Intergenerational Programs: A Potentially Cost-Effective Response to Major Social Issues

Abstract

In this analytic essay, we explore how intergenerational programs can unleash the power of prevention for the betterment of all generations, and in turn, be cost-effective. In section one, we document the wide range of issues that intergenerational interventions target and identify a price tag to these social conditions. While the research is nascent, in section two, we examine the cost-effectiveness and savings of intergenerational interventions, contrasting them to non-intergenerational interventions alike. Findings from the few studies that have performed cost-effective analyses are compelling. In section three, we call for innovation in research, programs, and policies.