As more and more initiatives are launched that provide funding support for child and senior integrated healthcare, the benefits that come from intergenerational care cannot be exaggerated.
Initiatives such as Intergenerational Playgroups prioritise innovative ways to integrate seniors and children for better health outcomes.
In 2019, Old People’s Home For 4-Year-Olds launched on ABC-TV, a documentary series that conducted a unique social experiment involving four-year-olds and the elderly conversing and playing games. It gauged the feelings of participants after the interactions.
Retail Pharmacy Assistants e-magazine looks at the outcomes of intergenerational care and ways in which the community can encourage children and senior integrated care.
ConnectAbility Australia provides personalised support through its Aged Care Services – Senior Solutions team, with initiatives aimed at benefiting those in aged care.
According to the organisation, intergenerational care can:
Reduce feelings of loneliness. Allowing time for elderly people and children to interact increases social opportunity for both generations. It’s no secret that elderly people can be affected by feelings of loneliness, especially at nursing homes. Promoting social interactions with children has the potential to lift spirits for both groups.
Increase feelings of purpose. The seniors can act as role models for children, which can raise feelings of positivity for the elderly and boost their mental health. The children benefit from the opportunity to help seniors with everyday mobile activities.
Provide an opportunity for learning. With the wealth of knowledge and life experience that elderly people gain, these interactions provide beneficial learning moments for children. Seniors are regarded as some of the wisest people in society, with plenty of life lessons to pass down to children willing to heed them.
Tips for intergenerational healthcare
According to US-based United Energy Workers Healthcare, the following tips are aimed at keeping children involved in the lives of the elderly.
The organisation’s healthcare providers are promoted as having years of experience in home help for elderly people with terminal or chronic illnesses.
- Schedule regular visits
Parents or carers can promote intergenerational healthcare by ensuring children frequently visit grandparents or other elderly people. These visits, whether to homes or nursing homes, can increase the chances of improving the health of those visited.
- Organise volunteer work
Some nursing homes have programs for children to assist with daily chores or during game time. Such volunteer work for children presents the opportunity for more interactions between seniors and children.
- Get to know relatives
Encouraging children to see their grandparents or great-grandparents more regularly is one of the easiest ways to encourage intergenerational healthcare. When kids spend time with their relatives, they will learn more, not only about the seniors, but also their family history.
- Find a need
Children may be visiting certain seniors who may have particular needs, such as grocery shopping, mail collections and daily activities. Children can be responsible for catering to such needs, thereby benefiting the elderly person and enhancing the child’s feeling of purpose.
This feature was originally published in the August issue of Retail Pharmacy Assistants e-magazine.
