Inspired by the benefits of bringing older and young people together highlighted in the ABC’s Old People's Home for 4 Year Olds, a group of Blue Haven Terralong residents have initiated a program with Kiama Public School.

“We are pretty enthusiastic on both sides,” says Trevor Dickson, who first approached the school. 

“There are a lot of opportunities to get together, especially being across the road from each other. It was too good to miss.” 

According to the Australian Institute for Intergenerational Practice, engaging the two generations provides older adults with a sense of purpose, improves social outcomes, and delays cognitive and physical decline.

Providing young people the opportunity to connect with an older generation helps improve their attitude to older people in general, and improves their pro-social behaviours of sharing, helping and cooperating.

Trevor believes these benefits are needed for the hundreds of residents at Blue Haven, including some who rarely leave their room, who are experiencing loneliness to some extent.

“Society tends to separate us out into old people and young people but research has shown the more you meet up, the better it is,” Trevor says.

“The kids have the energy and are enthusiastic, and we have the wisdom and the experience - it’s a good combination.”

A resident makes friends while passing on the inclinator

In what was their first encounter, the school’s Year 6 garden ambassadors met with members of the Blue Haven Garden Club.

Acting Principal, Sarah Webb, who wants to promote more active integration into the community, says, “There were smiling faces and waving from residents in passing cars as the kids walked in.”

Students, Nellie and Tahlia, enjoyed learning about Blue Haven’s garden and plan to incorporate some of their techniques into their own plot. They also saw, from just one meeting, the benefits of intergenerational practice.

The initiative was inspired by the ABC show, Old People's Home for Four Year Olds

“It gives them (residents) a chance to pass down their knowledge so we can also pass it down to the other generations,” Nellie says.

Tahlia says, “Just seeing us in general probably makes them feel really happy that they have other people than the elderly that live here to mix with.”

Another student, who enjoyed being part of today, believes it is good for residents who either don’t have grandchildren or don’t see them often.

“It would bring them a bit of joy and happiness as they get to be around young kids,” she says.

Resident Robyn Varcoe, who joined in on the fun, says, “Kids are our future, and I don’t think we realise, until we have children and be with them, how important it is to engage with them.”

According to Miss Webb, this will be a long-term connection where they will build on the program and its success as they go through.

Coming up, the School’s chess club will play with Blue Haven’s scrabble club, and students have been invited to play indoor croquet with the residents.

There are also plans to have residents visit the school on a regular basis to listen to students read, and Miss Webb says their choir group will perform for them soon.