On April 10, 2014, nearly 100 older adult volunteers and 100 third graders from the Chula Vista School District were paired up for the 13th Annual Intergenerational Games at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.  They enjoyed a variety of physical and mental challenges together, but the main goal was making friends across the generations. Participants started out feeling shy around each other, but by the end of the day, participants were goofing around and high-fiving each other.

After the event, one of the older participants said, when asked about her young partner; “She is a very sweet, young lady. She even told me I was ‘awesome.’ I told her she was ‘awesome,’ too. My own grandkids have never told me I was awesome. I had a wonderful time.”

The Intergenerational Games is just one of several intergenerational programs offered by the County of San Diego through the Health and Human Services Agency.

Thanks to the following sponsors and partners who made the Intergenerational Games possible.

Gold Sponsors: Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, Care 1st Health Plan

Silver Sponsors: American Medical Response, Health Net, Janice Pope, Kaiser Permanente, St. Paul’s PACE, Sunrise Bonita, Westmont at San Miguel Ranch

Bronze Sponsors: Bonita Optimist, San Ysidro Health Center (Zumba instructors), Sprouts

Other Contributors: A Better Solution In Home Care, Trader Joe’s

Community Partners: County of San Diego Aging & Independence Services, Chula Vista Elementary School District, SoCAN, U.S. Olympic Training Center, South Bay Family YMCA