Intergenerational mixing
Never mind the gap: the case for intergenerational living
Belong Chester is the first care village in the UK to incorporate a fully integrated research nursery, where children and residents come together on a daily basis to have fun learning and playing together. Susan Goldsmith, chief operating officer at Belong, looks back at some of the highlights since opening and discusses the many benefits of an intergenerational approach
Fifteen years since opening its first village – in Macclesfield – Belong now operates eight locations across Greater Manchester, Cheshire, and Staffordshire. Each subsequent village has taken the model a step further with additional facilities, such as specialised gyms to promote active lifestyles and a heritage gallery documenting local history that is open to the public.
When it opened in July 2022, Belong Chester became the first care village in the UK to incorporate a fully integrated research nursery, where children and residents come together on a daily basis to have fun learning and playing together. While intergenerational interactions are promoted at all villages, The Nursery in Belong was the outcome of five years of collaborative planning with award-winning national intergenerational charity Ready Generations, which operates the nursery. Having previously partnered together to investigate the benefits of intergenerational experiences, they built on this partnership to embed intergenerational practice into village life.
“The Belong intergenerational practice lead, Sophie, works alongside village and nursery teams to support the planning, co-ordination, and evaluation of a rich curriculum for children called The Mirrored Curriculum Framework,” explains Ready Generations co-founder Sue Egersdorrf. “This allows older people to become mentors and teachers by sharing their wisdom and knowledge whilst building meaningful relationships and connections.”
Intelligent design Situated within the care village, the 25-place nursery features a secure sensory nature
20
and play garden and provides a high-quality care and learning environment for children from birth to five years, six days a week. Beyond the nursery space itself, the village has been designed to facilitate experiences, such as residents and children enjoying mealtimes, sharing stories and books, and exploring nature together. Free-flow access to the secure nursery and residents’ gardens allows for spontaneous experiences to happen, such as planting, weeding, and just enjoying the sunshine together. The library area has been specifically designed to include bookshelves
Residents who initially said the nursery was a lovely idea but they would not get involved personally are now regular and enthusiastic attendees
and resources for both adults and children, and the bistro has high quality seating and high chairs to enable friends of all ages to eat together. Indoors, colour schemes, furniture fittings, and resources have been carefully selected to be accessible and respectful for all age groups. Flooring and lighting in the nursery spaces have been chosen to maintain a calm and peaceful environment.
Background to innovation To appreciate how intergenerational practice is integrated within a care setting and incorporates the local community, it is important to understand our unique village model of care.
The villages integrate a range of care, housing, and support options centred around a village hub offering amenities, such as a bistro, gym, and hair salon, which are open to the public. People can live independently, in a one- or two-bedroom apartment, or in en suite accommodation within small households where 24-hour
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com April 2024
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 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
