Introducing GenerationsGenerations is a multi-year social innovationproject to develop innovative solutions tobuild the social connectedness of older NewZealanders 1 . The goal of Generations is to reducesocial isolation among older people, and ensurethey have positive social connections to friends,family, communities, work and other non-paid dayactivities that enable them to thrive, participateand contribute as full citizens.As social isolation in older people has emergedas a key health and social issue in Aotearoa NewZealand (and the wider western world), therehas been a large volume of work undertakento quantify and understand the problem. NewZealand has many talented experts working inthis area. However, most of these efforts are largescale research and policy projects, and it will bemany years before impact is seen. Generations isa project that enables quick understanding of theissues, and works together with older people, theirfamilies and relevant stakeholders to co-design,prototype, and implement solutions that work.Generations is a multi-year project that won’t belimited to a particular type of service solution.It is likely our final set of solutions will be a mixof approaches that may involve technology,policy, service, programme, infrastructure andother kinds of initiatives.By the end of the initiative we will have betweentwo to four solutions which have been developed,prototyped and refined in the real world. Thesesolutions will also be supported by a scale andsustain plan to ensure ongoing impact.1 Social innovation is the process of designing, developing and growingideas, products, services, strategies and organisations that work to addressunmet social needs.Importantly, the full engagement of older peoplein Generations as designers, doers and deciderswill be a significant and vital contributor to thesuccess of Generations.Generations has been initiated by innovatechange, a leader in social innovation practicethat has worked with over 50 different NGOs,ministries, DHBs, councils, crown entities, iwiand philanthropic organisations over the last sixyears. Generations benefits from our partnershipwith Innovation Unit - a social enterprise thatcreates new solutions for thriving societies withbases in Australia and the UK, and significantexperience in building scalable solutions thatenable positive ageing.innovate change is passionate about using theprocess and methods of social innovation tocreate lasting impact. We are concerned thatinnovation efforts often do not focus on the healthand well-being of older adults. For this reason,we have chosen to invest significant resourcein getting Generations started and we are nowseeking partners to support the continuation ofthe initiative.This document shares what we have learned fromthe project’s initial discovery phase, drawing notonly from existing literature but from spendingtime and learning from older people whoshared with us their lived experience. We haveheard from older people who are living active,connected and fulfilling lives and from otherswho are isolated, disconnected and undervalued.Both perspectives have informed a set ofinsights into what helps older people to thriveand opportunities for change, which will be thestarting point for designing solutions.2
Social isolation is a key driverof loneliness. A 2012 Aucklandstudy found 45% of older peopleliving in the community experiencedloneliness, and 9% said theyexperienced severe loneliness.Waldegrave, King, & Rowe, 20123
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