FEATURE BETTERTOGETHER
Intergenerational connection must be at the heart of tomorrow’s care, say Emily Abbott and Charlotte Miller, Co-founders of Intergenerational England.
England is a vibrant, multi-generational democracy where people of all ages live side by side. But beneath the surface of our towns, cities and rural communities lies a more fragmented reality. Long-standing ties are weakening, and social isolation is rising; we are becoming a society of strangers.
Social exclusion, discrimination, and cultural tensions oſten grab headlines. Yet one of the most pervasive and overlooked drivers of this fragmentation is a quiet but growing lack of intergenerational solidarity. Our lives no longer intersect in the way they once did.
Historically, our country’s social fabric was woven through shared public institutions, the NHS, the post-war welfare state, the local high street, the neighbourhood park. These were places where people of all ages mixed, connected and supported one another. But now, aſter decades of policy driſt and structural change, age segregation has become normalised.
The consequences are profound. The UK faces an alarming generational disconnect. According to Age UK, nearly 1.4 million older people in England oſten feel lonely. Among young people, rates of loneliness are also sharply increasing. ONS data shows that people aged 16–29 are the most likely to report feeling lonely "oſten or always". Mental health issues across generations are rising in tandem and trust between age groups is in decline.
Charlotte (leſt) and Emily (right)
Just 7% of care home residents report regular engagement with people under 30 (Care England, 2023). Yet, we know that human relationships, particularly those that cross generational lines are fundamental to wellbeing. When we isolate older adults from younger generations, we don't just deny them social enrichment; we deny society the shared wisdom, learning, and healing that these relationships foster.
“Intergenerational programmes improve mood, reduce agitation and enhance communications.”
Meanwhile, over 800,000 young carers in England, some as young as five are providing support to relatives, oſten in silence and without adequate resources. Many of these children experience anxiety, school absences, and burnout, while feeling excluded from services designed around adults. The irony is stark: the people most involved in care, young carers, older relatives, multigenerational families are oſten the least included in designing or accessing care services. Our systems are built around silos, not relationships.
At Intergenerational England, we see this moment as a wake-up call and a turning point. Our mission is to reweave the threads between generations, not as a one-off programme, but as a new social contract. We champion intergenerational connection as a structural solution to some of the deepest issues facing our society, from loneliness and poor mental health to housing inequality and social care reform. The social care sector, in particular, stands at the frontline of this challenge.
England’s social care system is under immense and growing pressure. The number of people aged 85+ is projected to nearly double over the next 25 years, and with it, the demand for complex care. Workforce shortages persist, with over 152,000 vacancies in adult social care alone, according to Skills for Care (2023). Despite these urgent pressures, one crucial piece of the care puzzle remains largely overlooked: the absence of meaningful intergenerational interaction in care environments.
32
At Intergenerational England, we believe it’s time to move from a transactional model of care to one that is relational, reciprocal and rooted in community. This means designing care not just as a service, but as an experience of mutual support, shared purpose, and human connection. This shiſt is already underway, across the UK, we are seeing care providers embedding intergenerational practice into their models. Co-located nurseries in care homes. Joint music, art, and gardening projects. Intergenerational digital skills exchanges. These are practical, innovative strategies for creating vibrant, sustainable care ecosystems.
One powerful example is our ongoing partnership with Millennium Care. Together, we co-designed a weekly Intergenerational Music and Movement programme, bringing care home residents together with local young children and families. In these sessions, lullabies meet dance beats. Grandparents sing alongside toddlers. Staff, families, and visitors become part of a shared rhythm. We’ve watched people living with dementia light up as a child hands them a tambourine. We’ve seen parents return with their children week aſter week, forming friendships with residents and care staff alike. These are not just joyful moments, they are acts of reconnection. At Millennium Care, this ethos goes far beyond programming. Staff
www.tomorrowscare.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42
