Programs
Supporting Inclusion through Intergenerational Partnerships
Topics: Culture Change, Dementia
Supporting Inclusion through Intergenerational Partnerships (SIIP) works with organizations across Waterloo Region to provide intergenerational opportunities for older adults living with dementia, care partners, and youth to connect in meaningful ways while reducing social isolation.
The program provides intergenerational opportunities for older adults living with dementia, their care partners, and youth to connect in meaningful ways while reducing social isolation. It also promotes experiential learning opportunities for youth that go beyond the classroom, contribute to career development, and empower them to be leaders in the community.
The SIIP project has funded the following community-led initiatives to create new intergenerational projects:
African Family Revival Organization (AFRO): Support through the Generations
Support through the Generations is a program that supports Black/African Origin/Newcomer older adults with dementia and care partners to build meaningful relationships with our community's youth. To learn more about the Support through the Generations program, watch this video.
Alzheimer Society of Waterloo Region: Sharing our Voices
Sharing our Voices is an intergenerational art collaboration for people living with dementia and youth. It is offered by the Alzheimer Society Waterloo Wellington in partnership with the Waterloo Public Library and YMCA of Three Rivers. To learn more about the Sharing our Voices program, watch this video.
Conestoga College: Taking Interest in People
Taking Interest in People is an online, virtual group activity program for youth, faculty, people living with dementia, and care partners. Visit the Taking Interest in People website to learn more.
LIVING the Dementia Journey for Young Adults
Living the Dementia Journey for Young Adults is a free, evidence-informed, three-hour, online course, specifically designed with input from young adults and people living with dementia. Visit the LIVING the Dementia journey page to learn more.
Parkwood Seniors Community: The Virtual Village
The Virtual Village promotes intergenerational learning and social connection through a virtual community. To learn more about the Virtual Village, watch this video.
Waterloo Public Library: Technology Lending Library
The Technology Lending Library supports the technology needs of older adults and addresses barriers created by virtual programming. SIIP partnered with Waterloo Public Library to meet an immediate need for a device and hotspot lending library for participants to connect to virtual programs.
Lead Researchers
Carrie McAiney, PhD
Schlegel Research Chair in Dementia; Scientific Director, MAREP
Program Team
- Courtney Hicks, Graduate Student Researcher, Program Coordinator
- Christine Pellegrino, Director, Dementia Programs
- Dana Zummach, Project Manager
- Nathan Honsberger, Evaluation Manager
Funded by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP).
The are no "Related Projects" associated with this Program.
- 2023 Isolation to Inclusion Case Competition Event Summary
- 2022 Isolation to Inclusion Challenge Event Report
- Building Dementia Friendly Communities
- Campaign to End Loneliness Guided: Promising Approaches Revisited
- CanAge: Dementia and Cognitive Impairment
- CanAge: Loneliness and Social Exclusion
- CanAge: Social Isolation
- Canadian Charter of Rights for People with Dementia
- Creating Caring Communities
- Creating Dementia-Friendly Communities in Alberta
- Creating Intergenerational Dementia Programs: A Guide for Community Organizations
- Data collection with people living with dementia Information Sheet
- Dementia-Friendly Communities in Waterloo Wellington
- Dementia Friends Canada
- Dementia-friendly business
- Dementia and Tips to Prevent Social Isolation
- Intergenerational Friends Fair
- LIVING the Dementia Journey for Young Adults
- National Resource Library
- Social Isolation: A community conversation guide
- Towards a dementia-inclusive society: WHO toolkit for dementia-friendly initiatives
- The Nelson Allan Project: Connecting Seniors From Isolation to Activation
- You are not alone: A guide to improve social connectedness