The Homebound Elderly: An Intergenerational Problem

This special project, manned by volunteers, aimed at seeking out and serving "homebound elderly" among whom 22 desired such intervention. College students, middle-aged and older adults were involved in conducting weekly visits. Although no special effort was made to recruit young volunteers for this project, it is suggested that such assignments can be made successfully. Most of 49 referrals were cited as homebound because of physical disabilities, and fewer than half lived alone. Assumptions about elderly homebound who live alone, are lonely, and who, therefore, should be sought out in a general way, are not warranted. Instead, agencies are encouraged to participate in organized surveys of their local communities in order to differentiate the various needs of older persons. The call to assist the elderly has widened the generation gap between young and old people. To help close this gap, the authors suggest interagency, interorganizational community models that are designed to direct teenage and college youth into helping roles that include home visiting, escort service and shopping for older adults. Social workers of various specialties can help fashion such cooperative models. (Author/SE)