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Introduction
In Aging Together – Planning for the Future[1], a discussion guide published by Alberta Community Development, Alberta demographic projections forecast that, by 2016, an estimated 497,000, or 14% of the population, will be seniors – an amount almost double the senior population in 2000. This research concludes that healthy aging and supportive communities are critical for successfully addressing the impact of the aging population in Alberta (p. 16). This guide is also the result of a discussion paper[2] noting that while Calgary and Edmonton had the largest number of seniors (60%); it is the rural regions that have the highest proportion of seniors in their populations, including Camrose (20%), Wetaskiwin (17%), Drumheller (16%) and many towns have 30% or more seniors.
The concentration of seniors in rural Alberta leads to the interest in connecting generations and this is substantiated by the number of inquiries that we receive from community groups in rural Alberta. Several years ago, LINKages Society offered IGP training seminars through FCSS in Coaldale, resulting in 5 programs that involve youth and seniors. Since 1994, LINKages has developed and operated a number of successful IGPs in Calgary – now, we intend to further our IGP expertise so that we help make intergenerational programming thrive throughout Alberta!
We will enhance our Intergenerational Program Management and Skills Training Seminar for communities in rural Alberta. Our role will be to create partnerships and provide resources to rural regions and we will:
- Establish partnerships with youth and senior serving agencies in targeted communities who see the value of IGPs as a natural extension of existing services they offer within the community.
- Develop and deliver customized 1-2 day workshops to cover all elements of an IGP start-up, implementation and evaluations tailored to the specific needs and interests of each community.
- Provide participants with LINKages’ Program and Resource Manual - a comprehensive guide to creating and implementing successful IGPs that can be adapted to meet specific regional needs.
- Provide one year of follow-up consultation services to facilitate program development and to provide membership to a network of IGP practitioners for further collaboration and learning.
Community training that took place in Camrose |
Project Sustainability: The Future of IGPs in Alberta
The success of LINKages’ IGPs is because of the relationships formed between our staff and our program partners – the schools, community groups and seniors’ organizations. In an IGP case study, Wilcox states that “where programs have endured, professionals have often provided coordination, ongoing guidance, and encouragement” (as cited in Tice, 1985, p. 5)[3]. Our program staff offer skills, knowledge and experience to provide much-needed support to the students - as mentors, educators, counselors and program facilitators. By continually refining these skills, they offer the support necessary to develop a successful IGP.
Training Seminar Documents
The following four documents are examples of what is given to those in rural Alberta that are interested in becoming involved with IGPs. These should provide something of an introduction as to how and why the seminars are important.
- IGP Management Training & Skills Seminar - in PDF format
- Bringing Teens and Seniors Together - in PDF format
- Applicant Information - in PDF format
- Workshop Outline - in PDF format
Rural Alberta Brochure
A brochure that provides information on the Rural Alberta Training Initiative.
Rural Alberta Brochure - in PDF format
More community training. This time, it's Peace River. |
[1] Aging Together – Planning for the Future (Discussion Guide). Alberta Community Development, Fall 1999.
[2] Alberta for All Ages: Directions for the Future. Report and recommendations of the steering committee for the government-wide study on the impact of the aging population, June 2000.
[3] Wilcox, J. L. (2001) Case study of the generation connection program: an intergenerational program transfer initiative. The Faculty of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Blacksburg, Virginia.