Parents are being called on to put their babies and toddlers’ names down for one of Australia’s first intergenerational care facilities.
Sharing the same roof as Uniting AgeWell Andrew Kerr Care home in Mornington, 57km south of Melbourne’s CBD, The Herd Intergenerational Learning Centre is expected to be finished by the end of the year and allow older and younger people to benefit from meaningful interactions.
The centre is the brainchild of sisters and early childhood teachers, Anna and Fiona Glumac, inspired by their late grandmother Mary, who spent the last year of her life in residential aged care.
“When our beautiful grandma made the transition to residential aged care, it was heartbreaking to see some of her spark fade. She lit up around young children, so a program like this would have been life giving,” Anna said.
“Our project is for her.”
The centre will care for up to 66 children aged from six weeks to four years old and has financial support from the Victorian Government, Uniting AgeWell and philanthropic organisations, and members of the community.
“Our project is unique because residents will have the opportunity to come to the childcare centre and experience the joy of seeing and hearing the children in play whenever they are feeling lonely,” Fiona said.
Recent research shows intergenerational care can reduce the risk of developing dementia and combat isolation and loneliness in the elderly.
Children can also benefit, developing higher levels of empathy and social acceptance – so it is great to see more innovative precincts such as The Herd being put on the ground.
