The number of senior citizens is expected to double in the next 25 years and if the statistics about older adults remain the same, a great number of them will find themselves isolated, lonely, and depressed. At the same time, we have a good number of younger citizens—those in their beginning years of life—spending a lot of time away from parents and grandparents in preschools and daycares.
Thankfully, some innovative minds are putting two and two together and bringing these groups together to enhance each others’ well-being. Providence Mount St. Vincent in Seattle, Washington, is one of them. This senior living community is made up of about 400 elderly residents and also houses a preschool called the Intergenerational Learning Center. Children and seniors have a chance to bond through shared certain activities together each day. The children bring joy and life to the seniors while also being exposed to the love, wisdom, and the value of older people. It’s a win-win.
And today we celebrate...