Outcomes of intergenerational programs between the institutionalized elderly and children: A scoping review

Objectives
The present study aimed to identify (1) contents, (2) outcome measures, and (3) impacts of intergenerational programs which target older adults living in elderly care facilities and children ages 18 and below.

Methods
A scoping review was conducted. An electronic search by online databases, including PubMed, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Web of Science, and Ichushi-Web, was performed using the following keywords: intergenerational AND (program OR care OR activity) AND children AND (elderly OR aged OR aging OR "older adults") (Aug 2020). OpenGrey was adopted for searching of the grey literature (Nov 2020). References of final selected articles were also screened as additional ones. This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis extension for Scoping Reviews.

Results
2,238 articles were screened in total, and the final selection obtained 9 sources. Participants’ ages were ranged from 65 to 99 years old for older adults, and 6 months to 15 years old for children. 2 studies practiced music therapy for the programs, and other 7 articles performed different programs such as educational interviews for the elderly, creating life-story books of the elderly, and group reading. “Engagement” was set as an outcome for older adults in 3 studies and measured using different scales for each. 4 studies employed attitudes and perceptions toward older adults were employed as an outcome for children, which were assessed by 3 scales. Improved engagement of the elderly and improved attitude of children were reported as results.

Conclusions
Programs’ contents varied depending on participants’ ages, cognitive skills, and independence degree of daily living. It was shown that intergenerational programs were very miscellaneous in terms of its contents, outcome measures, and impacts. Methodology for this academic field need to be developed and more sophisticated in the future.