All in a day's play' - An intergenerational playgroup in a residential aged care facility

Bibliographic Data

ID4486090
AuthorsSue Williams (0000-0002-6391-7700, National Ageing Research Institute, corresponding author), Emma Renehan (0000-0002-4435-2871, National Ageing Research Institute), Esther Cramer, Esther E A Cramer (0000-0003-1500-3338, National Ageing Research Institute), Xiaoping Lin (0000-0001-9489-3169, National Ageing Research Institute), Betty Haralambous (0000-0002-3226-5084, National Ageing Research Institute)
Year2012
Volume1
Issue3
Pages250-263
Publication date2012-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Play (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2159-4937 • E-ISSN: 2159-4953
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/21594937.2012.738870
OpenAlexW2076836102
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited15

A playgroup was established in 2009 in a residential aged care facility. Qualitative data were collected at baseline and 6 months after commencement. Interviewer administered questionnaires were undertaken with residents at baseline and post implementation. Residents were also invited to attend a focus group. The parents and staff were asked to complete a questionnaire at baseline and at 6 months. This study focuses mainly on the experiences of residents involved in the playgroup. It also describes responses from parents about impact on residents and children and from staff about impact on residents and the facility to expand on the views of the residents. The playgroup, which comprised 16 weekly sessions, was found to have a positive effect for residents. The positive effects were identified as themes which included changing attitudes to residential aged care facilities and child behaviour, enjoyment, reflections on childhood, and increased intergenerational interaction and communication. A facilitated playgroup was effectively established in a residential aged care facility and residents reported overall positive experiences and were accepting of a playgroup in their place of residence. The paper considers the implications of this for wider application. Keywords: older peopleIntergenerational relationsagedresidential aged care facilitiesplaychild Acknowledgements This Project was funded by the Victorian Government, Department of Health, Aged Care Branch as one of the Department of Health Count us in! social inclusion for older people living at public sector residential aged care services 2008–2009 projects. The research team acknowledge Mr Jason Doherty, General Manager, Playgroup Victoria, Australia and Ms Gayle Dougherty, Facility Manager, Percy Baxter Lodges, McKellar Centre, Barwon Health, Victoria, Australia; and the residents, parents, children and staff who participated in the playgroup

Family medicine · Focus group · Interview · Residence · Residential care · Sociology · Demography · Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving · Medicine · Migration, Aging, and Tourism Studies · Nursing · Psychology