2023 Volume 2023 Issue 33 Pages 127-134
As a measure to respond to the support needs of the community, which is becoming more complicated and complex, it is important to promote intergenerational exchange projects that allow multigenerational residents to support each other. Such policies may enable elderly people to become not only recipients of support, but also supporters according to their abilities and skills. However, the characteristics and attitudes of the elderly who participate in such projects are not sufficiently clear. In this study, we referred to the "Sayama High School students’ Yume Project" conducted by the Sayama City Social Welfare Council to examine what kind of community dwelling elderly participate in this project and what kind of attitudes they have in the activities. Interviews for six elderly people who have been participating in the project on a continuous basis revealed that their participation in the project began when they were approached by Social Welfare Council staff, and that many of them have fostered or strengthened their awareness of the next generation (Generativity) through the activities. There were also some elderly people who had opinions on how to promote better projects. In order to increase the number of community dwelling elderly who continue to participate in intergenerational exchange projects as supporters, it is important to reaching out not only those who already have ties with social welfare council, but also to the community dwelling elderly.
