MIND THE GENERATION GAP
Bringing together young and old can spread joy
Singing, children clapping, the sound of laughter and play – all noises you’d associate with a nursery. But this one is different. Belong Chester is the first dementia care village in the UK to also house a nursery for small children.
For several years now, Belong has worked with charity Ready Generations to explore what the benefits of old and young coming together could be.
“Intergenerational connections bring a great deal of joy,” says Belong’s CEO, Martin Rix. With experience of building networks with local schools and community groups, they took things a step further.
It’s a model that’s been tried in other European countries in different ways. In Helsingborg, Sweden, for example, elderly people and people in their 20s – both groups at risk of loneliness – have been housed together at Sällbo as an experiment in the ways intergenerational living can improve mental wellbeing.
“We see improvements in the physical and mental wellbeing of people, including those living with dementia – and the nursery parents are excited by their children's advances in vocab, language, social and emotional skills,” says Martin. “The nursery is a joyful addition. We’re excited to see what the future holds.”
“Everything WAS GREY BEFORE AND THERE WAS NO FUTURE NOW A RAINBOW HAS APPREADED IN THE HORIZON"
Volodymyr Kozlov, a singer with Kharkiv National Opera and Ballet in Ukraine, which is reopening – albeit underground – after a two-year hiatus.