Begegnen, Kennenlernen, Unterstützen zwischen den Generationen
Abstract
GenerAktion is a community platform aimed at facilitating communication and mutual support between different generations in the local community.
Through a combination of measures, GenerAktion enhances the social engagement of the elderly and motivates young people to participate. Residents can join or initiate activities here, expand their social circles, receive support, and voluntarily exchange services.
Specificities
Intergenerational mutual support requires an environmental foundation, meaning individuals from different generations need to intersect in daily life and have the motivation to help each other. This is an essential premise that is often overlooked.
GenerAktion creatively introduces the core strategy of "Come Across, Get to Know, Mutual Support." It employs various specific measures with the "Come Across Table" at its core to guide residents to join and participate in Inter-generational mutual support.
This allows the elderly to naturally create value for society, and young people to address their own challenges through exchanges.
Context
Master Thesis
2023, 18 Weeks
HfG Schwäbisch Gmünd
German social context
Section
Social Design, Empirical Research, Gerontological Studies, UX Design, Game Design
Team
Diana Hutter
Zezhong Wang
My Work
Project Management, Psychology of Aging Research, Conducting Design Workshops, Moderating Interviews & Focus Groups, Social Experiments, Game Concept
Use Case Video
Why
promote
intergenerational
mutual support?
Problem
In the next decade, traditional eldercare models (nursing homes, home care, family care, etc.), where young people provide resources and services to the elderly, will face an increasing resource gap in Germany with a growing elderly population.
However, traditional eldercare is irreplaceable. Therefore, finding an alternative new model has become a major current issue.
Chance
"Mutual Support" regards the elderly as producers.
"Mutual Support" aims to reduce and delay the elderly's reliance on traditional eldercare.
Target Audience
The main elderly group we face includes healthy elderly individuals and those with mild impairments.
The young group includes those with social integration needs, educational and material resource needs, and time pressure.
How
to promote
intergenerational
mutual support?
Methods
Challenge
Limited information channels for the elderly, making participation difficult.
Lack of motivation and time for active participation among young people.
Intergenerational communication barriers.
Lower sustainability and scalability of the "Intergenerational Suport" project.
Strategy
Come Across
Provides entry points for the elderly to engage, motivating joung people. Allowing them to intersect in daily life.
Get to Know
Breaks down generational barriers through the exchange of common interests and perspectives. Then, a network is established in the local community, providing an environmental foundation for mutual assistance.
Mutual Support
Service and resource exchange when needed. Encounter is the soil, acquaintance is the root, and mutual support is the fruit. This fruit is first given to young people to stimulate their motivation. Many elderly individuals are also happy to give first because it gives them a sense of self-worth.
What
has GenerAktion
taken to
intergenerational mutual support?
Solution
01 COME ACROSS TABLE
A place for meeting and getting to know each other, helping residents break communication barriers and build connections.
02 SERVICE BANK
Residents can here exchange services and resources.
03 APP & “GAGA”CHIP
Guide residents to continuously return to the come across table and build communities with each other on the information platform.
04 COMMUNICATION STRATEGY
The inhabitants can find GenerAktion and a first encounter can take place.
Overview
Through the measures mentioned above, residents will always find their way back to the meeting tables, establish connections with others, and engage in service exchanges when needed. In this process, everyone experiences the joy of giving and receiving. The elderly have the opportunity to participate in social life and create social value, while young people receive assistance and, in return, help others.
Through collaboration with various organizations and businesses, GenerAktion can rapidly expand in different cities. Over time, GenerAktion can promote inter-generational communication and assistance as a new community culture.
For specific business models and development strategies, please refer to the documentation.
