Special connections bring joy
BRINGING joy to young and old, and quickly catching on around Australia, is an innovative new approach to unite the new and older generations.
You only need to watch the recent ABC series — Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds — to see the benefits interactions between generations bring to both young and old.
Known as intergenerational playgroups, these get-togethers are being held within aged care facilities in order to bring these generations together and encourage friendship, help prevent feelings of isolation and simply bring a smile to the faces of both the aged care residents and the children.
These get-togethers offer older adults in residential care a form of community interaction and engagement.
They also offer children whose grandparents and greatgrandparents may have passed on, or do not live locally, the opportunity to engage and interact with older people in a safe and fun environment to share their stories and knowledge for positive shared experiences.
Research suggests that intergenerational playgroups improve outcomes and quality of life for older people, particularly those experiencing isolation and loneliness, dementia and a general feeling of disengagement from the community.
The results speak for themselves, with an increase in feelings of dignity, higher levels of self-esteem and a sense of community participation.
With such far-reaching benefits to the wider community, all Infinite Care residential aged care facilities ensure ongoing interaction with the younger community including local childcare centres, primary schools, high schools and even TAFE students in the area.
These interactions bring a sense of palpable excitement to the homes for both residents, staff and visitors, and provide a valuable opportunity for all parties to learn about each other while they gain an insider understanding of each generation and what makes them tick.
All future Infinite Care facility sites in Australia are being deliberately chosen for their proximity to schools and childcare centres in the hope that intergenerational activities can occur in the homes regularly to help build these special and beneficial friendships.