Evaluating the Impact of an Intergenerational Childcare Model on Children’s Health and Development

There is a critical lack of evidence on how intergenerational care models can be effectively implemented, evaluated, and sustained at scale in Canadian long-term care settings. There is limited knowledge on operational feasibility, fidelity, acceptability, and long-term sustainability, and much of the existing literature focuses on small-scale or community-based initiatives, with limited examination of these factors. The partnership between Perley Health and Andrew Fleck Children’s Services to establish an on-site Early Learning and Childcare Centre presents a unique opportunity to address critical gaps in the Canadian literature through rigorous, context-sensitive evaluation.
The goal of the partnership between Andrew Fleck Children’s Services and Perley Health is to establish, implement, and evaluate a purpose-built intergenerational Early Learning Childcare Centre within a long-term care home, integrating residents and children through structured programming. The objectives of this project are to: (1) assess feasibility, including staff engagement and organizational readiness; (2) evaluate fidelity, reach, and dose of the intergenerational program; (3) examine acceptability, appropriateness, and perceived value among participants, families, staff, and leadership; (4) identify barriers and facilitators to implementation using an implementation science framework; and (5) explore preliminary outcomes on well-being, social connectedness, and quality of life for older adults and children.

Faculty Supervisor:

Maeghan James

Student:

Partner:

Perley Health;Andrew Fleck Children's Services

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Ottawa

Program: