Intergenerational Jamboree Guide

This step-by-step guide to intergenerational music therapy in senior living can help your organization bring the Intergenerational Jamboree to your residents and community.

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The Jamboree is an intergenerational music therapy program in which young children, typically between the age of 0-4, and their accompanying adults (e.g., parent, grandparent, guardian) take part in weekly music therapy sessions along with residents living in retirement or long-term care (LTC).

This guide is designed for music therapists and recreation and leisure/activity team members who support individuals living in retirement and LTC homes and wish to provide intergenerational music therapy experiences.

The guide includes steps to start your own program, including guidelines for virtual delivery and example sessions.

Authorship

  • Kate Dupuis, Ph.D., C.Psych., Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging, Waterloo, Canada, Sheridan Centre for Elder Research, Oakville, Canada
  • Kathy Lepp, MTA, Schlegel Villages, Kitchener, Canada
  • Carrie Perkins, BA, Schlegel Villages, Kitchener, Canada
  • Melissa Jessop, RP, MTA, Schlegel Villages, Kitchener, Canada
  • Emma Bender, BA, Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging, Waterloo, Canada, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada.

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge Schlegel Villages for their support in the creation, implementation, and refinement of the Jamboree and this guide. Specifically, the authors would like to thank: team members from the Village of Riverside Glen, including Bryce McBain, General Manager, Kim Sutherland, Assistant General Manager, and Jody Gawne, Interim Director of Recreation; team members from The Village at University Gates, including Chris-Anne Preston, General Manager, Shelley Edwards-Dick, Assistant General Manager and Sophia Heimpel, Director of Recreation; and Melanie James, Recreation Consultant from Schlegel Villages Support Office.

Date created: May 2021

Funding Acknowledgement

Funding for the formal evaluation of the Jamboree and the creation of this guide was provided by an Ontario Trillium Foundation Seed Grant [SD102775] and a Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation Spark Grant
[4-00246].