Intergenerational Arts in the Nursing Home

Since the early 1970s there has been a surge of interest in using the arts as a vehicle to facilitate interaction between young and old. Intergenerational Arts in the Nursing Home examines some of the programs that have been tested and proven effective. Because sources of funding have become less secure in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Patch Clark examines other ways to support, maintain, and further develop these valuable programs.

Educational programs based in the social studies, home economics, social skills, as well as the arts and language arts are described. To assist those hoping to implement similar programs, key components of successful programs are discussed in considerable detail. Information concerning fundraising, including a step-by-step guide to intergenerational interagency grant writing, is provided. Ideas and simulated activities designed to prepare the general public for intergenerational activities, such as training in the public schools, pretraining in the nursing home, and awareness training through literature, are presented. Two chapters examine mutually enjoyable intergenerational activities in drama, writing, poetry, movement, dance, and music. The appendixes include an annotated bibliography, plays, and worksheets and charts for some of the many projects suggested in this volume. Clark's book reaches across the arts, ages, and curricula, and succeeds in combining talents in the arts and academics for a mutually beneficial intercurricular, intergenerational experience. It should be required reading for retirement and senior center activity directors and teachers at all levels interested in facilitating intergenerational interaction.

PATCH CLARK is Coordinator of Theatre Education at East Carolina University. She has taught theatre and language arts at Woodview Nursing Home and Lucy Corr Nursing Home. She has also taught at the Virginia Governor's School for the Humanities and the Performing Arts and in Chesterfield County, Virginia. She is coauthor of Seniors on Stage (Praeger, 1985) with Dr. Nancy Osgood.