Overview
Supporting Inclusion through Intergenerational Partnerships (SIIP) is a 5-year (2019-2024) project at the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) to promote social inclusion among community-dwelling older adults living with dementia, and their care partners, in Waterloo Region, Ontario.
Through funding provided by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program, SIIP supports community organizations to develop sustainable intergenerational partnerships.
Intergenerational Partnerships
SIIP supports intergenerational programs that enable older adults living with dementia, their care partners, secondary and post-secondary-aged youth to interact in meaningful ways. This may involve sharing time, skills and experiences and building relationships with one another along the way. These programs not only benefit older adults, but also create experiential learning opportunities for youth that contribute to career development and empower them to be leaders and innovators in the community.
A few intergenerational programs already exist within Waterloo Region. SIIP will create opportunities to learn more about these local programs, as well as successful programs from elsewhere in Canada and internationally.
Experiential Learning
Experiential learning provides students with opportunities beyond the classroom to learn while doing. There are different types of opportunities for students to gain new skills and knowledge offered by colleges, universities and high schools: co-operative learning, internships and volunteer opportunities.
The SIIP project creates new opportunities for students to participate in experiential learning opportunities that involve intergenerational activities with isolated older adults.