❤️ Growing up and growing old

In America alone, more than $3.7 billion is put towards dementia research each year. This research is still ongoing, but indicates that keeping active, learning new things, and having genuine fun reduces symptoms and slows memory loss in patients. 

And who better to introduce learning and fun to the elderly than the absolute fun professionals: toddlers. 

The old and the restless... The Belong Center in Chester, UK, is a senior care village that specializes in dementia patient care. The living facility sits on a $24.5 million, state-of-the-art area that includes six family-sized 24-hour care households, 23 independent living apartments, a bistro, a gym, and – get this – a preschool.

• The idea behind opening the preschool on the care-facility campus was to aid both the children and elders. The kids are involved in multiple aspects of residents' lives, including mealtimes, arts-n-crafts activities, and movement and exercise classes.

While the program has been running since last year, it recently celebrated its official grand opening. 

💥 The impact: "The Nursery is already transforming lives for the better, with intergenerational living contributing to reduced anxiety, and relatives reporting that being around children means people with dementia are less agitated," Belong's website reads. 

Belong also reports that engaging with the nursery children offers a renewed sense of purpose to many of the elders. 

• "By supporting the children’s learning through storytelling, reading, sharing memories and teaching simple skills, there is improved cognitive functioning and mental well-being," they share. "Residents are turning into educators and there has been notable reductions in isolation and loneliness." 

+Note: This story was previously published in the 2/27/24 edition of Positive DONUT.