A rural Kansas initiative helps K-State researchers explore how shared spaces strengthen lives across generations
Sometimes the best mood booster is a simple dose of social interaction.
Many studies have shown that intergenerational connections between the elderly and children are hugely beneficial for both age groups.
At K-State, a group of determined faculty and students are researching those benefits by studying the Logan Intergenerational Family Education Center, or LIFE Center.
What is the LIFE Center?
Located in rural northwest Kansas, the LIFE Center is a community-run facility that connects a public elementary school to a 36-bed nursing home. It also houses a new high school gymnasium and community meeting room for Logan residents’ use.
The center encourages regular interaction between generations to improve community health and all-around wellbeing.
K-State participation
Trase McQueen, a K-State alum and lab manager in K-State’s Memory and Aging Lab, hails from northwest Kansas. McQueen read about the LIFE Center initiative in the Northwest Kansas Today magazine, relayed the news to his colleagues and then the project began.
The project
Striving to understand the impacts and outcomes of the intergenerational approach, McQueen and his interdisciplinary team from the interior design, psych sciences and Center on Aging departments began documenting the LIFE Center’s beneficial effects on children and elderly.
They looked at the well-being of the residents through health records. They compared the results from before and after the residents moved to the LIFE Center and observed exciting improvements in their cognitive function, social well-being and functional abilities.
They also began interviews with the staff and residents to get a snapshot of their lived experience. So far, many residents have said interaction with children gives them a reason to get up every morning.
Then they looked at the children’s development and prosperity and saw promising upward trends in the kids’ social skills, emotional development and attitude toward older adults.
From an interior design perspective, researchers analyzed the effect the new environment had on the children and elderly. The evaluation showed the new LIFE Center had better basic design attributes and a superior ability to support quality of life.
“One of the things I’m most proud of is the relationship we have been able to build with the community,” McQueen said. “We shared our first-year findings in one of the community rooms connected to the LIFE Center and almost 50 of the 400 people living in Logan showed up.”
The team has held informative meet and greets with the community, giving the undergraduate researchers opportunities to share their work with the locals.
Undergraduate involvement
The project received an interdisciplinary research grant from the Chapman Center for Rural Studies, a K-State-related funding organization. Built into the grant is an opportunity to incorporate undergraduate research assistants.
Faculty selected one student from each area of expertise — environmental assessment, long-term care, child development, and memory and aging. The team of students participated in data collection, interviews and high-level study direction meetings. They created presentations and shared the intergenerational initiative with business officials, students and even state legislators.
“The undergraduates have helped us shape many directions of this project,” McQueen said. “It’s been very exciting to watch them develop skills for the future.”
The interest in rural intergenerational projects is huge. McQueen says numerous communities have reached out and want to do something similar.
“It’s a great way to give back to the community,” he said. “These types of developments help drive people to rural areas. It’s a great project all around.”
But the research isn’t over yet. McQueen and the team have another two years in their research project to make new discoveries in the lovely LIFE Center.
By Kate Ellwood