EverBloom at Alderwood

THE QUANDARY

In the face of shared challenges transcending generations, the quandary of adolescence and elderhood converge on common ground, encompassing concerns like fear of the future, low self-esteem, and depression. Seeking to address these universal issues, we introduce EverBloom at Alderwood a community-based program committed to intergenerational knowledge sharing across all ages.

The first-ever program of its kind in Southern Oregon, Alderwood Assisted Living is welcoming primary, secondary, and high school students to participate. Programs are customized for participants, in collaboration with their teachers, and focus on creating remarkable and memorable outcomes for both the students and elders. Our goal is to create relationships built on trust, understanding, and respect for both the students, teachers, and the elders. For additional information please email: admin@alderwoodliving.com

The Solution

We Are Always Better Together

In recognizing the shared challenges and untapped potential for mutual support between generations, we propose a transformative initiative – a three-step ‘win-win’ program designed to foster meaningful connections and address mental health struggles faced by both teens and seniors in our communities. Through careful vetting, collaborative commitments, and project-based engagement, this program aims to bridge the generational gap, promoting understanding, empathy, and shared growth. Here is an overview of the benefits of the EverBloom program:

1. Establish a Meticulous Selection Process
   Develop a comprehensive vetting process to carefully match school students with seasoned individuals who share similar backgrounds and interests. Students will be coached to understand the challenges of elders and how they are more similar than different. Younger students will focus on building respectful relationships with elders through memorable interactions.
2. Collaborative Commitment
   Students from middle and high school will be paired with an elder in a year-long commitment, focusing on structured meet-ups centered around a specific shared task. Educators will work directly with Alderwood team to identify projects to advance students existing curriculum such as; gardening, photography, writing, technology, or video creation, will be tailored to strengthen their personal connection and include a final documentation of their time spent together. Students will have a bi-monthly visitation program encouraging communication and interactions, developed collaboratively between teachers and dedicated staff from EverBloom at Alderwood that encourages intergenerational connectedness.
3. Project-Based Mutual Engagement
   Students (Grades 5 -12) will earn academic acknowledgement for actively participating in the project. These projects aim to address specific mental health challenges prevalent in both demographics. We will conduct pre- and post-project surveys to measure outcomes, with oversight provided by EverBloom at Alderwood and designated school representatives. While the students will be encouraged to create a notebook of specifically designed projects, from each visit, symbolizing the benefits of intergenerational relationships to share with their families at end of the school year.