10 Year Anniversary--A Decade of Intergenerational Achievement

In the beginning...

• The original Ithacare Center was created from a renovated Ithaca College dorm in 1974
• IC faculty and students initiated recreational and research activities at Ithacare from 1974--1998
• Ithacare approached the College in 1991 with a proposal for a joint initiative involving intergenerational programming and sharing of services in a new building
• In 1992, Ithaca College donated 28 acres of land across from the campus for the new facility, Longview
• Groundbreaking began in March 1997
• Ithaca College had input into the design of 1,800 square feet of space dedicated for programmatic use. This space included two offices, and assessment room, and a classroom
• Input was also solicited from faculty on course-related intergenerational actiavities
• A Longivew/Ithaca College Planning Committee and an Operations Sub-committee were formed in July 1997 to address administrative issues
• A Longview/Ithaca College Program Planning Sub-committee was formed in January 1998 to address procedures for planning and scheduling course-related and volunteer activities at Longview
• An activity survey of current Ithacare and prospective Longview residents was conducted in March 1998

The vision...

To create a shared environment that provides members of the College and Longview communities with opportunities to engage in intergenerational social and educational experiences that enhance the quality of life.

• Longview was completed in October 1998
• The Longview/Ithaca College Coordinator was appointed in October 1998 and assisted with the move of the residents from Ithacare to the new Longview facility
• New residents began to move into Longview apartments during winter/spring 1999
• Ithaca College students assisted with the move and some residents spent moving day on campus
• Programming of Intergenerational activities began in Spring 1999. Since that time, an average of 300 students and 25 faculty have participated in Longview related activities each semester

The reality...

• Benefits for Residents
  • Learning
  • Personal development
  • Social interaction and integration at Longview and on campus
  • Personal relationships
  • Health and wellness
  • Build self esteem
• Benefits for Students
  • Experiential learning
  • Understanding career options
  • Increased understanding of academic courses and their application to aging
  • Learning about aging and older adults
• Benefits for Faculty
  • Enriched curriculum and teaching
  • Research and service opportunities
  • Multi and interdisciplinary teaching and research activities

The future...

Ithacare's "Special Care Residence"

• Construction site work began in Fall 2008 for a new building to be attached to the existing Longview structure
• The NYS Department of Health approved the building as an expansion of the existing adult home
• The building is being built to nursing home standards with the intent to reapply at a later date for that level of certification
• The expansion will provide more of a continuum of care for Longview residents, including dementia care and will add a new dimension to the existing partnership with Ithaca College