Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/ntergenerational-care-in-action-bringing-young-and-old-together-works-for-everyone/5014066/
Polka parties in child care! Daily visits with grandmas and grandpas! Celebrations of life spanning 90 years or more! Such are some of the regular occurrences at Mount Olivet Day Services (MODS) located in South Minneapolis. This story, about one of the first intergenerational child cares in the United States, illustrates just some of the activities which have been successfully implemented there. The center was constructed specifically for providing planned daily interactions between the generations.There are two groups of citizens in our society having similar care needs: the elderly and the very young. Each has a wide variety of interests that can be met within a single facility. The interaction between these groups has been shown to be mutually beneficial. Research has indicated that exposure to young children can help curtail memory loss in the elderly. We know that both smiling and laughing produce endorphins that promote better health. One 85-year-old woman in the program said, "I haven't smiled this much in 40 years!" There is no shortage of smiles at MODS.
The children of intergenerational care also gain through these interactions. By becoming accustomed to the "accessories" of old age (canes, walkers, and wheelchairs) the children learn to love and be ...