︎ Intergenerational Community Connections
How can we connect the senior citizens to the community through different design strategies?
By Alanna Rosenthal ︎ , Eliza Beird ︎ , Marco Dominguez ︎, Saranmegha Parimi ︎
Why
Despite its proximity to community resources, Woodbridge Manor remains isolated from its surrounding community, with residents staying on site due to lack of transportation and other obstacles. This barrier to community engagement is concerning due to the research on the importance of diverse social connectedness on both physical and mental health.
Hypothesis
By community mapping and establishing relationships with local resources and programs, it is hypothesized that Senior Residents at Woodbridge Manor will be more likely to engage in intergenerational interactions and public spaces which will act as a protective factor to both physical and mental well-being among aging adults.
How
Through site visits, staff and resident conversations, an in-depth literature review, and community scanning via mapping, we identified current barriers, wants, and needs of Woodbridge Manor residents. Our literature review highlighted the benefits of intergenerational interactions and connecting aging adults to specific community resources.
Literature Review Mind Mapping / Graphic by Saranmegha Parimi, Literature Collection by Eliza Beird, Alanna Rosenthal and Saranmegha ParimiWhat
We addressed this proposal with a now, near, and future framework to allow for immediate interventions that allow room for growth. With this in mind, we looked at the potential affects of delivering efficient information, sharing community resources, and creating communal spaces.
As a NOW intervention, we looked at creating a pamphlet or a wallpaper community map with large icons, closest resources, fastest paths, event programming, and information on currently available transportation resources.
As a NEAR intervention, we hope to create community partnerships in order to share events and resources. Our literature review identified the health benefits of connecting aging adults to a variety of resources (schools, museums, community centers). By identifying the economical, social, and other benefits of these resources connecting with aging adults, we hope to stress the mutual benefits of partnerships in order to share resources. One such example could be a partnership with a school that could share buses as a transportation resource based on the “Michigan Pupil Transportation Act of 1990” and the benefits of connecting youth and older adults.
Resources Mapping / Graphics by Marco DominguezFinally, as a FAR intervention, we looked at developing a multi-purpose communal space beside Woodbridge to stimulate intergenerational interaction within close proximity to eliminate the barrier of transportation for Woodbridge Manor. This could be done using the empty lot next to Woodbridge that is privately owned but could be developed as a communal multi-purpose space due to it being zoned as Planned Development.
Design of Intergenerational Community Area / Graphics by Saranmegha ParimiDesign To Outcomes
Our design proposal seeks to stimulate intergenerational interactions along various points along the design continuum. It is believed that providing direct and efficient information will lead to an increased likelihood of residents leaving Woodbridge Manor to engage with the community. Through the development of community partnerships, it will allow for the sharing of resources and increase the accessibility to neighborhood resources. Finally, by designing a multi-purpose community space next to Woodbridge Manor, we will see a decrease in the need for transportation resources and an increase in community members coming into Woodbridge. All three of these interventions are believed to lead to increased levels of intergenerational interaction in some capacity.
So What
Woodbridge residents struggle to access surrounding resources. By providing information about transportation and resources through community mapping, establishing mutually beneficial relationships to share resources, and eventually developing a space that brings the community to Woodbridge, we aim to stimulate intergenerational interactions and social connectedness between residents and community members . If this can happen, we hope to see positive changes in ageist stereotypes, which may lead to the aging population feeling more acknowledged and important in society, ultimately affecting overall brain health.
︎︎︎ Link to research Miro Board
︎︎︎ Link to two page research paper
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