrimai. Principai ir metodai [Qualitative research. Principles and methods]. Vilnius: Vaga.

Intergeneration learning as a dialog in overcoming loneliness of older adults

Authors

DOI:

Keywords:

Abstract

References

Downloads

Published

How to Cite

Issue

Section

License

Language

Make a Submission

Keywords

Current Issue