Skip to main content

Young at Heart

At Borough Care we love to live our lives in colour. And what could be more colourful, cheerful, noisy and inquisitive than children? Our open-door policy means that children are always welcome to visit our residents along with their parents.

While some may think it could be difficult for different generations, with such a wide age gap, to connect and find common ground, our experience has always been different. We’ve been working with local nurseries and schools for years. We run lots of events where our residents, and children from the local area, can mingle; take part in activities together; and reap the rewards that intergenerational relationships bring.

This summer, please don’t leave your children at home when you come and visit your loved ones. Bring them along to brighten the day of all our residents.

If you’re not convinced, here are just some of the ways we think relationships between older people and children can enrich the lives of both:

  1. Respect

By interacting with the elderly, children learn that older people have so much to offer, and a healthy respect will build between the two. An older person’s experience, when it comes to craft activities, or knowing the words to songs, shows children just how much they can learn from them and how much fun can be had.

  1. Valuable Life Lessons

Our residents have led varied and interesting lives. Their childhood experiences are so different from children of this generation. Our residents love to share details of their lives and experiences, and children love a good story. This is a match made in heaven!

  1. Dementia

Dementia is a condition that is becoming increasingly prevalent as we live longer. It is something our children may themselves have to face in the future. By educating them early, encouraging them to interact with people living with dementia, they will learn the empathy and skills to better understand and deal with this condition.

  1. Spontaneity

Without the routine of work, looking after a home or family, life can sometimes slow down for our residents. They get into a routine that while comforting, throws up less surprises. Interacting with children is full of surprises. You never know what they are going to say and how they are going to react, which provides some lovely excitement and spontaneity to our residents’ lives.

  1. Community

Intergenerational relationships are so important when it comes to helping our residents feel like they are still part of their local community. By speaking with children, and parents, on a regular basis, they will find out about events and local news that ensures they don’t become isolated and lose touch with the issues that matter.

  1. Wellbeing

We all know how important laughter and fun is to our general wellbeing. If we’re looking forward to something, it’s so easy to jump out of bed with a spring in our step. This is even more important as we get older. Relationships with children are even good for the physical wellbeing of our residents, it encourages them to move more; to get stuck into an activity; or even go for a walk, hand in hand with their young ‘partner in crime’.

 

We really hope this blog encourages you to bring your children with you next time you visit Borough Care, no matter what their age. They will always be made to feel welcome, as we know the joy it brings our residents.