For more than 25 years, Providence Mount St Vincent nursing home has been operating a daycare centre in their facility.
This pre-school nursery is actually inside an old people’s home
Pre-schoolers and older people being cared for together, while interacting together and teaching each other at the same time. Brilliant!
How does it work?
The Mount’s website explains that the children and residents come together in a variety of planned activities such as music, dancing, art, lunch, and storytelling.
The ILC offers children opportunities:
- To learn about the normal ageing process;
- To accept people with disabilities;
- To be involved with people who are two or three generations apart;
- To become part of an extended family;
- To help them reduce their fear of older adults; and
- To receive and give unconditional and unbounded love and attention.
In addition, residents and program participants benefit from:
- Frequent interaction with children throughout their day;
- Physical activity in playing with the children;
- Opportunities to play, laugh and enjoy the spirit and joy that children bring to their home environment;
- A renewed sense of self-worth;
- An opportunity to transfer knowledge; and
- The ability to serve as role models.
These activities result in mutual benefits for both generations.
Source: washington.providence.org
A Comprehensive Guide to Successful Intergenerational Activities at Shared Site Programs
These activities are targeted to young children and frail adults but many can be easily adapted or modified for use with other populations.