Families from culturally diverse backgrounds may be reluctant to attend a conventional community play group because of concerns about their limited English competence, or because they believe they will not be welcome there (McDonald et al .2014). Sustained play groups specifically targeting CALD groups provide a culturally safe environment in which to develop social support, social and physical development of children and links to other services (Warr et al., 2013) that the parents of CALD and refugees would not have otherwise. Although the database published for the supported play groups is limited, some research and evaluation studies have evaluated the results of the supported play groups according to their objectives, in particular the benefits for parents and children. This section summarizes these findings and should be interpreted with caution due to the limited number of assessments available. Some models of sustained play groups aim to move families to community play groups within a specified time, usually over a period of nine to 12 months (McLean et al., 2014; Oke, Stanley and Theobald, 2007), while others are underway, depending on the model and funding. Community play groups are universal services initiated and self-managed by parents and / or guardians who serve them (FaHCSIA, 2011; ARTD Consultants, 2008a) with the help of state or territorial organizations of play groups.
Seven mothers, two caregivers and two members of the play group participated in semi-structive interviews. Quantitative and qualitative data indicated that parents and guardians of CALD have high levels of isolation and low social support. Qualitative data indicated that most parents or caregivers felt more supported and connected as a result of participation in the gaming group, and just over half said that the gaming group had improved their confidence. This study highlights the need to take into account the social resources of CALD families when planning and providing services, and requires future longitudinal studies of the playgroup. Supported play groups have been operating in Australia for many years, despite the lack of solid empirical evidence on their effectiveness in supporting vulnerable families (Berthelsen et al. 2012).
The intervention is an intergenerational program of game groups offered to the center of attention to the elderly, where intergenerational socialization and interaction between different generations took place. The qualitative interpretative research approach used semi-structured interviews to develop the descriptive interpretation of the intergenerational experience of the game group. A practical sample of older adults who are cognitively intact and altered, guardians of children and children who have followed intergenerational playgroup programs offered in three Aging UnitingCare establishments, included forty-eight residents in care for the elderly, 43 women and 5 older men, from 68 to 101 years old with an average age of 85 years. In the post-test data collection, five elderly residents had retired due to illness or had moved to another institution and one had died. Since the IPP is a program programmed on each site, all participants exercised their personal choice to attend each session.
The lifestyle manager ensured that the policies and procedures of care centers for the elderly were followed, the coffee was a family business and all those on the elderly care site had a criminal history check and were entered in the program connection / disconnection file every day they attended. The IPP provided an innovative and successful intervention of the intergenerational program where the elderly and people with dementia interacted and connected with several people of different generations. The IPP made an important commitment to all participants deemed important for self-esteem and the ability to participate fully in society. This has enabled people to develop a sense of connection and friendships in a safe and secure environment. This has increased the dignity of older adults and people with dementia in the community and increased public awareness of the existing care and support services available to them. Vital development occurs during the first five years of life and the first year is particularly critical.
These support strategies reflect a “download” process in which the student is considered active in his own learning and is supported by the facilitator in “self-regulation” of his own learning. This is evident in the play groups supported when parents suggest themes or professionals invited to visit the game group. The IPP provided a significant programming opportunity for all participants, especially those with dementia, who often challenge family and professional caregivers . The links that the participants established in the intergenerational game group were valued and provided residents with something to do in the care center for the elderly and experiences that were important for individual self-esteem and ability.
Elderly care residents had something to do, while babysitters were delighted to see the growth and development of the child / children who bought from the PPI. Elders, people with dementia, guardians of children and children connected to each other in the care of the elderly, this was considered safe for everyone. Young parents and their children, in the absence of their own families, bought joy and satisfaction from the elderly and people with dementia, while babysitters appreciated the routine and the rewards associated with the PPI The evidence base for supported play groups is supported by knowledge derived from the search for the first years of a child’s life.
On site 3, the end of the interview data collection was influenced by Chinese culture within the site, which had an impact on the number of participants interviewed. Intergenerational programs offer the possibility of a significant commitment between generations, so that activities are significant for people with dementia that they need to feel pleasure and pleasure, a sense of connection and maintain a feeling of autonomy . Activities can also create immediate pleasure, restore dignity, provide meaningful tasks, restore roles and allow friendships, be therapeutic, improve quality of life, stop mental decline and generate and maintain self-esteem .
Of the 12 revised program evaluations for this document, more than half used a mixed-method approach, using qualitative and quantitative research methods; five evaluations used only qualitative methods. Five evaluations used observation techniques to assess the play groups supported; of these five, in three cases, the number of families was observed (of these three cases, we visited a game group every week for a period of 10 weeks; one visited eight caravan parking sites; and another visited 12 sites). Observation interviews, parents and facilitators, surveys and discussion groups with adults were the methods used to assess results for children. Families in these groups are often vulnerable, faced with stressful living conditions as well as weak social support and economic pressures. Supported play groups offer an option to families who may not be able to interact, feel included and benefit from parent-led community play groups (Berthelsen et al. 2012; Warr et al. 2013; Mulcahy et al. 2010). This document defines the types of play groups supported and the different implementation models in force in Australia, and assesses the evidence of the evaluation of their benefits for parents and children.
A significant change in self-informed health was only achieved for participants due to participation in PPIs. This change in energy / fatigue may have occurred due to the general age of the participants where the average age was 85 years. The results of SF-36 in this study for an average population aged 85 are similar to a previous study where SF-36 was used with a community population over 65, except in the energy field / tired . The GDS results indicated that there was no significant difference between the results before and after the test, which indicates the relative stability of participants’ perceptions of long-term health care over time. Intergenerational programs are important both for individual self-esteem and for the ability to participate fully in society . Social connection reflects self in relation to others, it is the internal meaning of belonging and is defined “as the subjective awareness of being in close contact with the world” .