2020 Volume 23 Issue 2 Pages 21-32
Purpose: To evaluate the effects on health and social capital among community-dwelling older adults who participated in a one-year community-based intergeneration program.
Method: An intergeneration gardening program was conducted among community-dwelling volunteers, aged 65 years and older, in A city, from February 2015 to March 2018. The program was developed as action research to solve community problems such as limited intergeneration relationship and frailty among older adults by community organizations, local governments and a university. Baseline data were collected on sociodemographic factors, health status including hand grip strength, and social capital. Follow-up data were collected one year later and compared with a similar age control group that did not participate in the program. Qualitative data were collected by focus group discussion and analyzed.
Results: The mean age of the intervention group（n＝36）was 72.6 ±5.6 years and the mean age of the control group（n＝36）was 74.7 ± 4.6 years, with 23 males in each group. Significant interaction effects over time were found between the two groups with the intervention group displaying significantly maintain levels of community commitment（p＜0.05）and tendency to increase hand grip strength（p＜0.1），compared with the control group. Qualitative analysis revealed categories: “pleasure of getting involved with children,” “tradition and nurture,” “reflection and evaluation of life,” and “extension of relationships between neighbors in the community.”
Conclusion: Study findings suggest that a community-based intergeneration gardening program is an effective intervention to help maintain health status and social capital among community-dwelling older adults.
