Building Connections among University Students and Older Adult through Co-occupation in Intergenerational Living

Intergenerational programs can support social connectedness, and an important element is engaging in activities together, known as ‘co-occupation’. To address gaps in the literature, we explored how older adults and university students living together in a retirement home enacted co-occupations, the factors that shaped the co-occupations, and how the co-occupations affected intergenerational relationship-building and connections. We conducted a focused ethnography using a constructivist-interpretivist paradigm, interviews with university students and older adults, and on-site observations. We analysed data using reflexive thematic analysis. Co-occupations were critical in creating connections and mutually beneficial intergenerational relationships. Participants often transformed co-occupations to promote interactions. Important features of intergenerational housing appear to be access to co-occupations that are structured and unstructured, flexibility to modify co-occupations, and physical spaces that promote co-occupation. This research illustrates how co-occupation within intergenerational housing programs can support connection and relationship-building. Findings can be applied within intergenerational housing and other intergenerational programs.