Services in Rushford, Minn., pro- vides nursing care, assisted living, senior housing and child care in a facility designed for intergenerational interaction. Seniors and children share a walking garden that connects to a playground. “We try to focus on the idea that all people matter, no matter what their age,” said Jenny Carrier, director of the agency’s Good Shepherd Child Care.


Child-care staffers push infants and toddlers in four- and six-seat bug- gies on a daily stroll down nursing home hallways. Residents, even those battling Alzheimer’s, dementia or loneliness, are delighted to see young ones passing through, Carrier said. Seniors also can participate in a one-on-one program pairing them with a school-age child for a weekly visit. Such visits may involve simple times of sharing or an activity both enjoy.


It creates “a sense of home away from home for our kids and resi- dents,” Carrier said. “Our kids aren’t afraid of elderly people.”


Shared meals


Allegheny Lutheran Social Ministries serves an eight-county area in central Pennsylvania. President and CEO Patricia W. Savage, said the agency’s intergenerational program “was the first of its kind in the Common- wealth of Pennsylvania” and offers “a unique and loving environment so these generations can benefit from spending time with each other.” Participants at the Senior Daily Living Centers in Altoona and John- ston interact each day with children (birth through 5 years) who attend its Growing Years Early Learning Cen- ter. Children and seniors share meals, stories, activities and, sometimes, hugs.


Parents Patrick and Elaine (last name withheld), said: “Our son often


November 2013 39


eats with the seniors, which gives him a compassion and understanding for all people, not just his age cohorts.” In Lancaster and Lebanon coun- ties, another ELCA-affiliated social services organization, Luthercare, offers three retirement communities and Luthercare for Kids programs for ages 6 months to 12 years (child care, early learning, and before/after school and summer programs). “Since we offer services to both the youngest and the oldest, [inter- generational activities] just made sense,” said Luthercare spokesperson Selma Hainley. Shared activities help children and residents “get to know each other and [gain] an understand- ing of what it means to be part of the Luthercare family,” she said. Over the summer, a dozen or more children spend one afternoon


a week with 15 residents at Luther- care’s Spang Crest, a rehabilitation, memory support, personal care and skilled nursing center in Lititz, Pa. Together they watch movies, make crafts, work on a science project or have sing-alongs.


During the school year, preschool- ers and Spang Crest residents make doughnuts together on Fat Tuesday or enjoy green eggs and ham on Dr. Seuss’ birthday.


Seniors and children at Luthercare seem to have a mutual admiration society. Esther, a Spang Crest resi- dent, said, “I love when the children visit for an activity. They make me laugh and give me energy.” As for the children, they “are very caring and gentle and enjoy the one- on-one time [with] residents,” Hain- ley said. “It benefits everyone.” 


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