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Promoting Adult Health and Development with an Intergenerational Program

A Good Idea

This practice has been Archived and is no longer maintained.

Description

The Adult Health and Development Program (AHDP) at the University of Maryland, College Park, is an intergenerational health promotion and rehabilitation program in which college students and volunteers are paired with older adults for the purpose of engaging in health and wellness activities. It is a 32-year-old academic course and volunteer program. Members are from one of four groups: People residing in the community; foreign-born - mostly Latino; those who are developmentally challenged; and Veterans Administration Nursing Home residents - all of whom use wheelchairs.

Goal / Mission

The goal of AHDP is to encourage health promotion by using a strategy primarily directed at postponement of chronic illness and improvement of vitality through increased physical, psychological and social activity.

Results / Accomplishments

Results of evaluations indicate that, generally, all members expected and received positive benefits from their AHDP experience.

Return rates of members and staffers:
-About 33 percent of members return each semester.
-The average number of semesters both members and senior staffers are involved in the program is about 7.7. Some have been involved for well over 20 semesters.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
University of Maryland, College Park
Primary Contact
Dr. Daniel Leviton
HHP Building, Valley Drive
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
(301) 405-2528
dleviton@umd.edu
Topics
Health / Older Adults
Community / Civic Engagement
Organization(s)
University of Maryland, College Park
Source
National Service Resource Center
Date of publication
4/8/2004
Location
College Park, MD
Target Audience
Older Adults

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A Good Idea meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program funding source, program implementation steps and outcomes.
  2. The program evaluation is limited to descriptive measure(s) of success/accomplishment (i.e., program participation rates, number of services/education sessions/radio messages provided). Note: oftentimes, the program has been newly implemented and a program evaluation has not yet been conducted. Programs that have not yet been evaluated, but which show promise in improving health or quality of life, are classified as Good Ideas until an evaluation is conducted.