Population aging portends a crisis of resources and values. Desired solutions could include intergenerational strategies to
harness the untapped potential of older adultsto address societal needs and to generate health improvements for older adults.
Despite the desire of many older adults to remain socially engaged and productive, the creation of productive roles has lagged.
This report describes the conceptual framework and major design features of a new model of health promotion for older adults
called Experience Corps
®. Experience Corps operates at, and leads to benefits, across multiple levels, including individuals, schools, and the larger
community. At the individual level, we propose a model based on Erikson’s concept of generativity to explain bow and why experience
Corps works. At the level of schools, we propose a parallel model based on social capital. Experience Corps is a volunteer
service program designed to improve the lives of urban childre and to yield health improvement for older persons. It illustrates
how population aging creates new opportunities to address difficult social problems. This article explores how the linkage
of concepts at multiple levels motivates a potentially cost-effective, feasible, and high-impact program.
Keywords Health promotion - social engagements - Aging - Social capital - Volunteering - Healthy aging
Dr. Fried is with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Drs. Glass, Carlson, Frick, Ialongo, Rebok, Tielsch, and
Zeger and Mr. Hill are with The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
Dr. Wasik is with The Johns Hopkins University Center for Social Organization of Schools
Ms. McGill is with the Greater Homewood Community Corporation.