Discover more about how encouraging intergenerational relationships can benefit all involved and hear how one Bright Horizons Nursery and the care home next door work together in promoting these connections.
Intergenerational care is all about purposefully bringing together different generations and providing opportunities for them to take part in ongoing activities together and sharing experiences that are mutually beneficial.
Social and economic changes have made it more difficult for grandparents to have regular and active relationships with their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, with distance and work commitments often creating obstacles.
The connection between children and older people has been proven to have a positive impact on both parties. The implementation of intergenerational programs – such as that between nurseries and care homes - can create meaningful and valuable relationships.
Benefits for the elderly:
Benefits for children:
For children who don’t have an active relationship with their grandparents, meeting an elderly person for the first time can be overwhelming, similarly, the reverse is true. Treating these new relationships tentatively if necessary, and with respect from supporting adults, nursery workers or carers, is vital to their success.
Older people often seek – and need – purpose in their lives, younger children love attention, and they both need stimulation to thrive – it’s the perfect combination!
Bright Horizons Otterbourne Day Nursery and Preschool
Our nursery in Otterbourne, Winchester, is situation next to a local care home, and the two have struck up a beautiful friendship over the years.
The children at Otterbourne would continue their discussions around the care home next door even if a visit wasn’t planned, for example, creating paintings for their elderly friends.
At Christmas, the kind gesture was returned, with the care home organising Father Christmas to visit on his Christmas train! 100 Christmas cards were made by the children and delivered to the care home residents.
Love hearts were drawn by the children for Valentine’s Day, and these were displayed in the windows of the care home resident’s homes.