Teen Connect: A New Twist on an Old Idea to Bridge Generations

Abstract

Purpose: An effort to bridge generations to help address the increasing public health concerns of older adults is discussed in this paper. Presented here are lessons learned from the first two years of implementation of Teen Connect between a community-based social service organization assisting older adults and a preparatory high school. As originally designed, Teen Connect is a telephone reassurance project that uses an intergenerational community service model to bridge the gaps between generations. Modifications to this design may boost the strengths of both youth and technology to meet the needs of older adults by adding to other digital efforts being made through smart technology in healthcare and human service realms that improve and enhance the well-being and quality of life of our aging population. Design/methodology/approach: This paper describes how Teen Connect was implemented in one locale, including the development of a community partnership and the successes and challenges experienced in this case example that might be useful for others interested in replicating this service model. Opportunities to incorporate social media are also introduced as ways to update the original design of the project. Additionally, a review is provided of specific findings related to Teen Connect excerpted from a larger program evaluation previously conducted that included seven youth volunteers and 17 older adult participants. This was a crosssectional study design that drew from a purposive sample to ask opinions of older adults and volunteers about their experiences with Teen Connect. Findings from that study are used to supplement the anecdotal experiences of the Teen Connect reported in this paper. Findings: Twenty-six successful matches were made between youth volunteers and older adults. Expressed levels of satisfaction from Teen Connect volunteers and older participants were mixed. Challenges centered on developing longevity and continuity of relationships due to communication, scheduling, and monitoring issues. Opportunities exist to incorporate social media into Teen Connect, which would likely address some of these challenges. Research Limitations: Lessons learned are based on anecdotal experiences of the initial stages of project development over the first two years of implementation. The number of participants in the project is fairly small and creates challenges to generalizing experiences. The review of the excerpted information from the larger program evaluation previously conducted and published includes a very small subset to analyze; however, it was a beginning effort to assess the experience of the first two years of implementation of a newly developed service project and offers insights as to levels of success and opportunities for improvement, including the use of now mainstream digital technologies. Practical implications: Teen Connect is a promising practice that may help improve the quality of life of community-residing older adults while instilling the values of volunteerism and community service in today’s youth. Social implications: Teen Connect provides opportunities for both youth and older adults to make contributions to their communities and build better interactions across generations. Originality/value: Lessons learned highlight the importance of community partnerships between different sectors of society (education and aging systems, youth and elderly) to meet intergenerational community needs. In so doing, less public resources may be used to address the needs of older adults, including depression and anxiety as well as loneliness and isolation, indicative of public health challenges.