Combining Care for Children and the Elderly

We live in a society where care of young and old is increasingly segregated, with very limited opportunity for the two age groups to interact. If we just thought a little more socially, however, these book end generations could become great resources for each other. All we need to do is put them in the same place for care.

In a recent S4C documentary, six nursery children were introduced to an adult day care facility. The older and younger generations spent three days together, taking part in a series of activities devised by a team of psychologists at Bangor University. What they found was that just a few days in each others company resulted in some life affirming interactions, with both care staff and service users commenting on how beneficial the intergenerational project had been. But this was not just about helping elders: the children enjoyed the increased attention, too, and had more opportunities to develop their social and emotional skills.

Admittedly, this is just one three-day example. But there is plenty of research confirming that bringing generations together can and should be the way forward for care systems. The concept of non-familial intergenerational interactions is centered around the seemingly simple idea that old and young can bring new energy, knowledge, and enthusiasm to each others’ lives. In the last 20 years or so this concept has been increasingly picked up, particularly in the US, where more and more shared care facilities are being opened.

Interaction between the generations is not as simple as putting a baby and toddlers’ day care centre in a nursing home, however. It involves planned interactions between elders and college students, schoolchildren, or youngsters of other ages in a variety of settings. What the groups do when they meet can be as relaxed as playing a game or reading a book together. But the activities they take part in are truly unlimited. In New Jersey, an intergenerational orchestra brings together musicians aged between 6 and 90-years-old, for example. In the Massachusetts town of Belmont, young and old work together on local environmental projects.

It may not seem like a lot in the grand scheme of things, but research has proven that these interactions can have fantastic benefits for each generation. In Australia and the UK, studies have shown that activities that include children and older adults in a day care facility can increase self-esteem and promote friendships. In Japan, shared play activities have been found to result in greater smiles and more conversation for elders. Intergenerational activities show elders that they are valued as individuals that still possess lifelong skills, rather than just being passive recipients of care.

After the documentary concluded filming, one lady who attended the care facility told the filmmakers that she didn’t think about her age when she was in the company of young children. The little ones brought a new sense of vibrancy and fun to the centre, and the focus was no longer on watching time pass but on living in the moment. Older people have the time (and skills, which are often underutilized) for this kind of care to work, so putting a shared care plan in place makes sense. But more research, funding, and government support is needed for these intergenerational schemes to become the world’s default for care.

These days traditional families are separated by distance, time and lack of understanding between generations, but programs that bring children and older adults together could change the whole of society’s outlook. Children are the worlds’ future but that doesn’t mean we should consign older generations to the past. The COVID-19 pandemic certainly complicates this idea, but it’s still worth exploring now that the vaccine is available for all ages.

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services