Older adults, especially those in long-term care facilities, may lack the opportunities to interact with those outside of their age group. Similarly, younger people may also lack access to people of the “old-old” population. These groups allow both parties to learn about the other and become more familiar with their social, emotional, and physical needs and capabilities.

The younger individuals also have the opportunity to learn the skills of interacting with older adults with specific needs. Many of the older adults in these programs have some level of cognitive impairment, so students first learn about the changes that occur in the brain and how to effectively communicate and support older adults experiencing cognitive impairment or dementia.