Have you ever seen the effects of a child visiting someone who has Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia? If you have, you know that the effect that children have is significant, especially for older adults who are living with dementia.
It’s not uncommon to witness a child enter the facility and see a dramatic change in the engagement levels of persons with dementia. Suddenly, “Sarah the resident” is smiling, leaning toward the child and talking to her.
If the young child is willing and walks over toward Sarah and is placed on her lap, Sarah is utterly enthralled, smiling, talking to the child, and laughing.
Intergenerational Care
Some facilities, including nursing homes and adult day care centers, offer child care centers where young children and older adults interact together on a regular basis. They might read together, build a tower out of blocks at the table or simply spend time together.
Benefits of Intergenerational Care
There is a limited amount of research that has been conducted on intergenerational care, especially when the older generation involved in the program has dementia. Studies have noted the following:
- People living with dementia had a higher level of positive engagement when interacting with children.
- Older adults without dementia demonstrate a higher frequency of smiling and conversation when interacting with preschool age children.
- Intergenerational programming allows adults with dementia to be able to teach children things, such as how to fold a towel, how to dust handrails or how to categorize things such as by seasons or colors.
- Interaction with older adults has also shown benefits for the children involved, including fewer behavioral challenges and improved social development.
- Intergenerational interaction appears to serve as a meaningful activity and improve quality of life for older adults living with dementia.
How to Facilitate Intergenerational Interactions
- While you might not be able to combine the care of people with dementia and childcare facilities on a daily basis, there are some things you can do to encourage these interactions to occur more frequently.
- Own or direct a daycare? Get permission from the parents and regularly visit a facility that cares for people with dementia.
- Have dementia care staff members with children? Encourage them to stop by with their kids to visit.
- Live near a facility or know someone who has dementia and lives in her own home? Stop by with your children and spread some joy.
- Have a loved one with dementia in a facility or at home? Ask family members with kids to bring them with on short visits, rather than arranging for a sitter at home. Allow extra time for short visits to other residents at the nursing home.
- Teach at a school that’s near a care facility? Contact the activity director to set up regular visits with the students.
If you’re interested in getting involved in something similar, Rosa Gonzalez from Kidslingo is running Spanish lessons for children held at Weald Heights care home on Tuesday mornings at 10:30am after Easter. Get in touch with her to find out more:
https://www.kidslingo.co.uk/
Mobile – 07501 623176
