A new dementia care concept recently opened its doors in England and patients are feeling the positive effects.
A not-for-profit called Belong, which specializes in dementia care, has marked a first by creating an assisted living village—called Belong Chester—that brings a daycare into the mix. The idea is that young children need to learn or hone in on their memory, fine motor skills, spatial recognition, and more. And aging adults, particularly those suffering from dementia, need to sharpen those same skills. So the two generations can benefit from working together.
The tots can also bring a sense of familiarity and joy to the seniors. In return, the seniors give the little ones attention, instruction, and wisdom. So the organization pairs them for daily activities. The adults and children eat, exercise, and dance together. They also share arts and crafts and story times.
Belong partnered with The national charity Ready Generations to make the integration possible.
Local Lord Mayor Praises New Dementia Care Village
Lord Mayor of Chester Sheila Little visited the village to help celebrate its opening.
“It was a pleasure to look ’round the village and officially open Belong Chester, and to meet staff and residents,” she said, per Good New Network.
“This is a particularly exciting and innovative development as it includes a nursery, which benefits both the children who attend and the residents who visit to play and read to them,” she continued. “I look forward to visiting again to see how the village is growing and developing.”
According to Belong’s website, despite being a new facility, its dementia patients have already experienced positive changes.
“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,” reads the site. “Residents who initially said the nursery was a lovely idea, but not for them, are now enthusiastic attendees at intergenerational events.”
While merging seniors and preschoolers is a newer concept in England, there are currently several similar facilities in the United States, which means the idea is finally taking hold.
You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.
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