A hospital in Seattle has found a way to integrate daycare and assisted-living into one facility. Their new “Intergenerational Learning Center” brought a preschool into Mount St. Vincent nursing home. Each day the 400 adults living in the center are welcome to join the kids in activities from music and dancing to story telling to just visiting and connecting.
This is amazing on so many levels. The children get more one on one attention than can be provided by daycare providers. What pre-schooler doesn’t love going to Grandma’s? Now imagine 400 of them doting on you every day! There has also been a study done by Dr. David Lipschitz that showed
Children involved in intergenerational relationships see enhanced social skills, better academic performance, less risk of using drugs and an enhanced sense of stability
43% of older adults experience social isolation which often leads to depression and can contribute to mental and physical decline. Programs like this make seniors feel like they have a purpose again, and are invigorated from their time with the playful youth.
Film maker, Even Briggs, has a kickstarter to help him finish a documentary on the program. The kickstarter surpassed all hope and the project is now in post production.
