Date of Defense

10-4-2025

Date of Graduation

5-2026

Department

Occupational Therapy

First Advisor

Michelle Suarez

Second Advisor

Kim Ganzevoort

Abstract

Occupational therapy helps clients work toward their meaningful occupational goals. Within this career, a person’s roles and habits are also addressed and taken into account when creating intervention plans. Many individuals live in a multi-generational home, living with others of different generations, or even interacting with them in their daily lives. Intergenerational programming is designed to bring people of different generations together. Whether the client lives with someone from a different generation, or sees them in their life, it is vital to have an understanding of each other. Areas that can be addressed include mental health, cultural identity, social isolation and loneliness, and physical and cognitive health (Generations, n.d.). Many programs are created without the use of contact hypothesis, which focuses on a treatment or activity being mutually beneficial, targeting both clients. Due to this, both generations are not benefited. Another gap in the literature shows that adolescents are not included in these types of programs, limiting their progression and opportunity to engage with individuals of different generations. Benefits of these programs includes the opportunity for both populations to progress toward their therapeutic goals, and for the opportunity to gain a better understanding of individuals with different generational experiences and cultural backgrounds. The funding, setting, populations, scheduling, and collaboration all impact the successful completion of these programs. Barriers include reimbursement and funding and scheduling.  This guidebook is helpful to practitioners when intending to implement these programs in their specific therapeutic setting. The guidebook also provides intervention ideas for practitioners to utilize when working with their prospective population of clients. With a resource such as this, clients will be given the opportunity to get the most out of therapy and progress towards their goals while developing a sense of understanding of those who come from different generations, while remaining client centered.

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Open Access

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