There is a residential care home for the elderly in London called Nightingale House. Two hundred residents live here, making it the largest in the country. This doesn’t sound like anything out of the ordinary, does it? Yet there is something very unique about Nightingale House. It is an “intergenerational” care home, meaning both children and seniors are cared for in the same facility. The idea behind this is to bring wisdom and relationships to the children, while bringing happiness and longevity to the elderly. It is evident to anyone who observes the two generations interacting that the benefits are widespread.
A CNN article outlines this unique idea that children at this care home are helping seniors, and vice versa. Ninety year old Fay Garcia is a resident at Nightingale House. She anxiously awaits the arrival of the young children to the physical therapy class that takes place daily. When the kids walk in, smiling and full of energy, the mood lifts almost immediately.
“It’s like someone comes in and turns on the light”, says Garcia.
Both children and seniors have access to various programs they can do together. These include baking, gardening, crafts, and exercise. The children work and play with the residents every single day. In turn, co-founder Ali Somers says she can see that good things are happening.
Residents stretch out their arms and extend a hand as the children enter the room. They push just a little past their physical limitations. They spend more time outdoors, walking to and from the nursery where the children are. In addition, they engage in conversation with the kids. Some even say they feel they have adopted grandchildren.
Furthermore, the mental benefits are clear to see. Fay Garcia, for example, walks around to different areas with the children. This is physical exercise with purpose. Having a purpose to get up and be active is helping seniors find happiness and motivation.
While the benefits are still being assessed for this program, many improvements have already been seen. The result of interacting with the children include decreased depression, increased mobility, better communication, and lower levels of memory issues.
Living in a care home can feel isolating and can lead to depression for seniors. This unique concept may be a way to combat this. It is clear that the children are helping seniors at Nightingale House. And as importantly the seniors are helping children.