Intergenerational programs and intergenerational contact zones: Aligning notions of ‘good quality

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the following question: How may we enhance good quality in Intergenerational Programs (IP) through the application of Intergenerational Contact Zones (ICZ) as programming tool? In this context, it is argued that it makes sense to align the introduction of good quality planning and implementation of IP with efforts to set up efficient ICZ. Consequently, the chapter exemplifies how this alignment may be made starting from two international models to incorporate quality features for IP: the Together Old and Young for Quality Program and the International Certificate in Intergenerational Learning Quality Standards. After careful analysis and combination of these models, four domains of IP quality are presented, and quality guidelines and indicators for both IP and ICZ as programming tool are listed accordingly. Despite some limitations, the chapter contributes to the development of ICZ through specifying 23 indicators for efficient ICZ as supportive settings for good quality IP.